What happens when scope changes?
Ask who identifies a change, how it is approved and whether timing and price are revised before work continues.
Create one comparison sheet.
- Page types, reusable sections and responsive states
- Copywriting, image sourcing, migration and content entry
- Forms, bookings, payments, integrations and account setup
- Technical SEO, analytics hooks, accessibility and launch testing
- Hosting, maintenance, support, updates and response boundaries
- Domain ownership, source access, exports, notice and handover
Mark every item as included, excluded, client-supplied or still unknown. An unknown item is not free; it is simply unpriced risk.
Compare the same period. A one-off build, a twelve-month managed plan and an open-ended retainer cannot be ranked by the first invoice alone.
Questions worth asking
Test clarity before testing chemistry.
How is delivery checked?
Ask for the acceptance points covering content, routes, forms, mobile behaviour, metadata and project-specific functions.
What happens at the end?
Ask for access, domain control, file transfer, data export, notice and final costs in writing.
Treat unsupported outcomes as risk, not value.
A proposal can commit to deliverables, checks, communication and correction of faults. It cannot responsibly guarantee revenue, a conversion percentage or a fixed search position without control of the market and customer behaviour.
Verified cases can support confidence, but they do not make another business outcome automatic. Ask which facts are measured, over what period and with whose permission.
Frequently asked questions
What to confirm before deciding.
Should I choose the most detailed proposal?
Choose the proposal that makes the relevant responsibilities and risks explicit. Length alone is not clarity; unresolved essentials still need an answer.
Why compare first-year cost?
It captures setup plus a consistent period of hosting, maintenance and support. Also examine later-year cost and exit terms before deciding.