Websites
Ordering a website: 8 questions before you sign a quote
Eight questions to ask a contractor before you order a website. What a good answer looks like, what a warning sign is and how to compare quotes with different prices.
- Author:
- Tim Blažič
- Published:
- 5 min read
- 5 min read
- Slovensko
- SL →
Before you order a website, ask the contractor for a clear answer to eight questions: who owns the domain and the site, what the price includes, what it costs after launch, who prepares the copy, who handles updates, how results are measured, what the deadline is and what happens if you leave. The price alone says little, because quotes differ on exactly these points.
In short
- Compare quotes by total cost over three years, not the first number.
- The domain should be registered to you, not the contractor.
- Ask what happens to the site if you end the cooperation.
- A promise of "first place on Google" is a warning sign, not an advantage.
- A good contractor can also tell you when you do not need a new site.
Why this article
We build websites too, so we are not neutral. That is why we also give our own answer on ownership and leaving, even though our model is not for everyone. Put these questions to every contractor, including us.
1. Who owns the domain and the site?
Good answer: the domain is registered to your company and it is clearly stated what you get when the cooperation ends.
Warning sign: the contractor registers the domain in their own name without saying so, or the answer is not in the contract.
With managed packages, including ours, the site stays online while the subscription is active. That is not necessarily bad, but you must know it before signing. With us the domain is yours all along.
2. What exactly does the price include?
Ask for the number of pages, languages, revision rounds and features in writing. "A website" is not a scope.
Warning sign: a quote with one line and one price. The differences then show up during the build as extra work.
3. What does it cost after launch?
Hosting, domain, backups, updates, small edits. Also ask the hourly rate for changes that are not included.
The total is simple: the build plus 36 months. That is how we compared the options in Wix, WordPress, an agency or a managed website.
4. Who prepares the copy and images?
Most delays and weak sites start here. Ask whether the contractor writes the copy or only inserts it, and what happens if you do not have it on time.
Good answer: it is clearly written what you prepare and by when. A good brief helps with this.
5. Who handles updates and security?
A WordPress site without regular updates becomes a risk. With any system it should be clear who does this, how often and who is responsible if the site goes down.
Warning sign: "This doesn't break."
6. How will you know the site works?
Ask what will be tracked at launch: submitted forms, phone clicks, visits. Without this, a year from now you will not know whether the site delivered anything.
Warning sign: a promise of a specific Google position. Google explicitly warns that no one can guarantee first place. A good answer explains what is in scope and what cannot be promised.
7. What is the deadline and what does it depend on?
A deadline with no condition is not a deadline. A real answer says how long the build takes and when the clock starts, usually when the contractor has the materials. For comparison, read how long it takes to build a website.
8. What happens if you leave?
Almost nobody asks this. Ask about the notice period, access and whether you get the content and code. With our package the contract runs for one year, cancellation takes effect at the end of the current period, and within 7 days of the end you get a free export of your content and the site's source code. With any provider, ask for the answer in writing.
How to compare three quotes
| What you compare | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | |||
| Monthly, times 36 | |||
| Number of pages and languages | |||
| Copy included | |||
| Domain owner | |||
| What you get if you leave |
Fill in the table yourself, not from sales copy. Where a field is empty, ask the contractor. You will find price ranges for Slovenia in How much does a website for a small business cost in Slovenia.
When you do not need a new site
If customers come through referrals, your schedule is full and your current site works on a phone, a new site may be a cost with no effect. If the problem is not the site, a redesign will not help either. We cover this in When a website redesign won't fix the problem.
What to do this week
- Check who your domain is currently registered to.
- Write down what the site should bring in, ideally with a number.
- Send the same questions to three contractors.
- Fill in the table and calculate the 36-month cost.
Frequently asked questions
How many quotes should I get?
Three is usually enough. It matters more that all of them get the same brief, or you cannot compare the quotes.
Is the cheapest quote a bad one?
Not necessarily. Check what is missing and calculate the three-year cost. A low price can come from a package with a set scope or from missing maintenance.
Do I need a written contract?
Yes. At least the scope, price, deadline, ownership and notice should be written down. For bigger projects, have a lawyer review it.
What is the most common mistake when ordering?
Choosing by how the examples look, without asking what happens after launch.
How we can help
We build websites for small businesses for €249 and from €19.90 a month with a set scope. For more demanding projects we build an advanced website on a fixed quote. You can send us the questions from this article through the contact form.
Sources
- Google Search Central, Do you need an SEO?, accessed 5 November 2026.
