What Information Do We Need For An Accurate Website Quote?
A tidy brief saves time and avoids surprises. When you tell us exactly what you want, who it is for and what you will supply, we can create a fixed price and realistic schedule instead of a broad estimate. Use the quick brief below to get started, and read the sections that follow to understand why each item matters and what to expect in a proposal.
A quick "copy and paste" brief template:
Paste this brief into a WhatsApp message or email, fill the brackets according to your specific projects requirements and send it to us for our Proposal/Quotation for it:
- Business name + brief description
- Primary goal (leads / sales / bookings / portfolio)
- Primary location / service area (city, province or nationwide)
- Estimated page count or product count
- Required features (e.g. online store, booking system, membership, CRM, CSV import)
- Preferred platform (WordPress / WooCommerce / Shopify / other)
- Do you need copywriting? (Yes / No)
- Do you need product uploads? (Yes – number of SKUs / No)
- Brand assets available (logo, colour codes, fonts) – Yes / No
- Examples of sites you like (1 or more links)
- Preferred launch date or timeframe
- Budget range (if comfortable sharing)
- Access details if available (site URL, host, control panel etc.) – optional
Why each brief item matters and how we use it:
Business name and primary goal
Why: The goal sets the site structure and key user journeys. A site built to generate enquiries needs different CTAs compared to a store built to sell products.
We use it to: define pages, funnels and conversion events.
Location and service area
Why: Local SEO and contact details should match the areas you serve. If you cover multiple towns we normally recommend location pages.
We use it to: optimise titles, headings and Google Business Profile copy.
Page count or product count
Why: Number of unique pages and number of products are primary drivers of time and cost.
We use it to: estimate design, development and content hours, and advise on hosting needs.
Required features and integrations
Why: Payment gateways, booking systems, CRM integrations and CSV imports add development and testing time.
We use it to: list technical tasks, request sandbox accounts and set acceptance criteria.
Platform preference
Why: Build time and available plugins change by platform. WooCommerce has many local gateway plugins, while Shopify has its own ecosystem.
We use it to: recommend the most efficient platform and note any plugin or licence costs.
Content readiness
Why: Content is the most common bottleneck. If you provide final copy and images we can build faster.
We use it to: plan copywriting, editing or product upload work in the quote.
Brand assets and style references
Why: Links to sites you like and existing brand files reduce guesswork and revisions.
We use it to: match layout, tone and visual style on the first draft.
Budget and timeline
Why: Budget determines whether we suggest a phased approach or a full custom build.
We use it to: propose options that fit your expectations and avoid unsuitable plans.
South Africa specific notes:
If you collect personal data via contact forms, account signups or orders you must comply with POPIA. That means a clear privacy policy, lawful processing reasons and appropriate security. We include a privacy page and basic POPIA guidance in proposals by default. For formal legal advice consult a POPIA specialist.
Local gateways include PayFast, Ozow, PayGate, Peach Payments and others. Merchant setup often requires business verification documents and bank details. Allow extra time for gateway verification and sandbox testing before going live. If you choose a gateway we will outline required documents in the proposal.
E-commerce details we need for a store quote:
If you want an online store, provide these items:
- Expected initial product count and whether products have variations.
- Sample product data – a CSV or spreadsheet if available.
- Preferred payment gateway and whether you need card and/or EFT support.
- Shipping rules – flat rates, zone based, courier integration or live rates.
- VAT rules – are prices inclusive or exclusive of VAT.
- Any marketplace or ERP sync needs.
Bulk product imports and complex shipping rules are quoted separately because they add QA and mapping time.
Typical timelines for projects:
- One page landing or simple brochure site, content supplied: 1 to 2 weeks.
- Small business site, up to 4 pages, content supplied: 2 to 4 weeks.
- Multi page site, 5 to 8 pages: 2 to 6 weeks.
- Starter e-commerce, up to 10 products: 2 to 6 weeks depending on product readiness and gateway approvals.
- Complex e-commerce or custom development: 2 to 6 weeks plus, depending on scope.
Times above assume timely feedback and content delivery. If content is not ready we will quote copywriting or image sourcing as separate items and propose realistic timelines.
Pricing guidance for local context:
Use these ranges for budgeting – final quotes will reflect your precise brief:
- Small landing page: from about R1,495.
- Small business site, 4 pages: from R2,000 upwards depending on customisation.
- Multi page or design led custom build: typically R3,500 plus.
- E-commerce starter: from around R3,495 for a basic setup, rising with custom features and product upload work.
- Hosting and maintenance: from R195 per month for basic hosting, higher for daily backups, monitoring and priority support.
These are starting points to help you budget. We will send a firm price after reviewing your full brief.
What a scoped proposal includes:
A clear proposal we send back will contain:
- Scope of work – exact pages, templates and integrations.
- Deliverables – design files, exported assets and admin access.
- Milestones and timeline – design, build, testing and launch dates.
- Revisions included – number of review rounds.
- Acceptance criteria – what constitutes a completed project.
- Pricing – total fee, deposit and milestone payments.
- Exclusions – what is not included and hourly rates for additional work.
Sample acceptance wording to include in a proposal:
“Site is accepted when all listed pages are live, contact forms submit to the nominated email, payment gateway works in sandbox, and client signs final approval.”
What we need access to if we are migrating or building on your existing site:
If migrating an existing site please provide:
- Current site URL and admin login (temporary account recommended).
- Hosting control panel or FTP details, or ask us to manage migration on your behalf.
- Google Analytics and Google Business Profile access if available.
- Payment gateway sandbox keys where relevant.
We will advise secure ways to share credentials.
Deliverables you will receive at launch, dependent on project parameters:
- Live website on the agreed domain.
- Admin user account and short, practical handover notes for editing key content.
- Exported logo and brand assets in common formats.
- Sitemap submitted to search engines, and basic on page SEO for key pages.
- Payment gateway tested in sandbox and checkout test performed if relevant.
- Final invoice and agreed warranty period for bug fixes.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them:
- Missing content causes the biggest delays. Decide who supplies copy and images.
- Multiple decision makers can slow approvals. Nominate a single contact for sign off.
- Underestimate e-commerce onboarding time. Merchant verification and shipping rules take time.
- Undefined acceptance criteria leads to scope disputes. Agree deliverables in writing.
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Ready to get an accurate quote?
Send the quick brief above via the contact form or WhatsApp and we will reply with a scoped proposal including deliverables, timeline and costs.