You're shopping for a website. One company quotes $299/month with "no upfront cost." Another quotes $5,000+. A third quotes $2,250 flat. How do you compare them? What questions cut through the sales pitch?
After extensive research on the agencies that target local contractors, I've identified five questions that reveal whether you're buying a website or renting one—and whether you'll own your digital presence or be held hostage by it.
Why This Matters
The Lease Trap: Low Upfront, High Long-Term
The most dangerous offers look the most attractive: "$0 down, just $299/month." What they don't tell you is that you're not buying a website—you're renting one.
Companies That Use Proprietary Lock-In
Hibu
"Hibu uses proprietary software that does not allow the site to be moved. If you decide to part ways with Hibu for any reason, you lose your website."
Scorpion
Uses a proprietary content management system (CMS) called "CMS-8." If you cancel, you cannot take your website with you—it must be rebuilt from scratch.
Townsquare Interactive
Reports of "transfer fees" to release site files upon cancellation, confirming that monthly payments are rent, not purchase installments.
These companies use what the industry calls "proprietary CMS lock-in." Your website exists on their platform, built with their tools. You own the words and photos you provided, but not the system that displays them. It's like owning the furniture in a house but not the house itself—when you move out, the furniture has nowhere to go.
The Content Gotcha: What's Actually Included?
The second trap is more subtle. An agency quotes you $4,000 for "custom website design and development." Sounds complete. But read the fine print:
Common "Not Included" Items
- Copywriting: $500-$2,000 extra. "You provide the content."
- Stock photography: $50-$300 extra per image licensed.
- Premium plugins: $50-$200/year each for forms, SEO tools, etc.
- Revisions after launch: $75-$150/hour for "change orders."
Industry research identifies content as "the single biggest hidden cost" in website projects. A $4,000 quote can easily become $6,000+ once copywriting and photography are added.
The 5 Questions That Reveal Everything
Ask these before signing anything. If the rep stammers, deflects, or gives a vague answer, consider it a red flag.
"If I cancel in 13 months, do you provide a full backup of the website files, database, and design code that I can upload to another host?"
"Will I have direct admin access to the Google Ads account to see the raw billing from Google?"
Why it matters: Agencies that bundle ad spend often keep 30-50% as a hidden "management fee." If you're paying $3,000/month for "Google Ads," only $1,500 might actually go to Google.
"Does your contract include a liquidated damages clause for early termination?"
Why it matters: "Liquidated damages" means if you cancel early, you owe the full remaining contract value. Cancel at month 3 of a 12-month, $500/month contract? You owe $4,500.
"Do you register the domain name in my name or your agency's name?"
Why it matters: If they register the domain in their name, they can hold it hostage when you try to leave. ICANN rules protect you if you're the registrant—but not if they are.
"Does the price include writing all page content, or do I provide that?"
Why it matters: Professional copywriting costs $500-$2,000. If it's not included, budget for it—or prepare to spend weeks writing pages yourself.
Do the Math: Leasing vs. Owning
The lease-model pitch sounds attractive: "Why pay $10,000 upfront for a website when you can pay $299 a month?"
The Math They Don't Show You
$299/month × 60 months = $17,940
After 5 years of payments, you've paid nearly $18,000.
What you own: $0.
If you cancel in month 61, the site is deleted.
The Alternative: What We Offer
$2,250-$3,200 one-time build fee. Custom builds with integrations start higher. No surprises—I quote the full scope upfront.
You own everything. Domain, code, content. Take it anywhere. Host it yourself for free if you want.
Optional ongoing services: $50-200/month. Website management (hosting, backups, updates) and Google Business Profile optimization. All optional—not bundled, not required.
A philosophy note: A contractor website isn't something you constantly tinker with. It's a storefront that draws people in the door. The real value of getting your site right once is that you can stop thinking about it and focus on what actually grows your business: your customer relationships. Resist the temptation to fiddle endlessly.
And when you do need changes—a new service page, updated photos, a shift in your business—we handle it and you pay for that work. No inflated retainers. Our pricing reflects the actual effort, not what we think we can get away with.
Side-by-Side: What You're Really Paying
| Us | Lease | Boutique | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront | $2.2-3.2k$2,250-$3,200 | $0-499 | $3k-15k |
| /month | $50-200 | $99-500 | $150-500 |
| 3yr total | $2.2-10k*$2,250-$10k* | $3.5-18k+ | $8-33k+ |
| Own it? | Yes | No | Usually |
| Copy? | Included | No | Extra |
| Contract | None | 6-36mo | Varies |
*$2,250 self-hosted to ~$10k with managed + GBP ($200/mo × 36)
Sources
- Why A YP or Hibu Website Is A Bad Idea For Your Business — Nora Kramer Designs
- Scorpion Marketing Pricing 2025: Website, SEO & Service Costs Explained — Intercore Technologies
- How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost? — Elementor
- Top Reasons to Avoid Squarespace, Wix, Hibu, Weebly, Yelp, etc. — PIGO Multimedia
- Hibu Reviews — PissedConsumer
The Bottom Line
Before you sign with any web agency, ask these five questions. The answers will tell you whether you're buying an asset or renting one—and whether you'll have freedom to leave or be locked in for years.
We built our business to be the opposite of these traps: flat pricing, no contracts, you own everything. If that sounds refreshing, let's talk.