Most business owners come to a developer with a solution already in mind: “I need a website,” or “I need an app like Uber, but for my industry.” The better starting point is the problem, because the two things are very different and cost very different amounts.
A website tells people who you are. It answers the questions customers ask before they call: what you do, where you work, what it costs, and whether other people trust you. If your customers search for you on Google, check your hours, or want to see your work, you need one. A good website is mostly clear writing, honest photos, and a way to contact you. Fancy features are optional.
A web app does something for people. It’s software that people log into and use. A customer portal, a quoting tool, a scheduling system, an internal dashboard that replaces three spreadsheets: these are web apps. They cost more because they hold data, handle accounts, and have to keep working as your business changes.
Signs you need a website
- Customers ask the same questions over and over
- Competitors show up in search results and you don’t
- You lose credibility when someone looks you up and finds nothing
Signs you need a web app
- Your team re-enters the same information in several places
- Customers email or call to check on things they could look up themselves
- A key process lives in one person’s head or one fragile spreadsheet
What to decide before you talk to anyone
- What should a visitor be able to do? Call, book, buy, or request a quote. Pick one primary action.
- Who maintains it? If you want to edit your own pages, tell the developer up front. It changes the technology choice.
- What does it replace? The best projects retire something painful: a manual process, a stack of paper, a missed-call problem.
On cost
A straightforward business site is a modest, one-time project plus small ongoing hosting costs. A custom web app is a larger investment and an ongoing relationship, because software needs updates the way equipment needs servicing. Be wary of anyone quoting a fixed price before asking you a single question about how your business runs. You can see the kinds of projects we take on on our Services page.
Start small
The most expensive mistake is building everything at once. Launch the smallest version that solves the main problem, watch how people use it, then add what’s actually requested. Features nobody asked for are the most common source of wasted budget.
Wondering whether your idea also needs a phone app? Read Does Your Business Need a Mobile App? And if you’re curious about automating the repetitive parts of your business, see How Can AI Actually Help Your Business?
If you can describe the problem in two sentences, you’re ready to have a useful conversation with a developer. Get in touch and tell us what you’re trying to solve.