Compare the same scope
Page count alone does not describe a website. A product page, a filterable catalogue and a contact page require different work. List the page types, languages and actions visitors should take. Send the same brief to the companies quoting for the project. This makes differences between proposals easier to understand.
Separate content from development
Clarify who writes copy, prepares images, translates and enters content into the system. Missing materials also affect delivery time. The quote should say whether it includes content preparation or only development and entry of materials you provide.
Check administration and integrations
Ask which information you can update yourself and what requires a developer. For payment, inventory or CRM integrations, identify the provider and the information exchanged. An available API does not mean integration is included in every quote. Documentation and team guidance should be specified.
Include costs after launch
Separate the initial investment from domain, hosting, licences and maintenance. Ask who owns the accounts, when services renew and how new changes are handled. A lower initial price may cover less work or require later spending; the agreement determines this, not the appearance of the proposal.
Ask for clear delivery criteria
Define how mobile pages, forms, languages and content will be checked. For a redesign, include a URL inventory and redirect plan. By the end of the comparison, you should know what you receive, what is excluded and what you must supply. This is more useful than a single price without a scope.