companies that design websites
How to find and hire the right website design company — compare services, prices, timeline and guarantees so your new website actually makes money.
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What we mean by "companies that design websites"
"Companies that design websites" covers a wide range of providers: full-service digital agencies, specialist web design firms, freelance designers, and now AI-driven web services like Congero that deliver complete, mobile-first websites instantly. Each offers different trade-offs in price, speed, customisation and ongoing support.
This guide helps you match your business goals to the right type of provider, understand typical deliverables, compare costs, and prepare the right questions so you hire with confidence.
What you'll get from this guide
- Clear pros and cons of each provider type
- A hiring checklist and 12 essential questions to ask
- Realistic timelines and price ranges for 2025
- Red flags and contract tips to avoid surprises
Types of companies that design websites (and when to use each)
Choose based on budget, time, scalability and how customised you need the final product to be.
Full-service agencies
Best for larger businesses needing brand strategy, custom development, marketing integrations and ongoing campaigns.
- High customisation & design polish
- Project managers and multi-disciplinary teams
- Cost: $8k–$50k+ one-off, often with monthly retainers
Boutique studios
Great for design-focused projects and startups that want a very specific look or UX attention.
- Strong visual design, moderate development
- Usually faster than large agencies
- Cost: $3k–$15k depending on features
Freelancers
Ideal for small projects, landing pages or when you have a tight budget and clear direction.
- Flexible and often cost-effective
- Varied reliability — check portfolios and reviews
- Cost: $500–$5k depending on experience
AI-driven services (like Congero)
If speed, affordability and ongoing edits matter more than bespoke code, AI services deliver full sites instantly and include hosting, updates and SEO.
- Live in seconds or minutes, not weeks
- Flat monthly pricing, unlimited updates via text
- Cost: $49/month typical for managed AI sites
E-commerce specialists
Use when selling online and you need payment gateways, inventory sync, or marketplaces integrated.
- Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom builds
- Complexity increases cost and timeline
- Cost: $2k–$50k+ depending on scale
Maintenance & hosting providers
Sometimes you hire a designer and separately a reliable host or support service. Bundled options offer convenience.
- Ongoing security, backups, and performance monitoring
- Cost: $10–$300/month depending on service level
How to compare companies that design websites
Use objective criteria to shortlist providers. Don’t rely solely on price.
1. Portfolio & case studies
Look for relevant industry examples, measurable results (traffic, leads, revenue), and consistency in design quality.
2. Process & timelines
Ask for a detailed process: discovery, design, revisions, testing and launch. Confirm realistic milestones and delivery dates.
3. SEO & performance
A good company builds with speed, mobile-first design, schema, and on-page SEO in mind — not just pretty pages.
4. Ownership & portability
Confirm who owns the code, images and content. Can you export static HTML or migrate hosting later?
5. Support & updates
Understand support SLAs, unlimited edits vs hourly billing, and how quickly they make changes when you need them.
6. Pricing structure
Compare fixed-price projects, retainers, and subscription models. Flat monthly pricing (like Congero) often reduces surprises and gives predictable ROI.
Instant PDF checklist — use it when interviewing agencies or freelancers
Realistic price ranges and delivery timeframes for 2025
Expectations vary by provider type, complexity, and integrations.
Basic brochure site
What: 3–6 pages, contact form, basic SEO
Price: $500–$3,500
Timeline: 1–4 weeks (AI options: under 60 seconds preview)
Small business / service site
What: Services pages, testimonials, basic blog, local SEO
Price: $1,500–$10,000
Timeline: 2–8 weeks (AI subscription: immediate + ongoing edits)
E-commerce / custom build
What: Payment gateways, inventory, custom integrations
Price: $3,000–$100,000+
Timeline: 4–24+ weeks
Flat monthly options reduce risk
Services like Congero provide a full managed website, domain, hosting, SSL and unlimited updates for a predictable $49/month — ideal for trades and service businesses that need speed and low cost of ownership.
SEE THE $49 PLANHiring checklist — 12 questions to ask every company
Use these during your first calls to quickly uncover fit and capability.
- Can I see recent examples in my industry? Ask for links and measurable outcomes (traffic, conversions).
- Who owns the code and content? Confirm export and migration options.
- What’s included in the price? Hosting, domain, SSL, updates, analytics — get it in writing.
- How do you handle revisions? Fixed rounds vs unlimited edits, and expected turnaround time.
- Do you build with SEO and performance in mind? Verify mobile-first, schema and speed optimisation.
- What integrations can you support? CRM, bookings, payments, analytics.
- Can you show the live project timeline? Milestones, deliverables and sign-off points.
- What happens after launch? Support SLAs, backups and security responsibilities.
- Do you provide analytics and reporting? Frequency, metrics tracked and conversion setup.
- What are your payment terms? Deposit, milestones and refund policy.
- Do you offer training for my team? CMS access and documentation.
- Any hidden or add-on costs? Plugins, stock images, third-party licences — ask for an itemised list.
Pro Tip
If a company can’t clearly explain their process or refuses to put deliverables in writing, treat that as a red flag.
Red flags when evaluating website companies (avoid these)
- No contract or vague scope: Always get timelines, deliverables and acceptance criteria in writing.
- Unclear ownership: If they claim ownership of your site content or brand assets, push back.
- Excessive delays: Frequent missed deadlines without explanation usually indicate poor project management.
- Large upfront payments with no milestones: Staggered payments tied to milestones are safer.
- No references or live examples: Always verify claims with real links and client contacts when possible.
Contract tip
Include an exit or migration clause that guarantees you can export your content and static files without penalty if the relationship ends.
Example: How a local plumber picked the right provider
A single-operator plumber needed better local visibility and quicker lead capture. They compared a boutique studio, a freelancer and an AI-managed service. Results:
- Time to launch: AI option — live preview in 60 seconds; studio — 6 weeks.
- Cost: AI subscription at $49/month vs studio quote $7,500.
- Outcome: AI-managed site plus local SEO increased enquiries by 38% in 6 weeks with predictable monthly cost and unlimited edits via text.
Frequently asked questions about hiring website design companies
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