Advice Needed

We are about to launch a new web-based business. The programming for the site has been done by a young team of IT professionals who've recently started their own firm. To date we have been pleased with their work; they've been quite attentive to our requirements and have made numerous creative and helpful suggestions that have made the site better. We are about 2-3 weeks away from a web-ready version and testing.

Our new business will propose a wide range of services (nine “modules” in all) to a specific market segment - and, if our strategy is on the mark, we will serve clients from around the globe. Each of the services we propose is to be accessed from the same home-page and most are complex enough to be considered a web-site on their own. Some of the other modules are not as complex and are similar in design & purpose.

Even though the start-up firm doing the programming today is doing a good job with the technical aspects of each of the components, we think that the "look and feel" and the flow from one part of the site to another could be enhanced if it were in the hands of an experienced web designer with a proven track record.

We could use some help in answering these 2 questions:

1. Should we engage a very professional web designer and launch with a top-drawer design – perhaps even one with a certain "wow-factor" – or, should we conserve limited capital, use what we anticipate will be a very adequate design, but not much more, from our current supplier, and wait to see if the business will take off? (In this latter scenario, we’d then go "full-hog" in terms of design, branding, marketing theme, etc. assuming early revenue).

2. What kind of cost are we looking at for good solid design from someone who’s done it before - and is able back up their claims by referring us to a portfolio of their work?



Thank you!