Fixed-Price Website Design: What's Included and What Isn't

A fixed price website design quote tells you the exact cost before work starts — no hourly billing, no scope creep on the final invoice. Most fixed-price packages cover design, development, a set number of pages, and a launch deadline. What they do not cover depends on the quote, and knowing the difference matters before you sign.

What a fixed-price package typically covers

A well-structured fixed-price package spells out what is in scope. You should expect a set number of pages (commonly five to ten for a small business site), a design process that produces a mobile-responsive layout, and development that takes the design to a live, working website.

Most packages also include a set number of revision rounds — typically two to three — and basic on-page SEO setup: page titles, meta descriptions, and image alt tags. A firm launch deadline is the other defining feature. You know when the site goes live, not just a rough estimate.

Our packages cover five pages (Starter, $499), eight pages (Growth, $899), or ten or more pages (Pro, $1,499), each launching in seven business days when your content arrives on Day 1 and feedback comes within 24 hours at each review stage. If we miss the deadline on our side, you get 20% off. Extra pages are $79 each. Payment by Wise or bank transfer. Standard terms are a 50% deposit before work starts; IP in the final deliverables passes to you on full payment, and there is no lock-in contract.

What is usually not included

Knowing what falls outside the fixed price is just as important. Most fixed-price studios do not write your copy. You supply the text for each page — your services description, your about section, your contact details. If you need someone to write it, that is a separate quote.

Photography is usually outside the package. Many studios include stock images, but professional photos of your team or premises are a separate engagement. Your domain name is also typically outside scope: you register and own it yourself; the studio builds on whatever domain you point to them.

Custom functionality — a booking system, ecommerce, a client portal — sits outside a standard fixed-price build. These require development time that cannot be reliably estimated without a detailed brief. If you need any of these, ask for a separate custom quote before the fixed-price work begins.

How the remote process works from the US

Working with a Philippine studio from the US runs mostly asynchronously. Manila is roughly 12 to 13 hours ahead of US Eastern and 15 to 16 hours ahead of Pacific, so there is limited live overlap during standard US business hours. In practice, you send your brief and feedback as messages; the studio works during its day and has a staging link or a question waiting for you each morning.

Scheduled video calls are available, but most of the project runs on written communication. You review designs in your own time, leave feedback by reply, and confirm changes in writing. For most fixed-price projects, this rhythm works well — written briefs and documented decisions reduce misunderstandings compared to verbal back-and-forth.

If you are new to remote agency work, the guide on outsourcing web development to the Philippines covers what to prepare, how to brief a remote team, and what to expect on payment and handover.

What to ask before you sign

Four questions separate a reliable fixed-price studio from a risky one. First: who owns the domain, site files, and content after launch? You should own all of it outright once you have paid in full, with no ongoing license fee for the design.

Second: how many revision rounds are included, and what counts as one revision? A specific answer is more useful than "until you are happy." Third: what happens if the studio misses the deadline? A penalty or discount for a late delivery puts the commitment in writing. Fourth: what does an extra page cost, and can you add one after launch? A transparent per-page rate removes uncertainty once the project is running.

Frequently asked questions

Is a fixed-price website better value than hourly billing? For a defined scope — a standard small business site — a fixed price gives you cost certainty and a firm deadline. Hourly billing suits ongoing or open-ended work where scope will expand, but for a launch project it introduces invoice risk that most owners prefer to avoid.

What happens if I want changes after launch? Post-launch edits outside your revision rounds are typically billed at an hourly or per-item rate. Ask for that rate upfront. If you expect to update the site regularly, ask whether a care plan is available. Our care plans start from $99 per month.

Do I need to supply my own content? Yes. Most fixed-price studios, including ours, build from content you supply — your copy, logo, and images. Waiting on content is the most common reason a fixed deadline slips. Gather everything before you sign, and the timeline holds.

To review our fixed-price packages and see what is included at each tier, visit our 7-day website package.