The effort for the first creation of a catalog includes the conception, the catalog software (custom development and/or standard product), the preparation of the data, and sometimes the production of CDs when this is the desired distribution method.

Even the use of a free web browser does not prevent you from programming software whose functionality is very often realized in Java or JavaScript. Apart from the programming there might be costs for license fees. Their non-observance might result in the destruction of a major number of CDs or to a charge of software piracy.

For the preparation of the data and the creation of illustrations you must generally calculate the same effort as with a paper catalog. Furthermore, you have to think of the special preparation for electronic use. Special file conversion, the creation of hotspots and links, and the storage in the file format required by the catalog are among these special details.

If the catalog shall be distributed on CD, you will also have to pay production cost.