What would you do?

[Pegasus928]

Like a lot of you out there I have hobbies and things I like to spend my free time doing. Mine tend to focus around computer based projects -modding on the Dis, video/photo editing and web design.
Lately I have been working on a cupcake website, but because it was for DW it was more a labour of love than anything else.
Since then a friend of mine has approached me and asked me to put a site together for him. He and his wife are starting a new business selling teddy bears such as Steiff and Boyds and have been to see a number of web designers without any success. Of all the ones they have been to see only one has got back to them with a quote of nearly £6000 - this to build a site of more than 500 pages.
As a sample I put together a home page for them so they could see what it might look like - you can see this HERE - going so far as to design the logo and putting in more than 10 hours up to this point on that one page alone. They were suitably happy with what I have done and have now said they definitely want me to continue and want to know how much I will charge them for it.
This is where I am having problems. I want to do it because I enjoy this sort of thing - but am worried that it will become a bit of an albetros. Also the fact he is a mate makes it harder as well. I am not a pro so would never charge the rates they do - but I can't do it for nothing as it will be taking up a huge amount of my time of the next few weeks, to say nothing of the time taken to update it once they start getting new stock in.
So my question is what would you do if you were me. Go for it and be flattered that he asked me - or walk away as it cold be opening a big can of worms?
ALL opinions appreciated

 

[crabbie1]

Ooh thts a tough one. Its a good project for you to consider BUT are you going to have the time to do it? Update regularly? Be at his beck and call as they say and be resposible if it doesnt work out? It is going to be his new business and he is going to be reliant on you to help him promote and maintain that. Regards charging . Yes he is your friend BUT he knows from previous quotes how much it is goin to cost plus you are doing this in your own time so he has to understand yes you are friends but from a business point of view you hv to seperate that from ur friendship if that makes sense. Anything you quote him that is significantley less than his lowest quote im sure he will accept. If he respects you as a friend he will respect the time you hv to put in to help in and looking at what youve done it is great. If someone quoted me £6000 and then someone i knew said £3000 i would snap his hand off. We all hv to make a living and you may as well get paid for your talent. As long as he understands from the start that although ur friends you hv to charge and at no time should it affect your friendship. Just tell him your are concerned it will affect this . If he is a true friend he wont pressurise u into anything. Hard choice. I used to hate doing friends hairs when i did hairdressing and charging them. Some would insist on paying others were quite happy to not give me anything. Its all down to trust and team work. If in any doubt dont do it. Not worth the sleepless nights. Let me know what you decide.

 

[hildasmuriel]

It all depends whether or not you are self employed at the moment. If it were me, I wouldn't do it for money as I am strictly a PAYE girl and would hate the though of having to keep books and make a tax return etc on something which has previously been a hobby. It would make it a chore.

However, if you already have to keep accounts for a business, then I would do it and as the previous poster said, I would make it a business arangement at very favourable rates for him. I'm sure he would be grateful for a quote of half the going rate!

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[hildasmuriel]

Meant to say - those bears look GORGEOUS and that webpage would seem very inviting to me.

 

[Chilly]

You might enjoy doing it as a hobby but when it becomes a job it might not be as fun.

Could you build the website for him (which is the fun bit) at a set charge but not be involved the maintence and updating of it which could become a chore esp. if they wanted things done when it wasn't convienent for you? Could you give them some lessons so they could update it themselves?

 

[joolz1910]

You might enjoy doing it as a hobby but when it becomes a job it might not be as fun.

Could you build the website for him (which is the fun bit) at a set charge but not be involved the maintence and updating of it which could become a chore esp. if they wanted things done when it wasn't convienent for you? Could you give them some lessons so they could update it themselves?

This would be my advice too as it's a compromise. I wouldn't want to commit to a 'job' but doing someone a favour as a one-off might suit all parties.

Mixing friendship and business has the potential to cause problems...

 

[Ware Bears]

That's what I would advise as well as it would be a shame if something that is enjoyable to you ended up being anything but. My DD had to design and build her own website as part of her studies at uni and I know how long it took her and the only tie on her time apart from her studies is her part-time job. In your case, you've got your job, DW's new business and your family.

It looks very good in fact so good that I will NOT be showing it to my mother-in-law who has already developed an obssession for buying Charlie Bears off QVC. She does not need encouraging.

 

[Pegasus928]

Thanks for the replies guys - very much appreciated

Having given it a lot of thought I have decided to give it a go. The deciding factor was that my friend contacted me and told me that there would be no time constraint on it. The quote he got estimated 5 weeks but I told him I cannot commit to that sort of time and he was happy with that. I will be charging him a fee for all of this of course, and when I gave him my quote he actually asked me if I was sure it was enough (it was at that point I kicked myself )

And who knows - this could be the start of a whole new career for me

 

[loobzuk]

good luck with this website, you've made a great start and now you've mad ethe decision that's the hardest part over. Hope it all works out and if it leads to a new business venture for you all the better.

 

[kieras nana]

please let us know,when the website,is up & running,as i always buy my niece a steiff teddy,for her birthday & xmas,so i will definately be taking a look.
good luck,with your new venture.
tracy

 

[Chilly]

Best of luck with it Kenny

 

[jjk]

good luck with your new venture

 

[Pegasus928]

Thanks guys

That means a lot

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm sure you'll do yourself proud. It always feels good after wrestling with a dilemma to come to a decision. I'd wish you luck, but I have a feeling you don't need it

 

[jackieleanne]

Good luck Kenny hope it works well for you

 

[luke]

That looks brilliant!
Suggest a rate of £5999 if I was you

 

[Pegasus928]

Damn. Why couldn't you have come along and suggested this yesterday before I said I would do it