When two agencies quote very different prices for "the same" project, it is usually because they imagined two different projects. A short, clear brief fixes that. You don't need technical knowledge — you need to describe the problem, the people and the constraints.
1. Start with the goal, not the features
Write one or two sentences about why the project exists. "We want more enquiries from companies in western Romania" or "our team loses hours every week copying orders into invoices" are far more useful than a list of pages. Features follow from goals; the reverse rarely works.
2. Describe your users
Who will use it, on which devices, and what do they need to get done? A clinic website used mostly on phones by patients looking for opening hours is a different project from a portal used on desktops by staff all day.
3. List what must exist on day one
Separate must-have from nice-to-have. Most successful projects launch with a focused first version and grow from real feedback. For each must-have, one sentence is enough: "Clients can book an appointment and receive an email confirmation."
4. Mention what already exists
- Current website, domain and hosting
- Brand assets: logo, colours, fonts, photos
- Existing systems: invoicing, CRM, stock, payment provider
- Content that is ready — and content that still needs to be written
5. Share examples you like (and why)
Two or three links with a short note — "clean navigation", "the way prices are explained" — tell a designer more than a page of adjectives.
6. Be honest about timeline and budget
A deadline tied to a real event (a launch, a trade fair, a season) helps plan resources. A budget range is not a trap: it lets the team propose the scope that delivers the most value for that amount instead of guessing.
7. Languages, accessibility and legal requirements
Do you need several languages? Is accessibility a requirement for your sector? Will you process personal data (forms, accounts, payments)? These affect architecture and are cheaper to plan early.
What you can leave to the team
Technology choices, database design, hosting architecture and SEO implementation are the development team's job. A good partner explains the options in plain language and recommends one.
Ready to start?
The STRATEQUO quote wizard walks you through exactly these questions in about three minutes, and you can attach an existing brief if you already have one.