The verdict in three sentences
When three vendors quote 5,000, 9,000 and 16,000 CAD for "the same" redesign, the gap measures different scopes, not different margins. The cheapest quote almost always excludes content, SEO, data migration and revisions, which reappear as change orders. The only honest way to compare is a line-by-line grid that brings each quote back to the same scope.
Breaking down a redesign quote line by line
A serious 2026 quote details at least five items. A one-line quote ("Website redesign: 6,000 CAD") is a warning sign: you do not know what you are buying.
| Item | Typical budget share | SME range (CAD) | Red flag if missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| UX/UI design | 20-30 % | 2,000-6,000 CAD | No mockups included |
| Development/integration | 30-40 % | 4,000-12,000 CAD | "Theme" unspecified |
| Content and copywriting | 10-20 % | 1,500-5,000 CAD | "Content provided by client" |
| Technical SEO + migration | 10-15 % | 1,500-4,000 CAD | No redirects planned |
| Data migration + training | 5-10 % | 800-2,500 CAD | No training |
A 5,000 CAD quote that "forgets" content, SEO and migration is not cheaper: it bills those items later, often at a high hourly rate (120-160 CAD/h).
Comparison grid and red flags
Bring each quote to the same scope before comparing totals. Here are the red flags that blow up a budget after signing.
| Point to check | Healthy quote | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Number of pages included | Exact figure | Vague "full site" |
| Revisions included | 2-3 named rounds | Unlimited or zero |
| 301 redirects of old URLs | Listed | Not mentioned |
| Code/CMS ownership | Client | Vendor (lock-in) |
| Out-of-scope hours | Rate shown | Unspecified |
| Deadline with penalties | Date + milestones | "As soon as possible" |
An 11,000 CAD gap between the low and high quotes is often justified by 6,000 CAD of content and SEO plus a 200-page migration with redirects: that is not overcharging, it is real scope.
The key question before signing
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Ask each vendor: "What happens if I discover an unplanned need mid-project?" A good vendor answers with a clear change-request rate (e.g. 110 CAD/h) and a process. A bad one says "we'll see": you just bought a budget overrun.
Mini case study
Sophie, owner of a technical-services SME in Montreal, received three quotes: 5,200, 9,400 and 15,800 CAD. Mapping them to the grid, she found the 5,200 quote excluded SEO, migration of her 180 pages and copywriting, i.e. about 6,500 CAD of predictable change orders, bringing the true cost to 11,700 CAD. The 9,400 quote included everything. She chose the middle and avoided 2,300 CAD of surprises, while securing a firm 9-week deadline with penalties. Six months later, her organic traffic had grown 34 % thanks to clean redirects.
FAQ
Why such a gap between two redesign quotes? In 80 percent of cases the gap measures scope: content written or not, SEO included or not, number of pages, data migration. Bring everything to a common grid before deciding.
Is the cheapest quote a trap? Not always, but check what it excludes. A 5,000 CAD quote without content or SEO often costs 11,000 CAD once change orders are billed at the high hourly rate.
How many revisions should I ask for? Two to three named rounds are enough for an SME redesign. "Unlimited revisions" often hides a vague deadline and a bland consensus design.
Who should own the code and CMS? You. Demand ownership of the code and hosting access: a vendor keeping the technical lock makes you captive and inflates maintenance.
Should 301 redirects be planned? Absolutely. Without redirects of old URLs, a redesign can drop organic traffic by 20 to 40 percent for months. Require them in the quote.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current quotes and the real scope (page count, content to write, SEO, migration): we return a neutral comparison grid and an aligned quote. 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.
