Professional Web Design Company

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What makes a professional web design company? What sets the professionals apart from the unprofessional? In order to answer this question, we think it’s necessary to divide all web design companies into several categories:

1. Large companies
2. Small to medium-size companies
3. Home-based businesses and sole proprietors
4. Hobbyists and students

Only companies in the first two categories can call themselves a professional web design company. Companies in the final two categories offer up far less than professional web design work.

Large companies

These are the larger players that service Fortune 500 companies like Oracle or Hewlett Packard. They will have 50 or more employees (typically hundreds) and have massive amounts of overhead. This overhead will invariably be paid for right out of the pockets of the large design company’s clients. Hence the major drawback of these larger web design companies – cost.

The benefit here is that the larger level of administrative support you typically receive ensures that your web design project stays on track and is handled properly. You’ll benefit from the knowledge that these businesses tend not to be flashes in the pan or pack it up and go home on a whim. You can expect a reasonably high level of service from these companies; just remember that you’ll pay for it. Steer clear of the big guys unless you’re launching a new brand of automobile or cruise ship.
Typical project: $25,000 +

Small to medium-size companies

The first thing to mention here is that we are talking about web design companies that offer professional web design. We are not talking about companies that also offer computer troubleshooting, web hosting, print services, etc. The real professionals here are the ones that stay focused on professional web design. To fit into this category a business must have its own office space and extensive list of prior clientele (i.e. portfolio).

The real benefit of doing business with web design companies in this category is that you are essentially getting the best of both worlds: reliable, professional web design, coupled with much lower costs than the larger businesses. These businesses typically have between 3 and 20 employees and/or contractors. They are large enough, serious enough and experienced enough to offer web design services that are truly professional. Our recommended category, to be sure.
Typical project: $2,000 - $25,000

Home-based businesses and sole proprietors

The number one danger here is the one-person business that operates out of a basement where the sole proprietor already has a full-time job. This can spell disaster for your web design project. When it comes to prioritizing work, your project will always come second to the proprietor’s full-time occupation. Can you really afford to have your “web designer” leave you a message at 7:30 pm one night stating that they can no longer work on your project when it’s already half done?

These businesses typically do not have the same level of commitment as the first two. They may be viewed as simply “trying out” web design as a hobby. They are waiting until they get enough business so that they can quit their day job. Unless you are absolutely strapped for cash and on a razor thin budget for your project, you run a major risk doing business with these companies. It is always recommended that you meet face to face with your web designer, preferably at their place of business so that you can judge how they present themselves and how they do business.
Typical project: $500 - $3000

Hobbyists and students

You will unconditionally NOT find professional web design in this category. If you want your business’s website to do anything other than send the message that you are a second rate, cheap organization, then run from this category – run!

The only reason any company would deal with an individual in this category is simple dollars and cents. Typically these hobbyists or students “dabble” in web design and have no professional experience or formal training. Certainly they are completely unaware of what constitutes professional web design. You would probably only consider utilizing a hobbyist (or friend of a friend, cousin, babysitter, etc.) if you can get your entire web site built for free (or maybe a bottle of scotch or Nintendo game).
Typical project: $0 - $250

So if you’re considering hiring the services of a professional web design company, keep in mind what makes a company professional or not. Use the typical project amounts as your guide and be sure to take away the following: Stick to categories 1 and 2 if you run a serous business. The other 2 will bring you nothing but heartache and frustration.