I would like to recommend the following reading what should i be charging for webdesign. I think it is time that a crusade is started (against who?). This, to protect all creativity that apparently to the meaning of too many have to come too often for just a little or even for free. It is time to get some understanding in this world, that something good can’t come for free.

The reason for this post is an email I got from a site called Myhammer in Germany (find the URL yourself, no help from here). Read why I think  IT creativity and effort is not taken serious anymore.

A beggar’s banquet

Now let’s look at first one, a PHP job for an estimate of 500 Euro.

Translated: we are looking for someone for our project that knows PHP and .NET to create an application for the intake of sport bets in internet. We are looking for a long cooperation. The price is per month. Who has to bring the materials? The one that accepts the project assignment.

Blame

I don’t blame the ones who are asking for someone here. But my goodness, everyone’s job skills are protected in Germany (where I have my business), but what about IT skills. So the guy next door who also knows how to PHP can also apply here. That’s fine, as long he is paying taxes too and is not working for a few bucks per hour and two tickets to the cinema. We have people calling us, if we can do a website for 150 Euro. Companies decide on price, that’s fine. But stop comparing IT deliveries like they are packs of butter from a supermarket. You never let your house done like that.

Protection

I am a liberal business man. I have my own IT company. We definitely need competition to even keep us sharp, but I don’t like it at all that I have to compete with schoolboys and other people who own a laptop and don’t earn a living from it, but do it for fun.

“Cheapi”stan

I am offering myself as a lawyer (Anwalt). I haven’t learned for this, I know about some law, but I don’t make a regular living from it (I am in IT, but see it as hobby). I think by presenting myself like that I am in trouble soon, for it is illegal. Or I would like to renovate my office and I hire a couple of people from “Cheapi”stan. I think after day one I have the authorities already on my doorstep (informed by the union, perhaps), asking what’s happening here, because none of the carpenters look German. Ok, I have understanding for this and it is supposed to be like that to some extent, but than please help me to keep my yard also free from IT-yunkies and low-budget programming amateurs. I really hope that all people find their hapiness, but going into a global price war on development is in my belief not bringing this closer.