The verdict in three sentences
For an industrial website of 20 to 28 days of work, a freelancer at 400 GBP a day costs 8,000 to 11,200 GBP, an agency at 650 GBP a day 13,000 to 18,200 GBP (about 15,000 to 21,000 EUR). The freelancer wins on price, but dependence on a single person becomes a real risk once the site carries a 120-reference catalogue and a quote configurator that feeds the sales team. The right decision rests on three-year total cost, maintenance of 1,000 to 2,000 GBP a year included, and on service continuity.
The project comparison in figures
Here are two typical quotes for a 70-employee precision engineering subcontractor in the London and South East area.
| Criterion | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Average day rate | 400 GBP | 650 GBP |
| Estimated days | 20 to 28 days | 20 to 28 days |
| Project cost | 8,000 to 11,200 GBP | 13,000 to 18,200 GBP |
| People involved | 1 all-round developer | Project manager, UX, developer, front-end |
| Delivery time | 10 to 14 weeks | 7 to 9 weeks |
| Formal testing | Variable | Included, with test plan |
| Annual maintenance | 1,000 GBP | 2,000 GBP |
2026 ballpark: UK day rates range from 400 GBP outside London to 700 GBP for London agencies. The agency delivers faster because several people work in parallel, while the freelancer handles design, development and catalogue integration one after another.
Where the risks sit on an industrial website
A subcontractor's website is not a simple brochure. Buyers look for machine capacity, tolerances, materials and certifications such as ISO 9001 or AS9100. The 120-reference catalogue and quote configurator are sales tools.
| Risk | With a freelancer | With an agency |
|---|---|---|
| Unavailability (illness, other contract) | Project or maintenance blocked | Another developer steps in |
| Technical documentation | Often minimal | Delivered as standard |
| Ownership of code and access | Must be required in writing | Built into the contract |
| Configurator changes | Depend on one skill set | Team available |
| Response time on an outage | Not guaranteed | 4 to 24 h depending on contract |
| Professional indemnity insurance | Variable | Systematic |
These risks can be managed with a freelancer, provided you require code in a Git repository you own, delivered documentation and admin access in your name.
Three-year total cost
Over three years, the freelancer comes to 11,000 to 14,200 GBP including maintenance. The agency comes to 19,000 to 24,200 GBP. The 8,000 to 10,000 GBP gap is the price of service continuity. Compare it with the value of a quote configurator being down for three weeks in the middle of a tender season.
A middle path exists: hire an agency for the build, then hand routine maintenance to a freelancer under a clear contract. It works if the code is clean and documented.
Mini case study
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David, managing director of a precision engineering subcontractor near London (70 staff), receives 15 quote requests a month through his website, converts 20% of them and has an average order of 16,000 GBP. The configurator should raise requests to 22 a month. If it is down for 3 weeks, the company loses about 11 requests, or 2 orders and 32,000 GBP of revenue. Against that risk, the 8,000 GBP three-year saving offered by the freelancer looks small: David picks the agency for the build and a maintenance contract with an 8-hour response time.
FAQ
What is a freelance web developer's day rate in the UK in 2026?
An experienced developer usually charges 350 to 500 GBP a day, around 400 GBP on average outside central London. Agencies range from 550 to 700 GBP a day.
How many days does an industrial website with a catalogue take?
Plan 20 to 28 days for 120 technical references, a simple quote configurator and about ten corporate pages. A configurator with automatic pricing adds 5 to 10 days.
How can we limit dependence on a freelancer?
Require ownership of the domain, hosting and code repository, plus technical documentation. These three points let another provider take over the site in 2 to 4 days.
What does 2,000 GBP a year of maintenance cover?
Security updates, backups, uptime monitoring and about 8 to 10 hours of changes a year. The guaranteed response time is often what separates it from a 1,000 GBP offer.
Should the site display ISO certifications?
Yes, a dedicated page with PDF certificates reassures large-account buyers. Many filter subcontractors on this criterion before even requesting a quote.
Let's scope your project. Describe your catalogue, your quote configurator and your indicative budget, and we will price an industrial website delivered in 8 weeks with guaranteed maintenance. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
