Start with the job it must do.
A brochure site explains a service and collects inquiries. A booking site adds availability, deposits, and confirmation messages. A customer portal adds accounts, permissions, and workflows. They should not have the same scope.
Write one sentence describing the result: customers can request an installation quote, reserve an appointment, or pay a booking deposit. Then list what has to happen behind that action.
Count more than pages.
Five pages with supplied copy and photos differ from five pages requiring interviews, writing, and photography. An existing brand differs from a new identity. A simple contact form differs from a CRM integration with routing rules.
List the content owner for each page. Decide who gathers images, writes service descriptions, approves changes, and supplies legal policies. Missing content can hold up an otherwise finished build.
Compare the same deliverables.
Ask each studio to separate the build from optional work. A clear proposal should name the pages, features, review rounds, launch responsibilities, and exclusions. This helps both sides avoid surprises.
- Pages, layouts, and mobile behavior.
- Copywriting and supplied or licensed imagery.
- Forms, booking tools, payments, and CRM connections.
- Domain migration and redirects from important old pages.
- Ownership, hosting access, and handover.
- Post-launch support and recurring third-party charges.
Separate setup from ongoing costs.
Hosting, software subscriptions, maintenance, and new content may continue after launch. Ask who owns each account and who pays each bill. You should know what happens if you stop a care plan.
Search work also needs a defined scope. Technical setup, new articles, and ongoing reporting are different deliverables. A line that only says SEO included is difficult to evaluate.
Make the first version manageable.
If the budget is tight, identify the shortest complete path to an inquiry or sale. Launch the core service pages and a tested contact flow. Add complex accounts or automation when you can explain their value.
Avoid cutting the parts that make the site usable: clear copy, mobile checks, reliable forms, and account handover. A smaller complete site can be more useful than a larger unfinished one.
Get a quote for your actual scope.
Studio Eight quotes after understanding the business, content, and required features. Send your current site and the job you need it to do. We’ll explain what belongs in the first release and quote that scope.
Our team is based in Miami and works with clients online. A local project can still run through calls, shared reviews, and a written launch plan.