Website design priced in dollars: what to check before you agree
If you are comparing offers from designers in different countries, the website design price in dollars is often what you will see. A dollar figure is easy to compare, but only if you know exactly what it covers and how you will pay it.
Why do many designers quote in dollars?
Because they work with clients in more than one country, and a single currency keeps quotes consistent. It also lets you compare offers from different places on the same scale. The currency itself says nothing about quality or fairness. What matters is what sits behind the number, so read the quote before you read the figure.
What should the quote say next to the price?
The pages or sections included, whether the design is drawn first or a theme is adapted, who writes the text and supplies the images, how many rounds of changes are included, and what happens after launch. If two quotes in dollars cover different work, comparing their totals tells you very little.
What is usually billed separately?
The domain and the hosting are normally paid to their providers in your name, often every year. Paid themes, plugins or apps may have their own subscriptions. On hosted store platforms there is a platform subscription. None of these belong to the designer, and it is better that they are in your name. Ask for a list of every running cost so nothing surprises you later.
One payment or several?
Many projects are paid in stages: part at the start, the rest at agreed milestones such as design approval or launch. Agree on the stages in writing, and on what happens if you want to stop. A clear stopping rule protects both sides more than any promise.
How do you pay across borders?
Ask which methods the designer accepts and choose the one that is simplest and safest for you. Check any transfer fees with your own bank or wallet before you pay, so the amount that arrives matches the quote. Keep every receipt and every message about the project in one place.
What does a fair starting point look like?
A brochure site, meaning a few pages that say who you are, what you do and how to reach you, is the smallest common job. Stores, course platforms, company sites with many sections and custom builds depend on the brief, and any honest price for them comes after the details are clear, not before.
How I handle it
My prices start from $100 for a brochure site. Stores, platforms and larger sites are priced after I understand the brief, never before. Every project is designed in Figma and you approve it before the build starts. For the first seven days you can stop the project and get your payment back in full. You can pay by Vodafone Cash, InstaPay, bank transfer or PayPal, and support lasts 180 days from launch. Tell me what you need and I reply within 24 hours.
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