Nothing decent custom is going to go for that price. He could however buy something from themeforest.net or templatemonster.com (~$20-$75 out the door) and having someone help him implement it for ~$25-100.

Also, for the sake of the internet, please stay away from flash headers and anything that plays sound.

No not at all, but I don't want to be ripped of by paying new script prices for a clone.

I'll give you an example there are a bunch of groupon clones out there ranging from 300-600. Some have major bug issues, and some are lacking functionality that I'd like to have. I posted the project on odesk and got quoted anywhere from 1500-4k. This includes website design, and server installation. How do I know these guys aren't just using one of the cheap scripts I mentioned and marking up the price?

Again, what does it matter?

Lol this is his current site: http://davefishergym.com/ . I really don't think we're going to be getting into flash or sound territory.

He just needs some pictures of himself, the actual gym, maybe a map link, a few paragraphs of content, and maybe a bio of himself. The dude was a pro bodybuilder for 15 years. That stuff helps sell. I've been giving him crap about his website ever since I saw it.

Haha, ya I'd go with something from themeforest or templatemonster for that price point... Might be more in the $175 all in territory though.

If the functionality is in the quote, then make sure you test before you let the escrow release payment... Doesn't really matter if they re-use a script if they patch the bugs and add the functionality.

To be frank, for $1500 there is no way they're opening up a blank ".txt" file with a keyboard, case of red bull, and a turned back on their copy/paste button.

Keep posting updates! Interested to see how it turns out.

Where would he find someone to help him implement it? He's beyond clueless.

You're a programmer right? It'll take you less than an hour to get a basic site with a themeforest template set up on <insert your favourite shared hosting provider>.

Craigslist

"I have a template from XYZ.com and need someone to insert the content from this word doc, add a google map, and setup my hosting. - $50"

It's never that simple. He doesn't even have any idea what he wants. I agree getting the themeforest set up might be simple in itself. But he still has to decide how many pages, which content to show, choose and upload pics, write content, pick colors, etc etc etc. He may do some of that but he'll need his hand held the entire way. So the theme/color choosing will be a lot of hit and miss, try this/try that, until we get something that looks passable.

Here's how I picture a typical development discussion:

me: "You should probably have some kind of bio, with a good pic of you and some content."

him: "Yeah I guess. Good thinking. Here's an old bodybuilding magazine, just use the pictures from here. There's also a neat story about me. Just cut out whatever you need."

Yeah. One hour.

My family wanted me to set up a big extended family website since I "know about the web and stuff". Ok great. Who's going to create and maintain the content? (crickets)

Fair enough. I just assumed he had an idea of what he wanted and the job was going to be like this:

I'll just leave this here... http://clientsfromhell.net/

I actually get the "I want to make an iPhone app but I'm not sure what I want it to do" on a fairly regular basis. Sure just let me figure that out for you then do all the work and we can split the profits.

gg 2 hours

Lool