website design price quote
Simple, practical steps to get accurate website quotes and choose the best option for your business.
Confused by different quotes and hidden fees? This guide shows you what a proper quote should include, the questions to ask, common red flags, and a sample quote template you can use when comparing offers.
Why accurate website quotes matter for small businesses
An accurate quote tells you exactly what you pay for, helps you compare providers fairly, and prevents surprises later. Without clarity you risk paying too much, getting less than promised, or being locked into extra charges.
Use quotes to measure value, not just price. Cheaper isn’t always better if the quote leaves out essential items like hosting, SSL, mobile optimisation, or ongoing updates.
What a proper website design quote should include
Essential line items
- Project summary: One-sentence description of what will be delivered.
- Scope: Number of pages, templates (home, service, about, contact), responsive design.
- Design time: Hours or fixed fee for mockups, revisions included.
- Content: Who provides copy and images; copywriting fees if included.
- Development: Setup, CMS, integrations (booking, payments), accessibility basics.
- Hosting & domain: Included or separate; renewal costs.
- SEO basics: Meta tags, sitemap, Google submission—what level is included.
- Security & SSL: SSL certificate, backups, updates.
- Training & handover: Any CMS training or documentation.
- Support & maintenance: Hours included per month, response times, extra hourly rate.
- Timelines: Start date, milestones, launch date.
- Payment terms: Deposit, milestone payments, monthly subscription or one-off.
- Ownership: Who owns code, design, and domain after payment/cancellation.
Pricing details to look for
- Fixed vs hourly: Fixed price is better for predictable scope; hourly is okay for open-ended work but needs an estimate.
- What’s excluded: Make sure exclusions are listed (e.g., extra revisions, premium plugins, stock images).
- Revisions policy: Number of revisions included and cost for extras.
- Hidden add-ons: Domain transfer fees, migration costs, staging sites—confirm these.
- Refunds & cancellations: Understand the refund policy for deposits and subscriptions.
- Ongoing monthly fees: Hosting, maintenance, analytics—are they bundled or billed separately?
How to request accurate quotes — step by step
Follow this short process to get consistent, comparable quotes from different providers.
Step 1 — Prepare a brief
Include:
- Business overview: What you do and your top 3 goals for the website.
- Must-have pages: e.g., Home, Services (list), Contact, About, Gallery.
- Budget range: Give a realistic range to avoid time wasted on misaligned proposals.
- Deadline: When you need the site live.
- Examples: 2–3 sites you like and what you like about them.
Step 2 — Send the same brief to 3 providers
Why three? You’ll see a range and can spot outliers.
- Include a deadline for the quote (e.g., one week).
- Ask for a written quote broken into the line items above.
- Request examples of completed work and at least 1 reference client.
Step 3 — Use a short evaluation form (quick checklist)
Compare these items for each quote:
- Is the scope clear? Y / N
- Are all recurring costs shown? Y / N
- Who owns the site and domain? Y / N
- What support is included? Response SLA?
- Is SEO and mobile optimisation included? Y / N
Step 4 — Ask follow-up questions
Good clarifying questions:
- Show me the exact deliverables for the price.
- How many revision rounds are included?
- What happens if we change scope mid-project?
- Can I see a sample contract or terms?
- How long do you keep backups and what is the recovery process?
How to compare multiple quotes fairly
When quotes come back at different prices, use this side-by-side checklist to determine real value.
| Line item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project fee (design + dev) | $1,200 | $3,800 | $450 |
| Pages included | 6 | 12 | 5 |
| Revisions | 3 rounds | Unlimited (14 days) | 1 round |
| Hosting & domain | Included (1yr) | Not included | Included (basic) |
| SEO basics | Included | Optional extra | Not included |
| Support / monthly | $49/mo | $150/mo | $0 (extra charged hourly) |
| Total first year (est) | $1,788 | $4,600+ | $650+ |
Value score
Lower up-front cost may hide ongoing fees. Score providers by scope completeness and long-term costs.
Timeline risk
Faster delivery costs more. If timing is critical, weigh that in your decision.
Support & ownership
Ensure you retain domain ownership and get clear exit processes if you cancel a subscription.
Red flags and hidden costs to watch for
Watch for these common problems that lead to unexpected bills or trouble later.
- Vague scope: If the quote is one line (e.g., "Website - $1,200") with no breakdown, ask for details.
- Locked code or hosting: If they host on a platform you can't move away from, ensure you can export your site and domain.
- Unclear timelines: No milestones or launch date equals delays.
- Surprise charges for basics: SEO, SSL, mobile optimisation or backups billed separately.
- No references or portfolio: Legit providers show recent work and client contacts.
- Long lock-in contracts: Be wary of 12+ month contracts without opt-out or clear deliverables.
Sample quote template (copy and send to providers)
Use this template in an email or message so each provider quotes the same scope.
Project: New website for [Business name]
Goals: [e.g., get 10 leads/week via contact form, show services, appointment booking]
Scope:
- Home page
- Services page (list: [service 1], [service 2], [service 3])
- About page
- Contact page (form + Google Map)
- Mobile responsive design
- Basic SEO (titles, meta descriptions, sitemap)
- Hosting & SSL included? (Yes/No)
- Number of revision rounds included: [x]
- Timeline to delivery: [x] days/weeks
Please provide:
- Line-item pricing (design, development, hosting, SEO, maintenance)
- Ongoing monthly fees (hosting, support)
- Payment terms (deposit, milestone, monthly)
- Ownership details (who owns code, content, domain)
- Example sites and a client reference
Typical small business price ranges (2025)
Note: Subscription services (like modern professional subscriptions) often shift costs into a predictable monthly fee—e.g., $30–49/month with hosting, updates and support included. That can be more cost-effective in Year 1 versus high upfront fees.
How to negotiate and make the final decision
- Compare apples to apples: Use your sample quote template so scope matches.
- Prioritise must-haves: If a provider is over budget, ask them to remove optional items rather than reduce quality.
- Ask for payment options: Split payments, monthly subscriptions, or staged delivery can improve cash flow.
- Request a warranty: Ask for 30–90 days of bug fixes included after launch.
- Check references: Call a past client and ask about delivery, communication and any surprise costs.
- Is the scope clear and complete?
- Is the timeline acceptable?
- Do you retain domain and content ownership?
- Are ongoing costs predictable?
- Are support and revision policies reasonable?
A transparent option: what to expect from a subscription service
Subscription website services (like Congero) bundle design, hosting, SSL, monthly updates, and basic local SEO into a single monthly fee. That means predictable costs and no surprise invoices for small changes. These services often offer faster turnarounds — some can create a professional site within 60 seconds to a few days using AI workflows, with unlimited updates included.
Frequently asked questions
Should I prefer a fixed price or hourly quote?
Is a very low quote a bad sign?
What happens to my content and domain if I cancel?
How many quotes should I get?
Ready to get clear, comparable quotes?
Use the template above and send the same brief to 3 providers — or try a simple, all-in-one option with predictable monthly pricing.
Tip: predictability wins. A clear monthly plan that includes updates, hosting and basic SEO often gives the best long-term value for small businesses.
