What to gather
- The services you offer, in your own words
- The areas you serve
- Photos of your work, even if they are only phone photos
- Your phone number, email, and any social profiles you want shown
- The address of your current website, if you have one
- A logo and brand colours, if you have them (not required)
- One or two websites you like, and what you like about them
Questions worth answering
- What should the website help with: calls, quote requests, bookings?
- Who are your best customers, and what do they ask before they contact you?
- Is there anything you don’t want shown?
- Do you already own a domain name?
What a clear quote should say
- What is included, and what is not
- The total cost, and when payment is due
- The schedule, and what it depends on
- Hosting and domain arrangements, and who owns what
- Any ongoing costs, written out
- How extra work is handled, as a separate line
Before you say yes
You should know the scope, the cost, and the next step before any work begins. If a quote leaves those unclear, ask. A good designer will be glad to explain.
Next guide: What a local business website needs on one page