Give both suppliers the same project
Write one brief before collecting quotes: the visitor's goal, page inventory, content owner, integrations, supported languages and launch acceptance checks. Mark requirements as essential, optional or deferred. Otherwise a supplier who includes copywriting and migration will look expensive beside one who assumes you supply finished content and a clean installation.
Ask for each exclusion to be written down. An empty cell is unknown, not included and not free. Resolve unknowns that affect launch before choosing a proposal.
Normalize the price without guessing missing work
The following fictional comparison uses USD and excludes tax. The allowances are explicit assumptions for this example, not observed supplier rates.
| Comparable item | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Build with agreed page scope | $4,000 | $5,200 |
| Copywriting | Excluded; separate $1,000 quote | Included |
| Content migration | Excluded; separate $600 quote | Included |
| Launch-scope total | $5,600 | $5,200 |
| Monthly care | $100 | $150 |
| First 12 months, including care | $6,800 | $7,000 |
Quote B is cheaper for launch but more expensive after the example care fees. Neither is automatically better. Confirm that the care plans cover the same tasks before treating the last row as a fair comparison. If A's copywriting price is unknown, show “unpriced” instead of inventing an allowance that makes the decision appear settled.
Compare the obligations beside the numbers
Use a shared response sheet with four columns: requirement, included deliverable, acceptance check and owner. Ask both suppliers to complete it.
- Design: number of unique templates, responsive states and revision rounds.
- Content: who drafts, approves and enters text and images.
- Integration: the complete workflow, failure handling and test accounts.
- Launch: domain access, redirects, form tests and rollback responsibility.
- Handover: source files, account ownership, editing instructions and training.
- Changes: what triggers a revised quote and who authorizes the extra work.
A proposal can be detailed without prescribing every technical choice. “A lead reaches the correct CRM pipeline, with failed submissions visible to staff” is a testable outcome. “CRM integration included” is only a label.
Choose on fit and resolved uncertainty
Ask the preferred supplier to explain the highest-risk assumption and demonstrate a relevant workflow where possible. Review availability, communication and ongoing responsibilities alongside cost. You do not need a fictitious quality score to make the trade-offs visible.
Use the freelancer and agency comparison for delivery-model questions. Use the SiteCost calculator to share a preliminary scope, then attach the supplier's actual proposal: a calculator estimate is not a binding quote.