What to send
A quote can only be as precise as the plan behind it. Send the text file from the planner, or your own notes covering:
- the goal of the site in one sentence
- the page list, with a line on what each page must say
- the features you need now, and those that can wait
- who will write the words and supply the photos
- the launch date you have in mind
The feature selector and budget estimator outputs help too. If you have no plan yet, the planning session or the free tools come first.
What the quote contains
The quote sets out the agreed pages and features, what is included and what is not, who supplies content, the payment stages, and the price. It states whether VAT is added and at what rate; the standard UK rate is 20 percent, as GOV.UK lists. The price is fixed when you accept the quote in writing.
Payment stages
| Stage | Payment |
|---|---|
| Quote accepted in writing | 40 percent deposit |
| Site signed off and launched | Remaining 60 percent |
Invoices are due within 14 days. If the work needs to change after the quote is accepted, the change and its cost are agreed in writing first, priced at £420 a day pro rata unless the change is quoted as a fixed sum.
What a quote does not cover
A quote does not include ongoing hosting, domain or email costs, which you pay to the providers directly, unless the quote says otherwise. It does not include writing your content unless that is listed. Post launch changes are quoted separately unless the quote lists them.
Before launch
Builds are checked against the points on the launch checklist, and you review the site before sign off. If you trade as a limited company, the site will need your registered company details; the legal pages guide explains what they are.
No obligation
The note at the foot of each page explains who offers build quotes. Asking about a quote commits you to nothing: the first reply says only whether we could quote, and any charge for preparing a quote is agreed in writing before work starts. You may take the same plan to other builders and compare their quotes for the same list.
Asking for a quote
Use the contact page, choose "Build quote" as the topic, and paste or attach your plan.
Sources checked for this page