Before You Sign That Website Quote: 8 Things to Check

Most small business owners only buy a website once every few years. The people quoting it sell them every week. That gap is where bad deals come from. Usually nobody is being dishonest. One side just knows which questions to ask, and the other doesn't.

Here's the checklist I'd use if I were on your side of the table. It works whether the quote came from me, a local agency, or a freelancer you found online.

1. Who owns the domain?

Your domain name (yourbusiness.com) should be registered in your name, on an account you can log into. Plenty of businesses find out years later that their developer registered it under their own account. When that relationship ends, getting it back can be a headache, or worse.

Ask: "Will the domain be registered to me, and will I have the login?" The only good answer is yes.

2. Who owns the site itself?

Once you've paid in full, you should own the content, the design and the code built for you. Some quotes quietly license the site to you instead. That means you're renting it, and if you stop paying, it goes away.

Ask: "If I leave, can I take the site with me?"

3. What exactly is included?

"Five-page website" can mean very different things. Look for specifics:

• Which pages, by name
• Who writes the text and who provides the photos
• Whether contact forms, booking or payments are included
• Whether it's built for phones from the start
• Basic search setup, like page titles and your Google Business profile

If the quote is one line and a number, ask for the list. A good developer can write it in ten minutes.

4. How many rounds of changes?

Almost every project involves "can we move this" and "can we try a different color." That's normal. What matters is whether the quote says how many rounds of revisions are included, and what happens after that. Unlimited revisions with no definition usually means arguments later.

5. What happens after launch?

This is the line that's most often missing. Who hosts the site? Who keeps the software updated? Who do you call when the contact form stops sending emails?

If there's a monthly fee, the quote should say what it covers. If there isn't one, ask who's responsible when something breaks. I wrote more about this in What a Website Care Plan Should Actually Cover.

6. How does payment work?

A deposit to start is normal. Paying 100% upfront for a build that hasn't started is not. Look for payments tied to progress, like a deposit, a payment when you approve the design, and the rest at launch. That way, both sides have a reason to keep moving.

7. Is the timeline specific?

"4–6 weeks" is fine. "Soon" is not. Also ask what the timeline depends on. Many delays come from waiting on the client for photos, text or approvals, and that's worth knowing upfront so you can plan for it.

8. Are you paying for things you don't need?

Small business quotes are often padded with features that sound impressive and don't do much for you: custom animations nobody notices, monthly reports nobody reads, or a complicated content system for a site that changes twice a year. I covered the common ones in What a Small Business Website Actually Needs.

The opposite happens too. A quote can look cheap because it leaves out things you'll need anyway, like a contact form that actually reaches your inbox, or a site that loads quickly on a phone.

The price isn't the whole story

Two quotes for "a website" can differ by thousands of dollars and both be fair. One might include writing, photography and a year of support. The other might be a template with your logo dropped in. Compare what's written down, not just the total.

A cheap quote that leaves you without your domain, without support, or rebuilding in two years is the expensive one.

Want a second opinion?

If you've got a quote in hand and something feels off, or you just want someone to read it who isn't trying to sell you the project, I offer a Vendor or Quote Review. I'll read the proposal or contract and give you plain-language findings: what's fair, what's missing, and what to ask before you sign. It doesn't matter whether you end up hiring me.

And if you're not sure you need anything that formal, the first conversation is always free. Reach out and we'll figure out whether you need help at all.