In Barcelona, there are hundreds of agencies and freelancers who build websites. The quotes you receive can vary from one to three times as much for what appears to be the same work, and from the outside, it’s hard to know what you’re comparing. Here are the seven questions you should ask before signing a contract—and what a reputable agency should tell you.
1. What exactly does the estimate include?
Ask them to provide a written breakdown: number of pages, custom design or template, text, photos, languages, forms, online store, training, and what happens after the launch. Two quotes with the same price can be very different if one includes text and basic SEO and the other doesn’t. If you’d like some guidance before requesting quotes, we explain it here How much does a website cost? and what the price depends on.
2. Will the website belong to me?
It seems obvious, but it isn't always. Ask who the domain is registered under, who has administrator access, and what happens if you ever want to switch providers. Ideally, the domain should be registered in your name, you should have administrator access, and you should be able to take your website (files and database) with you without having to pay a ransom.
3. Will I be able to edit the text myself?
If every schedule change or new photo depends on the agency, the website will quickly become outdated. Ask what content management system they use (in our case, WordPress) and if they’ll teach you how to use it. It’s a good sign if they offer you a training session when they deliver the website.
4. How do you approach SEO from the very beginning?
A beautiful website that doesn't show up on Google won't bring in customers. Before you start designing, you need to decide which pages your business needs based on what people are searching for: services, neighborhoods or cities, and frequently asked questions. Ask if the agency conducts that research, if it pays attention to the titles and descriptions of each page, and if it redirects the URLs from your old website so you don’t lose the rankings you’ve already achieved. If you also want to work on SEO on an ongoing basis, check out how we do it with our SEO agency in Barcelona.
5. Where will she be staying, and who is supporting her?
Speed, backups, and updates depend on the hosting provider and maintenance. Ask which server the website will be hosted on, whether there are daily backups, who updates WordPress and the plugins, and how long it takes them to respond if something goes wrong. Make sure the same agency handles the Hosting in Barcelona and the website avoids the classic «that's the other provider's problem.».
6. Can I see websites you've created for businesses like mine?
A portfolio speaks louder than any promise. Ask for real examples—preferably from your industry or your area—and check them out on your phone. Some of the projects we've done in Barcelona: the wine shop Cosme Vins, the jewelry store Vintage Jewels by Lulu, engineering Sensicore Technologies, the Tembo Family Brunch and inquiries from Vocal Psychology y Montse Busquets.
7. What happens after the launch?
A website isn't finished the day it goes live. Ask if they'll track visits and leads, if they'll provide you with a report, and who will help you when you want to add a section or launch a campaign. Ideally, you should agree from the start on what the support will look like: by the hour, for a flat fee, or on an as-needed basis.
In summary
Rather than just the final price, compare what each proposal includes, whether the website will belong to you, whether you'll be able to manage it, and who will respond when needed. If you're looking for web design agency in Barcelona, tell us about your project, and we'll answer these seven questions in writing and provide you with a fixed-price quote.