How much does a website cost? Compare scope and upkeep
Compare website proposals by separating production, content, integrations and recurring expenses, with a worked example rather than invented market rates.
Two quotes for “a five-page website” can describe very different work. One may include research, copywriting, photographs and training. Another may cover adapting a template using material supplied by the client. Comparing only the totals will not tell you which meets the business’s needs.
This article does not provide a market price list. It offers a way to compare proposals: define deliverables, separate initial production from ongoing operation and understand what happens when the scope changes.
Translate pages into actual work
Page count is only one factor. A service page with finished copy is different from a searchable catalogue, a calculator or an authenticated customer area. Additional languages need content and review even when they share the same layout.
Assign responsibility for each deliverable: structure, copy, editing, images, design, development, integrations, testing and launch. Include account handover and instructions for updating content. Items without an owner tend to return as unresolved tasks near launch.
A calculation example, not a quotation
Imagine a hypothetical project with 12 hours of planning, 14 of content work, 18 of design, 24 of development and 8 of testing. That totals 76 hours. At an illustrative rate of BRL 150 an hour, production would be 76 × BRL 150 = BRL 11,400.
These figures exist only to explain the calculation. They are not industry averages, Inkdesign prices or a recommendation for your project. The example retains Brazilian currency; it is not a local quote or a currency conversion. A real proposal must account for the team, requirements, available materials, commercial terms and expenses outside this simple hours model.
Use the example to discuss effort. If an integration adds ten hours, where do they belong? If the client supplies finished copy, what editorial work remains? These questions explain price differences better than negotiating a discount on an unexplained total.
Add what continues after launch
Separate hosting, domain renewal, paid tools, messaging, storage, maintenance and content production. Not every site needs every item. Ask for each cost, billing interval, usage limit and account owner.
ICANN’s explanation of domain registration helps distinguish registering the address from the other services used by a website.
Compare costs over the same period, such as twelve months. Also ask what happens when the relationship ends: can you export the content, transfer account access and give another supplier enough documentation to take over?
Questions to include in the brief
- Who writes and approves the copy, and how many revision rounds are included?
- Which integrations will be delivered and how will they be tested?
- What counts as an accepted delivery?
- How are faults handled after launch?
- How are changes outside the agreed scope priced?
- Which recurring services will the business pay for directly?
If the budget does not cover everything, reduce the initial scope explicitly. A feature can be postponed. Essential content, testing and operational responsibility should not be left undefined. Choose a first version that the team can deliver and maintain.
Before requesting quotes, work through the initial website decisions.
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Tiago F SantiagoComments
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