How to compare website quotes
Two website quotes can cover different jobs. Compare them against the same brief, check first-year and three-year costs with our free calculator, and use the worksheet to record scope, ownership and support.
Compare website quote costs
Compare two or three proposals over the same period. Enter the initial charge and the total monthly and annual fees for each supplier, including any separately billed hosting, domain or software costs.
Use pounds and pence, on the same VAT basis for every quote. Enter 0 only when a charge does not apply. If a price is missing, ask the supplier before comparing. Leave the third quote empty if you have two.
Your cost comparison
First year = initial cost + 12 monthly payments + one annual payment. Three years = initial cost + 36 monthly payments + three annual payments. This assumes the fees stay the same and start at launch. Add any other charges before using the figures to make a decision.
Compare scope, ownership, support and exit terms alongside these totals. A lower total does not tell you which proposal meets your brief.
This calculation runs in your browser. The tool does not send, save or track the figures or supplier names you enter. Use Clear comparison when you have finished.
Compare your quotes side by side
Download a free, fillable worksheet to turn this guide into a comparison of your own proposals.
Use the same brief for up to three suppliers, record the initial and recurring charges, and list the points to clarify before choosing. You can use it with quotes from any provider.
Download the quote comparison worksheetPDF · 3 pages · 83 KB. Fill it in using a PDF reader or print a copy. Your entries are not sent to Select Pembs. No email address or signup is required.
Give every supplier the same starting point
Begin with a short description of your business, your customers and what the website needs to achieve. Include essential functions, the material you already have, any existing website and your deadline. If one supplier has assumed a simple enquiry site and another has allowed for booking integration, the totals will not tell you which is better value.
Keep a copy of the brief and note any changes made during discussions. Ask each supplier to confirm which version their proposal covers.
Turn broad promises into specific questions
Phrases such as full website, SEO included or ongoing support need an explanation. Ask what you will receive, how the work will be checked and which tasks remain your responsibility.
| Proposal wording | Ask the supplier |
|---|---|
| Design and build | Which pages and functions are included, and how are revisions agreed? |
| Content included | Does this mean writing, editing, image sourcing or adding material we provide? |
| Search optimisation | Which checks or changes are included, and is ongoing work separate? |
| Website management | Does this cover hosting, software maintenance, content edits or all three? |
| Integration | Has the other provider's access, plan and additional charges been checked? |
| Handover | What access, files, instructions and training will we receive? |
Compare the complete cost arrangement
Put initial fees, recurring charges and optional work on separate lines. Compare the same time period for each proposal. Include provider subscriptions and renewals, whether paid directly by you or through the supplier, and check whether VAT is included.
Ask what happens when requirements change: who estimates the additional work, who approves it and when it is billed. Find out whether the proposal is a fixed price for a defined scope or an estimate that may change.
An unanswered question is a gap to resolve. It does not automatically mean a supplier is unsuitable, but it should not silently become your assumption.
Check control and the practical handover
Ask who will hold the domain, hosting and essential service accounts. Establish what access your business will have and which elements depend on a supplier's licence or subscription. Ownership and permitted use should be explained in the written agreement.
Discuss leaving as well as joining. Ask about notice, handover work, outstanding charges, content or data exports and what would stop working if a subscription ended. You need enough information to understand the arrangement without becoming the technical administrator.
Agree how you will judge the finished work
Choose a few real tasks that the completed site must support. For example, a customer should be able to find the right service, submit the necessary enquiry details and understand what happens next. Ask how the supplier will demonstrate those tasks before launch.
Request the proposed review process and a clear division between launch fixes, routine care and future development. If examples of previous work are supplied, look at the working websites and ask what part the supplier delivered.
- Which decisions and materials must we provide, and by when?
- Who gives final approval to launch?
- What support is available afterwards, and when?
- What remains outside this proposal?
Get a second opinion before you choose
Select Pembs offers consultancy whether you intend to buy from us or another supplier. The initial consultation is free. A detailed comparison or written recommendation is agreed and priced separately. You can begin by explaining the decision and the points you are unsure about.
Help with your next step
Select Pembs is based in the heart of Pembrokeshire. We can discuss your situation in a free initial consultation, whether you are planning a project with us or want advice before choosing another supplier.
Website consultancyRequest a free initial consultation