Web design quotes can vary wildly for what looks like the same job. One designer quotes a few hundred pounds, another several thousand, and a third wants to talk about your “digital strategy” before giving a number. It’s hard to know whether you’re comparing like with like.
Portfolios help, but they only show the finished look. They don’t tell you how the project was run, what the site is built on, who owns it afterwards, or what happens when something breaks. For that, you need to ask. Here are the questions worth putting to anyone who sends you web design quotes, before you commit.
About the process
- What does your process look like, step by step? You want to hear about discovery, planning, design, build, testing and launch, not just “we’ll design it and send it over”.
- How many rounds of design changes are included? And what counts as a change versus new work?
- What do you need from us, and when? Content, photos, feedback and approvals all take your time.
- Who will we actually deal with? The person you meet in the sales call may not be the person doing the work.
- What’s a realistic timeline? Ask what usually causes delays. A good designer will say, often politely, “clients supplying content late”.
About the website itself
- Which platform will you build it on, and why is it right for us? The answer should relate to your needs, not just their habits.
- Will we be able to update it ourselves? Ask for a demonstration of the editing process if that matters to you.
- Is it built from a template, a theme, or from scratch? All can be fine. You just want to know which you’re paying for.
- How do you handle mobile, speed and accessibility? Listen for specifics, not just “it’s all responsive”.
- Who writes the content? Copywriting is often excluded from quotes, and it’s a big job.
About ownership and access
This is the section people forget, and the one that causes the most grief later.
- Who owns the domain name? It should be registered in your business’s name, with you having access.
- Who owns the website once it’s paid for? Check the contract. Some arrangements mean you’re effectively renting.
- Will we have full admin access? Even if you never use it, you should have it.
- What happens if we part ways? Can you move the site to another host or developer, and will they help?
- Are there any licences that expire? Paid themes, plugins, fonts and stock photos sometimes carry ongoing costs.
The cheapest quote can become the most expensive one if you don’t own your domain, can’t access your site, or have to rebuild when you want to move on.
About what happens after launch
- Is hosting included, and what kind? Ask where it’s hosted, what’s backed up and how often.
- Who handles updates and security? On many platforms, someone needs to apply regular updates.
- What does ongoing support cost? Is there a monthly plan, or is it charged by the hour?
- How quickly do you respond if the site goes down?
- Is there a warranty period for bugs after launch?
Warning signs in web design quotes
Some answers should make you pause. A designer who can’t explain their process simply, who is vague about ownership, who promises guaranteed first-page rankings, or who pushes you to sign quickly with no written scope. None of these automatically rule someone out, but they’re worth probing.
Equally, be wary of comparing web design quotes purely on price. A lower number might exclude content, hosting, training or migration work that another quote includes. Line them up against the same list of questions and the differences usually become clear.
Finally, pay attention to how they ask questions of you. A designer who wants to understand your customers, your goals and how you win work is thinking about results. One who only asks about colours and fonts is thinking about decoration.
Before you sign
Get the answers in writing, ideally in the proposal or contract, so your web design quotes can be compared fairly. Check that the scope lists the pages, features and deliverables you’ve agreed, along with payment terms and what happens if the project runs over. Ask to speak to a past client if you’d like extra reassurance.
We’re happy to answer every one of these about our own website design and development work.
