Maintenance Fee?

[rkangrah]

I always get a question like this when offering a quote for a web development project:
"Does this include maintenance fees?"

The usual answer is "No this is just the cost for building and designing your website".

Clients are also too lazy (or too busy or too dumb) to update their own website eventhough we provide CMS.

How should you charge the maintenance fee to a client?
Every time you update the website? Or a monthly fee?
Or does anyone have any other practice?

[iamlost]

A lot depends on you, your client, requirements, etc.
A few previous threads:

[webmasterworld.com ]

[webmasterworld.com ]

[webmasterworld.com ]

[webmasterworld.com ]

[LBmtb]

So far I've charged simply on an hourly basis, although when I start to actively seek more clients I'll probably do this . . .

* Charge a flat fee every month. This fee is to have you 'on call' throughout the month.
* Then when they do use you, charge by the minute or hour.

Might want to have 3/5/12 month contracts. Lower monthly flat fees for longer contracts (undecided on this). Maybe small discount if they pay the whole contract flat fees up front (also undecided). Early termination fee.

The monthly flat fee encourages them to update their site since they won't be paying with nothing to show for it. This keeps the content fresh and keeps you busy.

Only thing I see wrong with it is that it's a bit complicated?