7. Forming the Design Contract
Reputable web designers work under contract, meaning that you enter into an agreement prior to the commencement of design services. The contract should specify the work to be done, a payment schedule, and the options available if either party wants to modify the agreement later. Make sure your contract clearly outlines the following:
- Ownership – The contract should outline the ownership rights of the website contents and the domain name when the site under construction and when it is completed. Some designers maintain the copyright for portions of a site or for specific design elements. Design companies that offer web hosting services might retain ownership of certain elements of your site.
- Schedule – The contract should contain a schedule, or timeline, that outlines when certain tasks will be completed. It’s a good idea to break a contract into phases- for example, phase one is the graphic design services, phase two the homepage design, and phase three content and page creation beyond just the first, or home, page. You can also have a separate contract for each phase- this way; you’re free to use a different designer for services if you’re not satisfied. Make sure you maintain ownership rights to content created for your site in case you need to “switch” designers.
- Cost and Payments – Designers bill either hourly or for a set phase of the project. You’ll usually need to pay a retainer, or lump payment, to reserve a designer’s time at the beginning of the contract, and the contract itself will specify increments for further payments. Make sure the contract contains prices for design changes or additional services, such as marketing services or logo design.
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