As a web developer there are certain scenarios under which I would develop a website for someone without asking for a penny. If you are looking to have a free website designed here are some ways you might go about it:

1. Ask around and seek out a web developer who is looking to build up his or her portfolio. Developers without a large portfolio will often build websites for free to get their portfolio started. However they may ask to include the site they designed for you to showcase it for their business, or they may add their logo at the bottom of your site to advertise themselves. If a web developer can get good promotion through your site, (such as a ‘this site was built by so and so’) at the bottom, they will be more interested in taking you on as a client than for the money.

2. If you are selling something through the site, offer the developer a commission. Certain developers will build a site for you providing you give them a percentage commission on particular sales through that site.

3. Don’t pay, exchange. Offer the developer a service from your business in exchange for his or her web development services. Make sure the exchange is fair both ways.

Keep in mind:

1. Stick to a simple project. Do not ask for an overly complex site like Yahoo or EBay, a developer will be more inclined to take on a project that will take 10-15 hours to complete, than one that will take 100-150 hours to complete.

2. Keep your decisions ethical. Do not look for ways of ripping others off to get a free website, this is bad business practice. The above 3 ways are both effective and ethical ways of going about it.