Agenturbewertung

Agency, freelancer or studio? Check what you are buying first.

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Agency, freelancer or studio? Check what you are buying first.

A guide for clients: assess digital agencies, compare proposals, judge day rates, read contracts and spot warning signs before a project starts.

Choosing an agency

Shortlist, brief, pitch: how to narrow twenty candidates down to the two that fit.

  1. How to Choose an Agency: A Shortlist Method That WorksHow to choose an agency without a beauty contest: set weighted criteria first, build a longlist, call two past clients of each and shortlist three.
  2. Agency Brief Template: Nine Sections, With ExamplesA free agency brief template in nine sections, from goal to budget, with example wording and the three gaps that make agency proposals impossible to compare.
  3. Agency Pitch Process: Steps, Pitch Fees and Idea OwnershipRun a fair agency pitch process in six steps: how many agencies to invite, how to size a pitch fee and who owns the concepts agencies show you if they lose.
  4. Agency Red Flags: 11 Warning Signs Before You SignAgency red flags to check before signing: ranking guarantees, domains in the agency's name, long lock-ins, full prepayment, plus public records worth searching.

Proposals & pricing

Day rates, fixed price, time and materials: what a sound proposal looks like.

  1. Agency Hourly Rates: What Drives the Price in 2026Agency hourly rates explained: how US wage data from the BLS turns into a $240 billable hour, why offshore shops quote $25 to $49, and how to compare day rates.
  2. How Much Does a Website Cost? A Line-by-Line EstimateHow much does a website cost from an agency? Three worked estimates from $9,000 to $52,500, hours per building block, and the running costs after launch.
  3. Fixed Price vs Time and Materials: Which Model WhenFixed price vs time and materials for agency and software projects: who carries the risk, what the buffer costs you, and why a capped T&M contract often wins.
  4. How to Compare Agency Proposals Like for LikeHow to compare agency proposals in four steps: same blocks, priced gaps, written assumptions. With an example where the dearest quote wins.

Working together

Contracts, acceptance, code ownership and what happens when it goes wrong.

  1. Software Acceptance Testing in Contracts: What to AgreeSoftware acceptance testing in contracts: test windows, defect severity levels, deemed acceptance, payment on sign-off and what German law adds.
  2. Who Owns the Source Code When an Agency Builds Your App?Who owns the source code an agency writes for you? Usually the agency, unless you get a signed assignment. US, UK and German rules, plus a clause to start from.
  3. Switching Agencies: Handover Checklist and Right OrderSwitching agencies without losing your site or data: secure logins first, move domains with the auth code, run a handover overlap. With a 15-point checklist.
  4. Website Maintenance Contract: What to Include and CheckWhat a website maintenance contract should cover: updates, tested backups, response vs fix times, what 99.5% uptime allows and why PHP 8.2 support ends in 2026.