Freelancer vs Agency
Freelancer vs Agency: Who Should Build Your Small Business Website?
Both can build a great website. The difference is in process, accountability and what happens when things go wrong.
Freelancer
One person doing it all.
Best for:
Simple sites under £3k where you can be hands-on.
Pricing:
£800-3,000
Pros
- + Cheaper (£800-3,000)
- + Direct contact with the maker
- + Faster decisions
- + Personal investment
Cons
- − Skill gaps (design vs dev vs SEO)
- − Single point of failure
- − Limited capacity
- − Holiday = silence
Agency
A team with a process.
Best for:
Sites over £5k or businesses that need ongoing marketing.
Pricing:
£3,000-30,000+
Pros
- + Specialists at every stage
- + Continuity if someone leaves
- + Project management
- + Post-launch support
Cons
- − Pricier (£3,000-30,000+)
- − Slower decision-making
- − You're rarely talking to the maker
- − Risk of templated output
The verdict
For under £3k, hire a great freelancer. For £5k+, you're better off with a small studio that has a process.
RIOT's take
We're a small studio — best of both. You talk to the people doing the work, but you also get a process, contracts, and someone who answers the phone in August.
FAQs
How do I find a good freelancer?
Look at recent live work (not mockups). Ask for two references you can phone. Avoid anyone without a contract.
What's the average UK web design agency cost?
£3,000-8,000 for a small business site. £15,000+ for ecommerce or anything custom.
Can a freelancer handle SEO and copywriting too?
Some can. Most can't. If they say 'yes' to everything, that's a flag.
Need help choosing?
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