Can we talk about the client who wanted a full site redesign for $500

I met with a potential client in Phoenix who runs a small bakery and she straight up told me her budget was five hundred bucks for a complete new website with online ordering. I mean, I had to explain that just the secure payment setup would cost more than that, and she got really upset, saying her nephew could do it for less. Has anyone else had a client who just had no idea what things actually cost?

3 comments

3 Comments

abbyf7918d ago

Tell her nephew he's got a new customer, then.

abbyhall18d ago

Honestly, I see it a bit different. That budget shows she doesn't understand the work involved, but it's a real starting point for her. In my experience, you can sometimes meet in the middle by scaling way back, like offering a simple refresh of her current site instead of a full rebuild. It turns into a teaching moment about value, not just a flat no.

corap6118d agoMost Upvoted

Look, sometimes that nephew is actually a decent option. If her business is that small and her budget is that tight, a basic Squarespace template set up by a family member might be all she really needs. Not every bakery needs a custom built site with all the bells and whistles. She might just need a simple online menu and a phone number to call for orders. Turning her down completely just pushes her toward a cheaper, maybe good enough, solution anyway.