Building Blocks of HubSpot Website Design and Development Project Cost

Imagine you’re building a house. From planning and foundations to construction and finishing, it’s a multi-step process involving experts like architects, carpenters, and bricklayers. 

Creating anything complex takes teamwork. That’s why building a website works the same way. You need a clear plan, a solid structure, and engaging written and visual content. Our writers, graphic designers, and developers should turn this plan into a fully functional website.

That’s why asking “How much does it cost?” when discussing website design and development is like asking about building a house. Without clear details and expectations, website design and development costs can spiral, and deadlines slip.

Let’s break it down using the home-building analogy. We’ll explain each phase of our design and development process, your role in it, and what you’re paying for.

Design and development terms

Website design and development terms worth knowing

Are you new to website design and development? Before you dive into our process, this handy table will give you a grasp of the most important terms!
Sitemap	A structured outline of all pages on a website, showing how they are connected and organized for navigation purposes.
Strategy	A strategy document featuring the goals, target audience, messaging, and other core information, guiding content and design of the website.
Website Copy	The written content on a website, designed to engage users, convey information, and drive actions aligned with the website's goals.
Wireframe	Basic, visual blueprint outlining the layout and structure of individual pages, focusing on placement of elements like text, images, and CTAs and the navigation.
Mockup	Detailed visual representation of a website's design, including colors, typography, and detailed layouts that reflect the final appearance.
Theme	A pre-designed framework for your website that keeps templates, modules, global content, and style consistent. Changing the theme will alter the entire look of your site.
Template	A blueprint for a specific page within the theme, defining where different elements like headers, images, and text will go on the page. Templates can be customized for specific content like blogs or e-mails, while keeping the theme consistent.
Module	A reusable building block that performs a specific function on a page (e.g., a contact form, button, or slider). Modules can be reused across different pages and customized for the specific purpose of each.

Our website design and development process explained

Like building a house, website design and development is a gradual process. We work on specific assets during each stage to progress toward the finished construction.

1. Contract & Conditions: Consider this step like the prep work before building a house. We discuss your vision, what it will take to bring it to life, and the necessary resources. Then, we put together a proposal.
   
   
2. Website Planning: It’s like sitting down with your architect and construction team to map out the floorplan of your website—the sitemap and strategy. These two deliverables will guide our work in the next stages.
   
   
3. Content & Structure: This phase is about refining your website’s blueprint. We’re planning out individual rooms (by creating page wireframes) and fitting them with essentials (the website copy).
   
   
4. Design: Our graphic designers take the rough structural sketches into polished visualizations (mockups) that show exactly how your website will look and feel while staying true to your branding.
   
   
5. Development: As things start taking shape, our developers—or construction team—take over. During this technical stage, the construction occurs as we move from visualizations to walls, floors, and furnishings: your website’s theme, modules, templates, and pages.
   
   
6. Implementation: Here, we add final touches: adding the last bits of content, linking pages, and testing everything to make sure your website is perfect for you to move on.
   
   
7. Go Live!: Your shiny new digital home is all set to welcome your business! With sleek design and top-notch functionality, its doors are wide open for your visitors—and future customers.

Of course, there’s much more behind the scenes at each stage. If you want to dive deeper into it, check out our detailed six-step guide to our website design and development process.

Though our approach is well-defined, no two projects are alike. The final process and cost depend on what you already have and how clear your vision is. So, what are the three most common scenarios we see when building websites for our clients?

The builder’s approach: you provide everything

Imagine you’ve already done most of the legwork when building your house. You have a good idea of what you want, complete with a detailed blueprint (a sitemap and content) and building materials (mockups). All you need is a skilled team to construct the house.

This is the simplest setup, as we can skip right into development. With all the information upfront, we’ll give you a clear timeline and cost. If you want us to move your content to the new website, we can do that for an extra fee. Or, if you’d rather handle it yourself, we can hand over the reins early.

When clients come to us ready to go, our job is simple: we’re the builders, bringing your vision to life exactly as planned. The project unfolds smoothly as long as you’re happy with everything after the website launch and don’t request any tweaks. Everything has been set from the start—including the price. However, while this scenario is ideal, it’s also quite rare. 

The designer and builder’s approach: you provide the framework

A more common scenario involves clients bringing us a blueprint (sitemap) and rough sketches of what they envision for their house (content). Here, we refine and expand on your ideas, and our web designers and developers act as both designers and builders.

In this scenario, we follow our usual framework for our website design and development, starting from the Design stage:

• Visualize the space: Based on your sitemap and content, we create visual representations of the rooms—mockups.
• Advise on materials: We guide you in selecting the best design options, layouts, and features to meet your needs.
• Collaborate and iterate: We refine the visuals until they perfectly align with your vision.

Similar to architectural visualizations, mockups reflect your new website's final look and feel.

Here, we follow our full website design and development process described above. First, we’ll ask detailed questions about your goals, preferences, and user needs, as well as research website inspirations from businesses in your industry. This will allow us to create the blueprint by developing a sitemap to organize your digital space effectively. We’ll also advise you on pages and features your website should include.

Website strategy is an equally important part of the blueprint. This document outlines your company information, competitors, personas, messaging and tone of voice, buyer’s journey, and SEO phrases, serving as a central source of knowledge that informs all the following stages.

With the blueprints complete, we’ll progress to more detailed sketches, such as website wireframes and copy. Our writers plan the flow of information on all pages and fill each section with compelling copy. We'll lean heavily on our blueprint to resonate with your users and stay in line with your brand goals and identity.

Most clients ask us to write the copy, but some hire in-house writers or want to reuse their existing content. In these cases, we’ll offer our guidance, adjusting copy to layouts, fine-tuning the tone of voice to your audience, and tweaking messaging to your larger brand vision.

Compelling blog articles, coherent website copy, tailored strategy, and other content marketing efforts help your business turn words into tangible results.

Next, we’ll collaborate closely with you during the design stage, creating visual representations of each site section. We focus on visual consistency, usability, and ensuring that each area serves its intended purpose and aligns with your goals. Once the designs are approved, we construct the website, ensuring it functions as planned and meets all design specifications.

As in other scenarios, we can help you transfer the content, or you may handle it yourself. Once your site is ready, we will hand over the keys, tools, and guidance to help you keep it going (yes, we are also your maintenance team!).

Build your digital foundations flexibly

The timeline and cost of designing and developing a website depend on how prepared and involved you are. Whether you have a detailed plan or an idea, we adjust our services to ensure we build your website efficiently and focus on your success. We achieve this through clear communication and collaboration.

Looking for a new online place for your B2B business? Drop us a message—together, we’ll create a digital space that feels like home for you and your users.