Send the same brief to every provider
If one designer is quoting from a ten-minute phone call and another has a page list, sample content and integration requirements, the prices are unlikely to be comparable. Write a short shared brief before asking for a revised proposal.
- Business and audience: who you serve and which services matter most.
- Main action: phone enquiry, contact form, booking, purchase or another specific goal.
- Page list: the pages you expect, including individual services and required policy pages.
- Content: what copy, photos, branding and testimonials already exist, and what needs creating.
- Functionality: forms, booking tools, payments, downloads and any systems that must connect.
- Existing setup: domain, email, hosting and old URLs that must be preserved or redirected.
- Practical constraints: desired launch date, budget range, decision-maker and who will maintain the site.
Be explicit about what is optional. A booking integration that saves staff time may be essential; a motion effect you liked on another site may not be. Separating those priorities lets providers suggest sensible alternatives.
A page count is only the beginning of the scope
Ask whether the quote includes planning and writing the pages or simply placing supplied content into a template. Neither arrangement is inherently wrong, but they require different amounts of your time. 'Content included' should say whether that means an interview and first draft, editing your draft, or transferring existing text.
| Quote wording | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Five pages | Which five? Are service pages separate? What does an additional page cost? |
| Custom design | Which layouts are designed for this business, and what comes from an existing template or component library? |
| Contact form | Where are submissions delivered, how is spam handled and who tests receipt? |
| Booking integration | A link to a booking page, an embedded tool or a custom connection? Who pays the subscription? |
| Mobile friendly | Will real page content and important interactions be checked at phone and desktop sizes? |
| SEO included | Which launch tasks are included, and is ongoing content or optimisation a separate service? |
| Maintenance | Which updates, backups, checks and content changes are covered, and what is excluded? |
For SEO, ask about page titles, descriptions, indexability, internal links, sitemap setup and redirects where relevant. These are useful foundations. They are different from an ongoing programme to research, publish and improve content, and they do not guarantee rankings.
Put all three quotes into one comparison
Copy this table into a document or spreadsheet. Fill each cell with the exact inclusion, an amount or 'not stated'. Ask the provider to resolve the gaps in writing. A blank cell is not a reason to reject someone; it is a question to answer before signing.
| Item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build price and GST treatment | — | — | — |
| Named pages and layouts | — | — | — |
| Copywriting and image work | — | — | — |
| Forms and integrations | — | — | — |
| Migration and redirects | — | — | — |
| Review rounds and extra-work rate | — | — | — |
| Launch testing and SEO tasks | — | — | — |
| Year-one recurring costs | — | — | — |
| Year-two renewal costs | — | — | — |
| Support and update allowance | — | — | — |
| Ownership, access and handover | — | — | — |
| Your content and approval workload | — | — | — |
| Timeline and payment milestones | — | — | — |
Look past the build price and the first-year offer
Use one consistent basis when comparing amounts, including whether GST applies and whether it is included. Ask for the costs of hosting, domain renewal, platform subscriptions, email, paid plugins, booking tools and maintenance. Some are paid directly to third parties; others may be bundled into the provider's fee.
Hypothetical example: Quote A is $2,000 to build, plus $30 a month for hosting and $800 for copywriting you need. Its two-year total is $3,520. Quote B is $3,000 including that copywriting and first-year hosting, then $300 for hosting in year two: $3,300. This assumes all amounts use the same tax basis and everything else is equivalent. These are invented figures to demonstrate the calculation, not market price estimates.
Cost still needs context. A cheaper arrangement may reasonably ask you to write the copy and make updates. Include that workload in your decision, especially if preparing content is what has delayed the project so far.
Define revisions, approval and a successful launch
Ask when you will see the first version and what must be supplied before the timeline starts. A delivery estimate may depend on receiving approved copy, brand files or account access. Name one person who can consolidate feedback so the project does not stall between conflicting approvals.
A revision round should have a clear meaning. Adjusting an agreed layout is different from adding a new service page or replacing the booking system. Ask how extra work is priced and approved, and whether the provider will give you a cost before starting it.
- Review the site with real content on a staging or preview link.
- Check mobile navigation, readable text, form validation and error messages.
- Confirm enquiries arrive at the intended mailbox and replies work.
- Check important existing URLs and agreed redirects.
- Agree who handles domain and DNS changes while preserving business email.
- Record which issues will be corrected after launch, for how long and through which support channel.
Ask what you control and what happens if you leave
Ownership is not a single yes-or-no checkbox. The domain, original content, photography licences, custom code, design files and platform account can each have different arrangements. Ask for those arrangements in writing rather than assuming a paid invoice transfers everything.
Also ask how ordinary updates work. If you want to edit opening hours yourself, confirm that this is supported and that training is included. If you prefer the developer to maintain the site, ask about turnaround, fees and what happens when they are unavailable.
- Keep business-controlled access to the domain and important service accounts.
- Confirm what files and data can be exported or handed over.
- Understand which subscriptions or licences must stay active.
- Ask whether another developer could maintain the site and what handover would involve.
- Check notice periods, minimum terms and migration or cancellation charges.
Send this before making your decision
Once the answers are clear, assess fit as well as price. Look at relevant completed work, whether the provider understands your customers and whether their explanations make sense to you. A useful proposal should leave you knowing what will be delivered, what you need to do and what happens afterwards.
Website quote FAQs
Should I choose the cheapest website quote?
It can be the right choice if it covers the work you actually need and the trade-offs are acceptable. First check missing content work, ongoing costs, support and ownership so you are comparing the same outcome.
Is a template-based website a bad option?
No. A well-chosen template can suit a straightforward site. Ask how it will be adapted to your services and content, and what limitations matter to your requirements.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three can provide a useful comparison if they respond to the same brief. More quotes do not necessarily help when the scope remains unclear.
Can a provider guarantee first-page rankings?
Treat a ranking promise with caution. Ask for the exact work and reporting included, rather than using a promised position as evidence of value. A website launch cannot control Google's ranking decisions.