What to prepare before asking for a website quote

The one-page brief

Write one page that says what the business does, who the website is for, what visitors should do, which pages are needed, which services or products matter most and who approves decisions.

Search engines and customers both need understandable content. Google’s SEO Starter Guide frames SEO around helping search engines understand content and helping users decide whether to visit.[1] That starts before writing begins.

Decisions to make before the quote

• Primary action: call, WhatsApp, form, book, buy or download.
• Core services and which ones deserve separate pages.
• Areas served, opening hours and contact routes.
• Required languages and tone.
• Who can approve copy, design, domain changes and launch.
• What must not be promised publicly.

If the business cannot decide these, the supplier will either delay the job or make assumptions.

Materials to collect

Collect logo files, brand colours if approved, real photos, team names, service explanations, price guidance, past brochures, testimonials with permission, policies, domain access and existing analytics access.

For forms and customer data, Singapore’s PDPC guidance for SME websites is relevant because personal data collection, security and supplier arrangements should be considered during website development.[2]

Questions that change the price

A five-page brochure site, a booking site, a product catalogue and an online store are not the same job. Ask whether the quote includes copywriting, image sourcing, accessibility checks, metadata, analytics, form testing, redirects, Search Console setup, training and post-launch fixes.

If the current site is being replaced, plan redirects and indexing checks. Google’s crawling and indexing documentation explains tools such as sitemaps, robots rules and URL structure that affect how pages are found.[3]

What makes quotes hard to compare

Two quotes can both say “five-page website” and still describe different jobs. One may include strategy, copy, photo sourcing, mobile testing, redirects, analytics and post-launch changes. Another may include only a template setup. The business owner should ask suppliers to separate page count, writing, design, development, integrations, testing, launch support and ongoing care.

Prepare a short list of non-negotiables before pricing begins. For example: the business owns the domain, the site must work on mobile, enquiries must go to a named inbox, Search Console must be connected, old URLs must be redirected and every important change needs approval. Clear boundaries help fair suppliers price properly and reveal vague quotes quickly.