How To Compare Website Quotations Beyond The Price

Two suppliers quote for a new website. One price is much lower than the other. Does that mean it is better value, or that something important is missing?

You cannot tell from the total alone.

A modest website with a clear scope can be a sensible purchase. A more expensive proposal may include work your business genuinely needs, or features it will barely use. The task is to compare the actual offer.

Give Everyone The Same Starting Point

Prepare a short brief covering the audience, main purpose, expected pages and essential functions.

Include what you already have, such as approved copy, photographs and product information. Also explain what needs to move from the existing website.

Without a shared brief, one supplier may quote for placing finished content into a standard layout while another allows for research, writing, custom design and migration. Those are different projects.

Ask each supplier to list its assumptions rather than leaving you to discover them later.

Look Beyond The Page Count

A page count does not describe the complexity of a website.

A simple company profile, a searchable product catalogue and a customer portal might each contain a similar number of visible pages. The work behind them can be very different.

Clarify which page layouts and functions are included. For a form, ask about the fields, attachments, confirmation messages and where submissions go. For a catalogue, ask about filters, product variations and how information will be maintained.

Use realistic examples so the quotation describes your business rather than a generic package.

Establish Who Supplies The Content

Copy, photography, translation and content entry are separate responsibilities. Confirm who prepares each item, who approves it and how much is included.

If your team supplies everything, allow time for that work in your own budget and schedule. If the supplier writes the copy, ask what research and review are included.

Also check what “migration” means. It may cover a limited number of pages, not every old article, image and download. Ask how important existing URLs will be handled.

Ask What Testing Means

“Mobile-friendly” and “tested” need a little explanation.

Ask which devices, browsers and visitor journeys will be checked. An enquiry form should be tested through to the intended recipient, not only for its appearance.

Discuss accessibility expectations explicitly. W3C’s Easy Checks introduces basic checks such as keyboard focus, headings and form labels, while warning that these do not replace a comprehensive assessment.

Agree what evidence or demonstration you will see before accepting the work. This turns a broad promise into something you can review.

Understand Ownership And Ongoing Costs

Clarify who controls the domain, hosting and website accounts. Ask what files, access and training you will receive at handover, including any restrictions attached to licensed components.

List recurring costs separately from the build. These may include hosting, software subscriptions, support and third-party services.

Find out what happens when a licence expires or you change suppliers. Do not assume a one-off build payment covers every future renewal.

Check How Changes Are Approved

A useful quotation explains how revisions and new requests are handled.

Ask what is included in the design review process and how additional work is estimated. Agree that a change affecting price or timing needs approval before it proceeds.

This protects both sides. You can decide whether the extra work is worthwhile, and the supplier knows which version of the scope to deliver.

Make A Short Comparison Sheet

For each proposal, record:

• Included work and important exclusions.
• Content your team must supply.
• Essential functions and acceptance checks.
• Account ownership and handover.
• Recurring charges and support arrangements.
• Unanswered questions.

Do not fill gaps with assumptions. Send the same clarification questions to each supplier.

Price still matters. The aim is not to justify the most expensive option, but to choose a scope you understand, a team you can work with and an ongoing commitment your business can sustain.