Start with the job, not a page count
A five-page brochure site and a five-page lead-generation site can require very different work. Define the audience, the decision the website must support and the action a qualified visitor should take.
Budget separately for discovery, copy, design, development, integrations, testing, launch and ongoing improvement. A single total without those boundaries is difficult to compare.
The main cost drivers
Custom layouts, original copy and photography, product or booking data, payment flows, CRM connections, accessibility, migration and complex approval processes all add real delivery work.
Content readiness is often the hidden variable. If offers, proof and service details are unresolved, the project needs strategy and editing rather than only production.
Migration risk matters too. Preserving useful URLs, analytics, search visibility, customer records and working integrations takes more care than starting an isolated brochure site.
Separate the initial build from ongoing costs
Ask for the project fee, hosting, domain, licences, maintenance and support to be listed separately. Confirm which costs are once-off, monthly or annual and whether they are paid directly to the supplier or to a third party.
A lower initial quote can carry higher recurring costs. A larger custom build can also be wasteful when a maintained, simpler system already solves the business problem. Compare the total arrangement over at least the first year.
Use ranges before demanding a fixed quote
A supplier can usually provide a useful range after a short discovery conversation. A dependable fixed price needs a defined scope: page types, content responsibilities, integrations, review rounds, launch requirements and exclusions.
If important decisions are still open, use a paid discovery stage or a range with clear assumptions. An artificially precise quote made before the work is understood often shifts uncertainty into later variations.
Compare proposals on evidence
Ask what is included, who owns the website and accounts, how changes are handled, what happens after launch, and how performance will be measured. Confirm hosting, licences and recurring fees in writing.
Look for proof relevant to the job: responsive pages, working forms, accessible navigation, real project examples and a clear launch process. Awards or visual polish alone do not demonstrate that a website will support enquiries or operations.
The cheapest quote can be suitable for a simple need. It becomes expensive when essential scope is excluded or the finished site cannot be maintained.
A useful next step
Write a one-page brief covering the commercial goal, priority services, customers, required integrations, available content, deadline and an honest budget range. That gives suppliers enough context to recommend an appropriate approach.
Ask each supplier to respond to the same brief. The resulting proposals will be easier to compare and gaps will become visible before they become expensive changes.