Considering you're asking them to build the whole product 8k seems fairly cheap. Run some of the numbers: Let's say it takes 1 month to build an MVP with 2 pe

Considering you're asking them to build the whole product 8k seems fairly cheap. Run some of the numbers: Let's say it takes 1 month to build an MVP with 2 people at a small firm. Programmer + (Programmer OR Designer) = 2 people 40hrs/week working on this to get it out the door. 2 (people) * 40 hrs * 4 (weeks)* X (hourly rate) = 8k 320 work hours * X = 8k X = $25/hr That's a pretty cheap rate in my mind. Of course you can play with the numbers and expectations. You could always try a startup weekend or something to build an MVP with a team.