Introduction
Estimating and setting a budget for digital work can be hard. Even for experienced researchers, designers and developers. This is because obstacles and opportunities emerge as you work through a project, meaning timelines and resources often shift.
Ways to set a budget
If you have little or no experience in estimating work, it's best to either find examples of similar projects, or ask for help from experience buyers or agencies.
Review budgets from past briefs
Browse a selection of briefs created by other non-profits. They cover research, design and technical work.
See example briefsGet an estimate from an agency
Find an agency that offers the services or tech you need. Email a couple and ask for a chat to help you estimate.
Browse agenciesFind live project costs
Find an agency that’s delivered a similar project and ask them how much it cost. The SIDE projects page shows the fee for each project.
Agree a range
Rather than define a specific budget, agree on a budget range. This could be based on funding available or research into similar project budgets.
Articles about project costs
Blog posts written by agencies about the costs of websites and apps.
How much does a website cost?
Written by Outlandish. Published 2014, but still a useful guide if you’re looking to get an idea of WordPress development costs.
How much does it cost to create an app?
Written by Rareloop. Understand what affects the cost of an app and what you are paying for from an agency.
How much should a website cost?
Written by Ten4. Ten4 acknowledge there is rarely a straightforward answer to this question. Before asking for quotes, they suggest you ask: "how much is a new website worth to you?"