Why is this cheaper than the agency that quoted me £4,000?
Because there is no agency. No account manager, no sales team, no office. You are talking to the person writing the code. I am also pricing low on purpose right now to build up client work I can point to. That is a real reason and I would rather say it than pretend.
What are the ongoing costs?
A domain is usually £10 to £15 a year, paid to the registrar, not to me. Hosting for a Launch or Presence site is free on the platforms I use. A Build with logins or payments may need paid hosting, typically £15 to £25 a month, and I will tell you the exact figure before you commit. I do not charge a monthly fee and there is no retainer.
Who owns the site when it is finished?
You do. The domain is registered in your name, the hosting is in your account, and the code is handed to you. If you want to move to someone else in a year, nothing stops you.
What if I want changes after it is live?
Presence includes two rounds of changes before launch. After launch, small changes are usually free if they take me ten minutes. Anything bigger I will quote first, and you decide. I will never do work you have not agreed to and then invoice you for it.
Do I need to write the words?
No. You tell me about the business and I write the copy, then you correct anything I have got wrong. If you would rather write it yourself, that is fine too.
What do you need from me to start?
Your logo if you have one, any photos you want used, and half an hour of your time to answer questions about the business. If you have no logo and no photos, say so and I will work around it.