What is the cost for a custom style?
 

I searched high and low and found the style I like. Its the Aquateen style, or possible Talk Stuff style, found at vbskinworks.com

The only problem is, that after the price of the stlye, logo customization, and branding removal, the price is higher that what the forum software costs. I couldn't get approval for that much.

Can you point me to a custom skin site that doesn't charge much for branding removal? I cant have unapproved outgoing links (company restriction) and I cant get approval for a too much money.

Free skins wont work, as they usually require links back.

Usually on a free skin link removal is $10, leasts thats how I play. Most payed skins are going to cost a little more for the removal.

Designers of free skins will also let you remove their link for a fee.
www.themesbydesign.net

I design VB skins with twice the price of a VB. Don't be shocked. A unique layout is a lot of work and a layout for a forum script is harder to make than a site in HTML for instance. So the prices for something very good can be quite huge. Still that unique look would do your forums a lot of good. An excellent branding work is one of the things that are needed now to make a project succeed. People are picky and well educated in the internet business. Many know a template from a unique layout ...

I would never think to belittle the great work artists do. Its a skill I do not possess and I always have to hire out for it.

I just cant always get the client to want to pay money for the software then double that price for the graphics to use it.

If I had unlimited budget for every project I work on, then I'm sure I'd be putting your kids through college. But as it sits I have to squeeze stones for the extra stuff like themes.

As an update, I went ahead with the purchase from vbskinworks. They allow purchasing the branding removal at a later time if desired.

That will at least let me get the project going and work out later whether to purchase branding removal.

I could skin.
Let me know ;)

Jac

maaaaaaaan ! in my country a simple style would cost us to buy more than 150 US DOLLARS !!!!

i just created a vb skin , and it rocked my life , i wont be putting it up for free , coz i know the next day i will find it all over the net LOL

That link in the footer is not the problem. The fact other tens of forums use same skin is the issue. I don't have anything against putting a nice link to the one that made the theme or script, but I won't use something other forums use as theme. If you purchased an unique exclusive theme, then it's OK. if it's used by at least 1 more forum, you'll have to modify again so that it won't look "stock".

Anyway .. congratulations for the purchase. It's better than the default skin anyway :)