Fig. 02Price comparison
What providers charge for a simple website.
Everyone prices differently, but the ranges are fairly stable. The drawing shows one-off prices. Website builders are not on it, because you pay for them every month for as long as the site is live.
Fig. 03What is included
What you actually get for the price.
A price on the drawing says little until you know what is in it. With other providers a lot depends on the contract. With me, every one of these points goes into the contract.
| With me | Website builder | Freelancer | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | from scratch, for your business | a template | depends on the person | from scratch |
| Copy | included | you write it | depends on the person | depends on the package |
| Fixes after launch | 3 months included | builder support | depends on the contract | depends on the contract |
| Domain and code | yours from day one | the site stays in the builder | depends on the contract | depends on the contract |
| Monthly fee | none, support only if you want it | from about €160 a year | depends on the contract | depends on the contract |
| Who you talk to | me, from start to finish | support | the freelancer | a project manager |
Fig. 04What you pay for
Most of the price is people’s time.
I split it into five parts, because each one can be done cheaply or expensively.
- Design
- How the site looks on a laptop and on a phone. A ready-made template is cheap, a design from scratch takes a few days.
- Copy
- What you say about the business and your prices. Supply it yourself and you pay less. Have it written for you and the site usually sells better.
- Build
- Pages, contact form, map, reviews. Every extra feature adds hours.
- Domain and hosting
- The address and the server the site runs on. Usually a small yearly fee, billed separately.
- Fixes after launch
- Something always turns up after go-live. It helps when the first weeks of fixes are included.
Fig. 05Why prices differ
Similar sites, several times the price.
Two sites that look alike can differ in price several times over. Four things usually decide it.
- Number of pages
- A one-page site is different work from ten pages of services.
- Features
- A contact form is simple. Bookings, payments or a quote calculator need real programming.
- Copy and photos
- Ready material from you shortens the work. A photo shoot and copy written from scratch lengthen it.
- Who edits the content
- If you want to change prices and news yourself, the site needs a simple admin panel.
Fig. 06Questions before you sign
Five questions before you pay a deposit.
Ask them of every provider, including me. If any answer is vague, ask for it in writing. My answers are next to the questions.
Ask the provider
My answer
- Is there a monthly fee, and what exactly does it cover?No. Support and growth from €25 a month, only if you want it.
- Will the domain be registered to my business?Yes. You register it in your name, I connect the site.
- Will I get access to the site and the code if I switch providers?Yes, from day one. Any developer can take the site over.
- How long are bug fixes included?3 months from launch.
- What will a change cost six months from now?I quote it before I start. You only pay for what you agree to.
Print this list and take it to every meeting with a provider.
