Drawar

I would suggest learning Wordpress. It's fairly easy to pickup, and there is a ton of community support. This might help get started with coding up a new theme.

What do you mean by you didn't "design" it? Do you mean the Wordpress software?

I use Wordpress for something like 90% of my clients that need an easy way to update their websites - from static sites, blogs or coporate brochure-ish sites.

You don't have to be the creator of software to use it on projects. I also use Movable Type, Joomla, Pligg and many other applications to power clients websites.

Like JPhill has said, the undersigned has a decent tutorial on customizing a Wordpress theme. And there is always the Wordpress Codex, which will help you learn all the nifty things Wordpress can do.

I, like JPhill, really like WordPress. I'm a little confused about the issue though. Are you uncomfortable with using WordPress because you didn't build the back-end, or are you uncomfortable with WordPress because you don't know how to use it?

If it's the former, I would assure you that many--read "nearly all"--people who called themselves "designers" on the internet have not built, probably couldn't build, a CMS like WordPress. Designers tend to do design work--the look and feel of a site--while its "developers" who tend to build the back end.

If it's the latter, I would suggest you look around for guides to building WordPress themes. There are a lot out there, and though none of them are great, most are at least good enough to get you started. Also, looking at the CSS/PHP in good themes can teach you quite a bit.

EDIT: I wrote this before I saw lalindsay's post, which said almost exactly what I did.

I know how to use Wordpress. That's not the issue. I've actually been using it on both my own hosting as well as Wordpress.com for over a year and a half.

I just feel weird charging people to simply set up a Wordpress install. That's what I meant.

Oh. Well, if all you're doing is installing WP, I think thats a reasonable way to feel--though not a very profitable one. Fundamentally, the things that drives the economy isn't that people are doing for others what they can't do for themselves, but things they don't want to. Grocery stores are increasingly filled with examples to prove that fact.

Yeah. I'd be creating a custom theme as well as various other customizations as well to fit what he has planned for the site. So I would still be doing some designing.

Even if all you were doing was installing WordPress, you still shouldn't feel bad about charging them money for your time. If you are providing them a service that they cannot perform on their own then you should be compensated for it in my opinion.

If you want to feel better about it, you could give him a quote for a custom WordPress install and a quote for a custom-made CMS (subcontracting it out if necessary). If WP does everything he needs then he'll most likely pick that.

Nearly every site I do is actually a WP theme with appropriate plugins installed and customised, I charge a fair price for that and everyone's happy.

If you're working--get paid.

There are literally hundreds of people that would charge this guy $1500 for a wordpress install + custom theme.

A setup of wp without any customization takes time and expertise. Charge for that.

Thanks for your input everyone.

If you're creating a custom theme for the site then don't think of it as "simply installing wordpress and charging for it"... I'd say 90% of the website work I've done for clients was installing wordpress and popping in a custom theme so go for it.

Not like charging to install wordpress is a bad thing... if they're willing to pay you what you charge, then they have no room to complain...

I use software like WordPress on client sites all the time. If they want a blog, they get WordPress, if they want a store, probably something like CubeCart, if they want a mailing list, they might get phplist. Sure, I could develop an app (a simple one, not something like WP, not without a few years to spare anyway), but why reinvent the wheel?

The client is paying me to do what they can't do: deal with the installation, customization and maintenance (think upgrades) of software apps like WordPress etc. If they could do it themselves, they wouldn't be contacting me (or you) so there you have it. Nothing wrong with charging someone to do something they can't do on their own. We all pay doctors and lawyers and mechanics, don't we??

Well said. I never really thought of it that way.

Yes, and I pay far to much money to those crazy mechanics!

Yes .. I love Wordpress. I am freelance Web Designer. I have built my portoflio in Wordpress. It's a good CMS!! Its easy to handle and you will find lots mods for it!

cheers

Yes, and I pay far to much money to those crazy mechanics!

Don't we all, and doctors too!

Dreamweaver: I do the same thing. The thing is since most people here are cavemen, they tend to think I coded the damn thing myself.

@Vidar, I've done a fair bit of coding special "invent the wheel" apps for people, and they definitely know the difference when I do, because I tell them: If I could find a software app to do this for you, we'd use it and it would get done faster and be cheaper for you, but since I can't, it'll cost you "x." Then at least they understand why it takes longer and is more expensive...

If the cavemen think you coded it yourself, no harm done, until they want something where you can't find a ready-made app to do the job, and maybe then they won't understand why the price is higher. Just a thought. :)