How to budget for a digital project

A better way to account for discovery, content, design, implementation, internal time, launch, and ongoing operation.

A calculator and financial documents arranged on a desk

Budget for the whole project, not only the build invoice. Staff time, content, data, training, subscriptions, support, and ongoing running costs all matter.

Budget from scope drivers

Cost changes with the number of users, pages, workflows, integrations, data to move, access levels, tests, accessibility needs, reviews, and support requirements.

Include internal effort

You may need subject experts, content owners, technical contacts, approvers, testers, trainers, and a project lead. Set aside their time in the project plan.

Separate build and operation

List ongoing costs for hosting, software, domains, messaging, storage, maintenance, analytics, support, content, and campaigns. The project must remain affordable after launch.

Use phases when uncertainty is high

Pay for discovery first when requirements, integrations, content, or data are unclear. A smaller first phase is safer than pricing a large project based on assumptions.

Checklist

Use these points in your next planning meeting.

01Discovery and requirements
02Content, design, and implementation
03Integration and migration
04Internal team time
05Training, launch, and contingency
06Recurring operation and support

Apply it to your project

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