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Comparing web design quotes
like for like
You ask three agencies for a new website and get €900, €2,400 and €6,000 back. That gap rarely comes from the hourly rate. It comes from what is and is not in the quote. Below are the six points where quotes differ most, with the questions to ask every web designer.
Compare the content, not the total
Put the quotes side by side and list for each: how many pages, who writes the copy, what maintenance includes, who owns the site and when it is ready.
If a point is not in a quote, it is not included, even if the salesperson says it goes without saying. Ask and get it in writing. Only when all quotes deliver the same does the price difference mean something.
Six points where quotes differ
Almost every cheap quote misses two or three of these. An expensive quote sometimes includes things you do not need.
1. Number of pages and copy
Five pages with copy written by the designer is a different project from five pages where you supply the text. Writing copy is often half the work and the first thing dropped from a cheap quote.
2. Template or custom design
A bought theme with your logo on it is fast and cheap. A design made for your brand and your clients costs more. Ask which one it is and whether you get examples of similar work.
3. SEO basics
Page titles, descriptions, fast loading, a sitemap and a Google Business Profile that points to the site. Without those basics the site looks good but nobody finds it.
4. Hosting and maintenance
A low build price with a high monthly fee for hosting and updates can cost more over three years than a higher build price. Calculate the total cost over three years before you compare.
5. Ownership and access
Is the domain in your name, do you get admin access and can you take the site to another party? With some quotes you rent the website rather than buy it.
6. Revisions and delivery time
How many feedback rounds are included and what does an extra round cost? When does the site go live? A quote without a delivery date or revision agreement causes most disputes afterwards.
A cheap quote is only cheap if it delivers the same.
Ask about the six points above and the price gap usually shrinks or becomes explainable. What remains is the question of who suits your type of business best.
Your questions for every web designer
| Question | Why | Good answer |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes the copy? | Biggest hidden cost | Clearly stated, with number of pages |
| Theme or custom design? | Sets look and price | Named honestly, with examples |
| What is in the SEO basics? | Decides whether you get found | Titles, speed, sitemap, Google profile |
| What does it cost per month? | Total cost over three years | Fixed amount with clear content |
| Whose name is everything in? | Freedom to switch | Domain and access in your name |
| How many revisions and when live? | Prevents disputes later | Number of rounds and a date in writing |
For reference: with us a one page site starts from €150, an SME website of 5 to 8 pages costs €1,450 to €2,200 with a delivery time of about two weeks, and a webshop or multilingual site €2,400 to €4,500, all excl. VAT. Make a first estimate with the website quote estimator.
Web design quotes
What does a website cost in Belgium?
It mostly depends on the number of pages, who writes the copy and whether it is a webshop. With us a one page site starts from €150, an SME website of 5 to 8 pages costs €1,450 to €2,200 and a webshop or multilingual site €2,400 to €4,500, all excl. VAT.
Why is one quote three times more expensive than another?
Usually because they do not deliver the same. Copy, custom design, SEO basics and maintenance are in one quote and missing from another. Compare them on the six points on this page before you look at the price.
Do I pay hosting and maintenance separately?
Almost always, as a monthly fee. Ask what it includes: hosting, updates, backups and small changes. With us Care with hosting, maintenance and small changes costs €25 per month.
How long does it take to build an SME website?
A one page site or landing page takes about a week, an SME website of 5 to 8 pages about two weeks and a webshop about four weeks, provided copy and images are ready on time.
Let us put your quotes side by side
A free 30 minute analysis. Send us the quotes you received, we tell you what is missing and what you really need, even if you do not choose us afterwards.
Read more: Website quote estimator · SEO · Pricing