BUT - they know WHY they are building, and what they want the project to do for their business. They also know what they DON'T want.
​THIS I can work with. I can tell you - based on the reasons/goals for the project - what range you should to budget. I can't give you exact pricing for a website from any company but mine, but I can give you some broad ranges that may help you with planning. Keep in mind that larger projects usually require a paid discover process to allow your potential developer to fully flesh out the plans and create an accurate quote. Not unlike working with an architect prior to beginning the build.
Here are some broad budgetary ranges organized by the web project GOALS I hear most often.

Some businesses just need a presence so they can be found online. In some cases this could be a Facebook or Google + page - these businesses may not even need a website. For example, it is possible that a food truck, podcast, or network marketing affiliate can operate with just a Facebook page.
If you determine that you definitely need a website, there are options. Some businesses choose to build their first website on their own using a DIY website builder like Weebly. I wrote more about your options in a recent blog post called "How to Create a Website". I do coach businesses through creation of their first website sometimes as well.
What to Expect
Timeline : 3 weeks to 3 months
Cost : It really depends on what you ask for if you decide to hire someone. I wouldn't expect to pay less than a few thousand dollars. And plan to spend more for search engine optimization in order to make sure you are found above your competitors in Google searches.
My Best Advice

1. Keep it simple - Most businesses who come to me saying they 'just need a website so people can find them' are very small or are just starting out. At this stage of the game it is better to keep the website basic - a short informational website containing impressive photography and well written copy will make a better impression than a heavy website containing a lot of nothing.
   
2. Stay involved - Learn to admin your website so that you can update and add on as your business grows and evolves.

Here is the reason for building/rebuilding a website I hear most often : "We just need to stand out more." The company needs to stand out above competitors both in professional appearance and in searches. Companies who are ready to level up. They usually have a few years under their belt and have become a large( or large-ish) small business ($500K to $15M in revenue).
At this stage the company needs a professional, easy to use website that stands out visually AND in Google searches. They need a website, search engine optimization, and some gorgeous custom photography and/or graphics.
I like to focus the budget where it is going to make the biggest impact, so I can usually get away with building a custom website on a template platform like Weebly. This allows me to keep the website at a lower price point and focus the bulk of the effort on customer experience and search rank. (NOTE: we DO offer an affordable monthly search engine optimization service focused on increase organic rank for your target audience. See the Max Traffic package for more info.)
What to Expect
Timeline : 6 weeks to 3 months or longer
Cost : $5k - $30K*
* You will get lower quotes but they may not be comprehensive - check them out thoroughly and make sure you are very clear on what's included.
My Best Advice

1. Don't skimp on the photography - Online customers buy based on trust. And one of the quickest ways to build trust online is to tell the business' story through expressive photography. If your business is a service you will need engaging photos of your key staff front and center. If you sell a product you will want to showcase it. Either way, you need beautiful photos on the homepage and throughout the site. 
   
2. Be available to your website builder during the whole process - If you don't answer questions or give approvals your website team can't move forward. Make sure you respond promptly to requests and give the appropriate information, or point them toward the person that can.
   
3. Learn to admin your site - The most successful websites serve customers with constantly updated information. Ask for a website that you will be able to update on your own whenever you want. Then make sure your website team trains you on it.

The largest kind of website build is a custom built. You may need a specific tool or functionality for your customers to use, or you may want to allow vendors to log in to manage some aspect of their business with you. Or you may just know you don't want your website to be anything like anyone else's so it simply MUST be completely custom made.
Whether you need to integrate third party tools into your site or build a new kind of - whatever - from scratch, you need to put yourself in this category. You are about to do a custom build.
Another good indicator that you need to do a custom build - ask yourself this question : 'Will this site be the primary way my customers interact with my business AND will I run my business using this site?' - If the answer is yes, you need to at least be open to doing a custom build.
What to Expect
Timeline : 6 weeks to 6 months or longer
Cost : $30K and up (way up)
My Best Advice

1. Vet your vendor thoroughly. You want to know your vendor has done projects like yours, or at least similar in size to yours, in the past. Look at past work. Check references.
   Pro Tip : Go through a PAID discovery process with your prospective vendor. Allow them access to the stakeholders within your company so they can gather requirements, and create a planning document. You will pay them for this work. This discovery project will give you the chance to see how they work, and how they plan to tackle the unique requirements of your project. The way they handle this project should tell you a lot about whether or not you want to continue to work with them. It can save a lot of headaches down the road.
   
2. Don't go cheap. Inevitably, you are going to hear this from someone at the office - "Oh my nephew just graduated from [insert school here] and he's a computer whiz. We could probably use him."
   Resist the temptation to buy into the myth of the 'lone creator' - the idea that there are uber geeks out there living in their mom's basements and just waiting with baited breath for you to come along and pay them in pizza. Basement dwellers are capable of creating the custom tool you need, but they aren't usually capable of translating your requirements into something that is engaging, usable, and professional.
   There is a popular saying in the web development community : "Cheap, Fast, Functional - Pick two." In other words you can have cheap, you can have it done quickly, or you can have it function perfectly. Exceedingly rare is the occasion where you get all three. When your business and reputation are on the line, go ahead and rule cheap out so you can focus on fast and functioning perfectly.
   
3. Keep the timeline under 6 months. The longer the timeline drags on, the longer it is going to drag on. That is because scope stretches with time. Requirements change and people forget what they originally wanted. 
   If you see that a project is going to take longer than 6 months you may want to consider phasing it. Choose the most important set of requirements, develop something that satisfies those requirements, and launch it. Then tackle the second set of requirements in Phase II.

Do you still have questions? Schedule a quick call with me. I would love to hear more about your business and your needs.
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