How to read an agency proposal

Proposals are easy to compare on price and hard to compare on anything else. This scorecard gives you the anything else.

Oskar Mieta

Founder, Designer & Developer

Summarize with AI

The scorecard

1. Who builds what you approve

0Roles only (“a designer”, “a developer”).1Names for some roles.2The person who will build the site is named, and they’re in the design reviews.

2. How many handoffs sit between the sketch and the live site

Count the people the work passes through: strategist, designer, developer, project manager, QA.

0Four or more.1Two or three.2One, or none.

3. What’s fixed in scope, and what’s “to be discussed”

0Most of it is to be discussed.1Pages are listed, but content, CMS and integrations are open.2Every page, collection and integration is listed, with what’s out of scope written down.

4. Who on your side can edit the site after launch, and how they learn

0Not mentioned.1“Training” is a line item with no detail.2A named session where your team edits a real page, plus recordings of the edits they’ll make most.

5. What happens in the 30 days after launch

0Nothing. The project ends at launch.1Support on request, at an hourly rate.2A set window for bugs and small fixes, with who responds and how fast.

6. How the timeline is set

0One delivery date, with no sign-offs in it.1Milestones, but the dates don’t depend on your feedback.2Every date is tied to a sign-off, yours or theirs, so you can see what moves if a review runs late.

7. Who owns the files and accounts at the end

0Not mentioned.1“Files are delivered at the end of the project.”2The site, domain, design files and every account sit in your name, or move there on a stated date.

Example: a proposal that scores 2 on scope and timeline but 0 on handoffs. Ask who builds the approved design. If it’s a different team, ask to meet them before you sign.

What the score means

Your score

0 of 14

0 of 7 lines scored. Score every line to see what it means.

11 to 14The proposal answers the questions that usually come up in week six. Compare it on price and fit.
6 to 10Workable. Ask about every 0 before you sign.
0 to 5The gaps will show up during the project, at your cost in time.

Questions to ask on the call

Who builds the design I approve, and were they in the room for the first review?
What does a change request look like, and who decides what counts as one?
What will my team be able to change themselves on day one?
Which dates move if I’m a week late with feedback?
What happens if something breaks on day 20?
Whose account is the domain in today, and whose will it be at the end?

How we run it at Desses

We’re small enough to have no handoff: the person who designs your site builds it, and you meet them on the first call. If you’re comparing proposals and want a second read, book an intro call.

Book an intro call