Quick answer
There is no useful single price for “a website.” A template-based information site and a custom customer portal involve different design, coding, testing and support. Work behind each feature can change the quote substantially; page count alone does not describe the scope.
Practical scope
Before requesting quotes, decide whether you need bespoke design, multiple languages, content migration, staff editing, member accounts, booking, payments or integrations. Ask who will provide copy and images. A complex approval process, historical data import or third-party API can change the scope considerably.
Compare written inclusions: number of design revisions, page templates, mobile layouts, accessibility, testing, training, warranty and post-launch changes. Ask for recurring costs separately, including hosting, licences, payment fees and maintenance. A low first quote may exclude work you assumed was included.
What to define before requesting proposals
- Design approach and number of distinct page templates
- Accounts, payments, booking and other business rules
- Content creation, translation and migration
- Integrations, testing, training and post-launch support
Questions to ask service providers
- What is fixed price and what is estimated?
- Which licences and recurring charges are separate?
- How are revisions and scope changes approved and priced?
How to assess the answers
Use a like-for-like scope table. Compare initial delivery, recurring costs and the assumptions that could produce additional charges.
Ask for a scope-based cost breakdown
Separate the public pages from staff tools, payment handling, booking rules and system connections. Ask each vendor to show the assumptions, included deliverables and recurring charges for each part. This article provides scoping guidance, not a Hong Kong market price benchmark.
A useful quotation comparison sheet
- Build: design, development, content entry and migration.
- Launch: testing, training, deployment and handover.
- Operate: hosting, licences, third-party usage and maintenance.
- Change: included revisions, approval process and rates for extra work.
Why might two quotes differ substantially?
First check whether they cover the same workflows, exceptions and support. Ask vendors to explain exclusions before treating the difference as a price comparison.
Website quotation cost worksheet
Copy these items into your brief, adapt the requirements and assign an owner and status. Examples illustrate planning decisions, not customer case studies. Fill cost fields with HKD quotations you obtain and state the billing period.
| Decision / item | Information to provide | Acceptance / comparison check |
|---|---|---|
| Build — one-off HKD | Design, templates, languages, content entry and migration | Vendor lists included quantities and exclusions |
| Launch — one-off HKD | Testing, training, deployment and handover | Each deliverable has an acceptance check |
| Operate — monthly/annual HKD | Hosting, licences, usage charges and maintenance | State billing period, usage assumptions and renewal owner |
| Change — HKD per agreed unit | Included revisions and extra work | Approve an estimate before additional work starts |
Download the editable worksheet (CSV)