Compare Darwin website quotes and ongoing costs

Count the pages and note what each one must explain. Ask whether the supplier writes the copy, edits your draft or expects finished text. Confirm who selects and prepares images.

If you need service-area information for Darwin and Palmerston, include the actual content task. A list of page names does not say how much local detail will be written.

Ask what the once-off fee covers and what the monthly fee provides. Hosting, security, backups, support and content changes can be packaged differently.

The studio’s website plans separate those costs. Starter AI is $199 once off plus $39/month, Core is $549 once off plus $59/month, and Local Essentials is $249/month with an included website build or refresh. Extra features are quoted separately.

Bookings, payments, email tools and customer systems may have their own charges. Ask who owns each account and which costs depend on usage. Do not assume that connecting a tool includes its subscription.

Use the integration brief to describe the workflow, then ask the designer to check availability and ongoing costs.

Find out how many review rounds are included, what happens if the brief changes and how updates work after launch. Ask whether training or an editor is included.

Also confirm domain control, export options and the process for changing providers. A clear handover arrangement is useful even if you expect to stay with the supplier.

Add the confirmed build, hosting and tool costs over the same time period for each option. Keep optional items separate so the comparison stays readable.

Choose the arrangement you can operate comfortably. Our Darwin website cost guide helps match editing and support needs to the available plans.