Before You Sign a Web Design Quote: 12 Things to Check
Published:
Reading time:
Category:
Two quotes for a "5-page website" can describe very different jobs. Before you sign, check that each quote states the same 12 things in writing: pages, content, design approval, revisions, platform, hosting, SEO set-up, ownership, timeline, payment terms, support after launch and ongoing costs. If a line is missing from one quote, ask for it before comparing prices.
The 12-point checklist
# | Check | What a clear quote says |
1 | Pages | The number of pages and which ones (home, each service, about, contact, area pages) |
2 | Content | Who writes the copy and who supplies photos |
3 | Design approval | Whether you approve a full design before the site is built |
4 | Revisions | How many rounds are included and what extra rounds cost |
5 | Platform | What the site is built on, and whether you can edit it yourself |
6 | Hosting | Where the site is hosted, whether hosting is included and what it costs after launch |
7 | SEO set-up | Exactly what is included: titles, headings, speed, sitemap, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile |
8 | Ownership | Who owns the domain, the design, the content and the accounts |
9 | Timeline | Stages, dates, and what happens if your content or feedback is late |
10 | Payment terms | Deposit, stage payments and when the final payment is due |
11 | Support after launch | How long, what is covered and how to request help |
12 | Ongoing costs | Maintenance, changes, platform fees and any minimum term |
Scope: what you are actually buying
Pages. "Up to 5 pages" means little until you know which pages. A tradie who needs three service pages and two area pages needs a different site from a consultant with a home page, about page and three service pages.
Content. If the quote says "client to supply content", budget your own time or a copywriter. Writing clear service pages is often the hardest part of a small business website.
Photos. Stock images, your own photos or a photographer? Each has a different cost.
Design approval and revisions. You want to see and approve the complete design before development starts. Check how many revision rounds are included, and what counts as a revision.
Technical: what the site is built on
Platform. Ask what the site is built on and why. Common options include WordPress, Framer, Webflow, Squarespace and Wix. Each has different costs for hosting, maintenance and editing.
Editing. Can you change text, photos and prices yourself? Do you get training?
Hosting. Is hosting included? For how long? What will it cost from year two?
SEO set-up. "SEO included" can mean anything from page titles to a full keyword plan. Ask for the list. Basic on-page SEO should be part of any professional build. Ongoing SEO is usually a separate service.
Ownership and exit
Check this part closely: ownership problems are hard to fix after you sign.
Domain: registered in your business's name, with you holding the login.
Website and content: yours on final payment, including the design files where relevant.
Accounts: your own logins for the website platform, hosting, Google Analytics, Google Search Console and Google Business Profile.
Leaving: what you get if you move to another provider, and whether there is a fee.
Timeline and payment terms
A clear quote lists the stages (for example, discovery, design, build, launch) with dates, and ties payments to them. It should also say what happens if your content or feedback is late, because late content and feedback are a common cause of delays.
Be cautious of 100 per cent upfront payment for a new provider, and of open-ended hourly estimates for work that could be fixed-price.
After launch: support and changes
Ask how long post-launch support lasts and what it covers: fixing bugs, small changes, help using the editor. Then ask what happens after that period ends. Ongoing maintenance, content changes and platform fees can add more over two years than the difference between two build quotes.
A side-by-side comparison template
Copy this table and fill it in for each quote:
Item | Quote A | Quote B |
Build price | ||
Pages included | ||
Copywriting included? | ||
Revision rounds | ||
Platform | ||
Hosting included, and cost from year two | ||
SEO set-up included | ||
Domain in my name? | ||
Timeline | ||
Payment schedule | ||
Post-launch support | ||
Ongoing monthly costs | ||
Minimum term | ||
Two-year total |
A note on contract terms
Under Australian Consumer Law, unfair terms in standard form contracts with small businesses have been prohibited since November 2023, according to the ACCC. Examples of potentially unfair terms include ones that let only one party end or change the contract. This article is general information, not legal advice. If a contract is large or unusual, get advice before signing. After launch, ongoing website maintenance costs should be clear before you sign.
Next step
When you request quotes, send each provider the same brief so the answers are comparable. Morphic provides a fixed quote and written scope after a short call: get a free quote.
Also see website design and development in Deer Park.
Related reading: How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Australia? (2026 Melbourne Guide), How to Choose a Web Designer in Melbourne: 15 Questions to Ask and Who Owns Your Website? Domains, Logins and Lock-In Contracts Explained.
Key Takeaways
Check that every quote states the same 12 items in writing before you compare prices.
Confirm who writes the content, how many revisions are included and whether you approve the design first.
Ask what the site is built on, whether you can edit it yourself, and what hosting costs from year two.
Check who owns the domain, content and accounts, and what happens if you move to another provider.
Compare the two-year total, including support and ongoing costs.
Emon Datta
Founder, Morphic Agency
Morphic Agency is a Melbourne-based UX design agency. We've shipped 50+ products across 15+ countries.
