Why the questions matter more than the pitch
Prices for websites in Malta range a long way, from free-to-start monthly packages to custom projects costing thousands. Two quotes can look similar and turn out very different once you add renewals, changes and contract terms.
The questions below work for any designer or agency, including us. Ask them in writing and keep the replies. A good designer will be happy to answer clearly.
1. Who will own the domain?
Your domain is your web address. Whoever is listed as its holder controls it. Ask for it to be registered in your name or your company's name, with your email as the contact.
If a designer keeps the domain in their own name, moving away later can get messy. You may need their help to change anything, and if they stop renewing it, you could lose the address printed on your van and cards.
2. What's the total cost over three years?
A low starting price can hide a high monthly fee, and a high one-off price may include more than it first seems. Ask for everything you'd pay over three years, then compare those totals side by side.
Here's what to add up for each quote:
- The setup or design fee.
- Domain, hosting and SSL each year.
- Any monthly fee, and whether it can go up.
- Business email, if you want it.
- Paid plugins, themes or booking tools.
- A realistic guess at how many changes you'll ask for.
3. What do changes cost after launch?
Your prices, hours and photos will change. Ask how you request an update and what it costs: a fixed fee for small edits, an hourly rate, or included in a monthly plan. Ask what counts as small.
Also ask whether you'll be able to edit anything yourself, and how. Some owners want full control; others would rather send a message and have it done. Neither is wrong, but you should know which you're getting.
4. Who hosts the site, and what happens if I leave?
Hosting is where your website's files live. Ask who provides it, who pays for it and who has the logins. Then ask the awkward question: if we part ways, can I take the site with me, and in what form?
Some builders and platforms make sites hard to move. That may be fine if you're happy to stay, but it's better to know at the start.
5. Can I see real examples, and how long is the contract?
Ask for links to live websites, not just screenshots or mockups. Open them on your phone. Do they load quickly, read easily and make it obvious how to get in touch? Check the work is varied rather than the same template with different colours.
If they're new, they may only have a few. That's fine as long as what they show is real and you can see it working.
Some packages come with a minimum term. Ask how long the minimum term is, how much notice you need to give and whether there's a fee for leaving early. Get it in writing.
Other things worth asking: who writes the text, who supplies photos, and whether a Google Business Profile setup is included.
How Boost answers these
Since it's only fair to answer our own questions: the domain is registered in your name, the website is €150 once, and domain, hosting and SSL renewal is from €60/year after that. You send us changes and we make them: small changes up to 30 minutes are €25 and bigger updates are €40/hour. There's no lock-in contract. You can see our real work, and the full breakdown is on our price list. If you'd like a quote to compare, send us a brief and we reply within 1 working day.