Quotes for the same site can differ by thousands, and it is hard to tell whether the gap is quality or just overhead. Before you decide an agency is out of your reach, it helps to compare what is actually inside each proposal. Often the difference is in extras you may not need on day one.
Put two quotes side by side
Take the agency proposal and the package you are comparing it with and write the same questions beside each. How many pages are included? Who writes the text? How many rounds of changes? What happens after launch and what does that cost each month? Who owns the domain and files?
Some of what agencies charge for is real: strategy workshops, custom illustration, brand identity, complex integrations. If you need those, a package will not replace them. If you need a clear, professional site that explains your services and collects inquiries, you may be paying for more than the job requires.
What to check in any quote
- ✓Page count — how many pages are actually included, and what an extra costs
- ✓Copywriting — whether someone writes the text or you do
- ✓Revisions — the number of rounds and what counts as a round
- ✓Ongoing costs — hosting, updates and support each month
- ✓Ownership — who holds the domain, site files and logins
What a fixed-price package covers
Business Plus is $989 one time for up to 20 pages. It includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Website Care at $30/month covers managed hosting, HTTPS, backups, uptime checks, weekly performance checks, A/B testing and up to 30 minutes of small edits each month.
What you give up is bespoke discovery work and custom brand development. What you keep is a site that looks professional, works on small screens and has a person to ask when something needs changing.
Questions to ask whichever way you go
- ✓Can I see the total of the build and the monthly costs? — build plus monthly costs side by side
- ✓What is excluded? — third-party tools, premium plugins, extra pages
- ✓What happens if I leave? — whether you take the domain and content with you
- ✓Who do I contact for small changes? — a named process rather than an open ended wait
What to expect, honestly
- ✓No custom brand identity work — logo and brand design are separate
- ✓Large custom builds are scoped separately — complex features need a conversation
- ✓Page counts are limits — more pages move you to a larger plan
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
What a small business website costs · Freelancer or agency · DIY or hire a designer
