Rates, Estimates, And Other Pricing Information
Development Services
Development, whether Website or Software, is a field fraught with many risks and many challenges. When a new project begins, there are typically numerous factors which are still unknown, which can severely impact the total cost and timeframe of development.
For this reason, projects should be well understood and then estimated. Having an estimate gives you an opportunity to see if the project is cost effective, and if it brings you a return on your investment. If it does, then the project can begin. If it does not, then perhaps the project or it's plan needs some refinement in order to bring costs down, or find ways to make the project more efficient at bringing in extra revenue, or cutting extra waste.
Whatever the reason is, it's important to understand your project before development begins. But you or your domain expert, being the most knowledgeable in the project's areas of focus, have to understand that as development progresses, the project reveals more unknowns, and continues to do so through the entire development cycle and even after the project is complete, and in production use. Perhaps a certain requirement was not well planned for and needs to be changed. Perhaps the users of the software ask for changes or find workflows difficult to learn and understand. Or perhaps as development progresses, a new feature or requirement is discovered that is crucial to the project's success.
All of these factors can impact the total cost of development, as well as timelines for development. With that in mind, there are different ways a project can progress. If it is a small project, and a risk assessment shows there are few unknowns and little chance for change, then a project can be designed up front, in full detail, with all parts of it fully planned.
But if it is a large project, or a project with many unknowns, or a high risk of change, a better approach may be to set a timeline for development that allows the project to be developed, and delivered in stages. Each stage delivers a working system, and incrementally builds upon the previous one with more requirements and features completed. This can allow you to have a functional system to get started with right away, but still allows for refinement and change along the way. As well, the unknowns start to reveal themselves, giving you a chance to address them properly for the next stage to be developed.
Silverspun can help you in determining the best approach for your project. We can assist in any stage of planning, and help make key decisions for you that will keep costs down and keep the project within desired timelines. There is nothing worse than a project that is planned in full before development, only to have that plan change as development progresses as well as after development is complete. Change during and after a development cycle is one of the biggest factors in budget overruns and timeline overruns. It can cause a whole host of problems, such as bugs, delays, extra costs, change to other established features, on so on.
Some of the factors which can contribute to growing, and unsustainable interim costs, total cost, and the total development time include:
- Requirements
- Initial planning and project management
- Required timeframes and deadlines
- Complexity of project
- Associated Risks and Risk realization
- Technologies and/or platforms required
- Development methodology
- Staffing requirements
- Documentation requirements
- Expertise of your domain expert
- Total estimated number of hours
- Final total number of hours
This is by no means a thorough list. For this reason, projects should be analyzed and estimated for a better understanding of the requirements, costs, and timelines involved. This will also assist in choosing various methodologies and processes used during the lifetime of the project, such as the staged development methodology described above.
For information on what is involved in estimating, or for an estimate, please call or email estimate@silverspun.ca.
We offer a free one hour consultation1 to help you better understand the requirements of your project.
Although a project should be estimated upon, if you only require hourly development work, please contact us to discuss your specific needs.
Basic Websites
If you have but only simple needs to start your online presence, we offer basic 3 page brochure2 style website packages3
| Brochure Website based on a web ready template | Starting at $750 |
| Brochure Website based on a Client Provided Design4 | starting at $1500 |
| Brochure Website based on a Silverspun Custom Design | Starting at $2500 |
| Additional Pages | Starting at $150 each page |
Please contact us for additional information or an estimate.
Website & Graphic Design
Designs start at $1500. Please contact us for an estimate for your specific website or other graphic design needs.
The design we provide you with will be in a graphics file format of your choice. If you require the design to be web or print ready, extra costs will be applied.
Management and Consulting
Our base rate is $150 per hour. We offer an increasing discount on larger numbers of hours during a billing cycle.
Retainers are available upon request.
Technical Support
Our base rate is $100 per hour. We offer an increasing discount on larger numbers of hours during a billing cycle.
Retainers are available upon request.
Other Services
We can provide a broad range of services beyond those listed above. Please call or email us for rates and/or information on any other types of services you may require.
Travel expenses for onsite work is extra.
1. This offer is only available to new clients. Normal rates apply
after the first hour. Travel expenses may apply. 2. A brochure
website contains a home page + 2 extra pages. Page content must be
provided. 3. Package includes delivery of the final website as required for hosting. A website go-live is extra. 4. Based on a client provided design in a non web-ready format. Designs must be provided in an Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or MS Expression Design compatible format. Web ready designs meet the template package criteria.