Compare quotes for the same work
One quote might include writing the pages and looking after the site. Another might leave that to you. To compare prices fairly, check that both cover what you need and add up the costs over the same number of months.
Give each provider the same job to price
Write down the services, examples and enquiry process the site needs. Identify who will supply words and images. Otherwise, one provider may quote for a site you have to fill in yourself, while another includes writing the pages for you.
List the setup costs and ongoing charges
Use a sheet of paper or a spreadsheet, with a column for each provider. List these costs down the side:
- Building the site, writing the pages and supplying photos.
- Moving anything you need from the old site.
- Monthly charges, domain renewal and any software fees.
- Changes you might need later.
- Advertising and the fee for managing it, if needed.
- Leaving the service or moving the website elsewhere.
If a quote doesn’t say whether something is included, ask.
Separate required charges from optional work. Do not add hosting twice when it is already part of a package. Use the same GST basis throughout.
Add up the first year
Add the setup fee, 12 months of ongoing charges and any extras you need. Compare 12 months first, then a longer period if useful. Keep your own time separate from cash costs.
For example, suppose another provider charges NZ$2,400 setup plus NZ$80 per month. That totals NZ$3,360 for setup and 12 full monthly payments before extras. That’s NZ$278 less than our starting-price example below, if both use the same GST basis. But check what each includes before choosing. This is a made-up example to show the maths.
Allow for your own time
Estimate hours for writing, gathering photos, learning the editor and making changes. Think about what that time is worth to you and when you’ll fit the work in.
If you enjoy the work and can maintain it, doing it yourself may be sensible. If the project will stay unfinished, paying for delivery and upkeep may be worth considering.
Ask what support actually includes
Ask ordinary questions: I need a new service and three photos added. Is that included? What happens if the form stops working? Who notices, who fixes it and what response can I expect?
Ask what you retain when leaving: domain, content, files, accounts and licences are separate items. Get transfer costs and limitations in writing.
Use this when asking for a quote
Please price the work described here and separate the setup fee, ongoing charges and optional extras. Let us know whether GST is included, which updates you cover, what we own and what happens if we leave. Please also list what you need from us and anything else we’ll have to pay for before the site goes live.
Then mark every essential requirement Included, Extra or Missing. Resolve the gaps before comparing totals. A more expensive proposal may include work you do not need; a cheaper one may leave an essential task to you.
Compare costs over the same period
At the published starting rate, 12 monthly payments total NZ$1,788. Adding the NZ$1,850 setup fee gives NZ$3,638 for setup plus 12 months of service, before any separately quoted extras or any GST that needs to be added. This is an illustration using the starting monthly price, not a fixed quote or a required 12-month commitment.
When comparing another provider, use the same period and check what their recurring charges cover. A lower build fee may come with different support, content or ownership arrangements.
What you own with Made for Tradies
Your domain is registered in your name and remains yours. The website is supplied as part of a managed service. Export and transfer arrangements are set out in your written service agreement before work begins.
Ask us for a quote
Tell us your trade, service area and whether you already have a website. We’ll explain what we’d do and what it would cost, so you can decide whether it suits you.
Discuss your website and budget