Before you ask for quotes
Three things worth knowing up front, because they change the quote more than the design does:
- What the site is for: calls, bookings, sales or being found. “Having a website” isn't a goal.
- What you already have: copy, photos, logo, domain. Whatever is missing, someone will have to make and charge for.
- Who will update it: if you'll be changing hours or offers yourself, say so from the start.
The 12 questions
- What exactly does the price include, and what doesn't it? Number of pages, copywriting, photos, forms, languages, rounds of revisions. If it isn't written down, it isn't included.
- What will it cost every month once it's live? Hosting, maintenance, plugin or platform licenses. It's the cost that surprises people most.
- Whose name will the domain be registered in? It must be yours. If it's in the provider's name, your address on the internet belongs to them.
- Do I keep the website and content if I leave? Code, copy, images and data, and the ability to move them to another provider.
- Will I have admin access? To the site, the hosting, Google Analytics and your Google Business Profile. Having it doesn't mean you have to use it.
- What's the timeline, with dates, and what happens if it slips? “A few weeks” isn't a timeline.
- What warranty is there after launch? How many days of free fixes, and what counts as a bug.
- Can I change the copy, hours or photos myself? And if not, what each change costs.
- How fast will it be on mobile? Ask them to show you PageSpeed Insights results for sites they've already launched.
- What will you do so I get found on Google? Whether basic SEO (titles, structured data, speed) is included or extra.
- Can I see three sites you built and talk to those clients? Live sites you can visit, not just screenshots.
- Who will actually do the work? The team you're talking to, or third parties. Subcontracting isn't bad; not knowing is.
Red flags
- A price with no breakdown, or a “starting at” that never says where it ends.
- “Guaranteed #1 on Google”: nobody controls Google's algorithm.
- The domain or accounts in the provider's name “to make things easier”.
- Long contracts or exit fees not explained before you sign.
- A portfolio of screenshots only, with no sites you can visit.
- A cheap template sold as a custom design.
- Pressure to sign today.
How to compare quotes
| What to check | Good sign | Bad sign |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Fixed and itemized, in writing | “Starting at” with no detail |
| Monthly cost | Published, with what it includes | “We'll talk about it” |
| Domain and accounts | In your name | In the provider's name |
| Timeline | With dates | “As soon as we can” |
| Warranty | Specific days, in writing | None, or just verbal |
| If you leave | You take the site and the data | Exit fees or no way to take your site |
For transparency: our pricing page and how we work answer most of these up front (fixed price, monthly cost, the 90-day warranty, timelines, and that the domain and code are yours). Our care plans are month to month, with no contract. Use this list to compare against anyone, us included. If you're still working out a budget, our website cost guide has the 2026 ranges.
Before you sign
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