Web Design Quote Checker: Paste a Quote, Get Red Flags

A quote is a list of what someone remembered

Two quotes for "a five-page website" can differ by $5,000 and neither is dishonest. One includes copywriting, photography, SEO setup, testing, training and 30 days of support. The other includes a template and a handover email.

The fastest way to compare is not the total. It is the line items.

What a complete quote includes

• Scope. Named page count, and what happens if you need a sixth.
• Design. How many concepts, and how many revision rounds before extra charges.
• Copywriting. In or out. This is the single most commonly omitted item, and the one that most affects whether the site works.
• Build and testing. Browser and device testing, forms, and who fixes bugs after launch.
• SEO setup. Titles, meta descriptions, sitemap, analytics, Google Search Console — not "SEO included" as a phrase.
• Hosting, domain, SSL and email. Priced separately, or explicitly excluded.
• Ownership. Who owns the code, the domain and the content at the end.
• Timeline and payment schedule. Dates, deposit, milestones.
• Support. What is covered in the first 30 days, and what costs extra.
• Accessibility. At minimum, WCAG 2.2 AA intent. In Australia this is a legal exposure, not a nice-to-have.

Red flags worth asking about

• "Unlimited pages." Nobody works unlimited. It means the scope is undefined, so the work will be too.
• "Guaranteed #1 on Google." Nobody can guarantee that, and anyone who does is either lying or planning tricks that will hurt you later.
• 100% upfront. A deposit is normal; the whole fee before work starts removes all your leverage.
• No mention of ownership. If you do not own the domain and the site, you are renting your business presence.
• Monthly fee with no exit terms. Ask what happens if you leave, and whether you keep the files.
• "SEO included" with no detail. Ask for the actual list.
• No timeline. A quote without dates is an estimate, not a commitment.

Price ranges that are fair in Australia

In 2026, a professional five-to-eight page service site typically runs $3,000–$6,000. A small e-commerce store runs $6,000–$12,000. A genuine custom build starts around $10,000. Under $2,000 for a bespoke site usually means a template with your logo on it.

Use the checker above

Paste the quote text and the price. It flags the items that are missing, picks up the phrases that tend to hide scope problems, and compares the price to a fair range for the site type you select. It is a reading aid, not legal advice — but it will make your next conversation with a designer much shorter.