Ask three companies for "a website" and you may get three very different prices. Usually they are not quoting the same thing. Before comparing numbers, compare what is included.
Design: template or custom
A template is quick and cheap, but your site will look like many others and may carry code you do not need. A custom design takes longer because it is made around your content and your customers. Neither is wrong; just make sure you know which one you are paying for.
Page types, not page count
Ten service pages that share one layout cost far less than ten pages that each look different. When you list your pages, group them by type: home, listing, detail, contact and so on.
Features
Every feature adds work: online payment, booking, user accounts, product filters, a second language, a quote request form. Write down what you need on day one and what can wait. A good team will suggest launching with the essentials and adding the rest later.
Content
Who writes the text, takes the photos and translates the pages? If you expect the developer to do it, the quote should say so. Missing content is the most common reason websites launch late.
An admin panel your team can use
Can your team change prices, add products and publish news without calling anyone? That is worth paying for, because it saves money every month after launch.
Life after launch
Some quotes include the first year of hosting and support; others stop at launch. Ask who renews the domain and SSL certificate, how security updates are handled and what small changes will cost.
A simple way to compare quotes
- Ask for a written list of pages and features, and of what is not included.
- Ask who will own the code, the domain and the hosting account. The answer should be: you.
- Ask to see a live site the company built and still maintains, not only screenshots.
- Ask what you will pay each year after launch.
The cheapest quote is often the one that leaves the most out. The right one is the quote where you understand exactly what you get.