A website quote is useful only when you can see what it buys. Two proposals may promise the same number of pages and describe completely different jobs. Before comparing the totals, compare the work, the decisions you will need to make, and what happens after launch.
Start with the job, not the page count
A five-page site can be a straightforward introduction to your business. It can also need appointment booking, product data, two languages and a connection to your sales system. Those details change the effort far more than adding another page.
Write down the main action a visitor should take. Then list the content and tools that make that action possible. Ask who supplies the words, images and product information. If those responsibilities are missing from the quote, they tend to become surprises halfway through the build.
Ask what the quote includes
A clear scope describes design, development, content entry, testing and handover separately. It also names the rounds of feedback, supported devices and services that must connect. You should be able to point to a line and understand what will be delivered.
Look for recurring costs beside the build price: hosting, domains, paid software and ongoing support. Ask whether tax is included. A smaller upfront number is not automatically better if essential work sits outside the agreement. Compare the same scope and the same period of ownership.
Make the handover part of the price
You should know who owns the code, where the accounts live and how your team will update the site. Ask for a practical handover session and written instructions for the tasks you will repeat. Access should belong to your business.
Agree what counts as a defect, how long fixes are included and how new requests are priced. Keep a little room in your plan for what you learn from customers after launch. A website is easier to improve when the first release has a clear, manageable purpose.
Bring your current site, your most important customer task and any quotes you are comparing. We can help turn them into a scope you can understand. Call the studio