Short answer: Cheap web design can work, but only for a brochure site of five pages or fewer that rarely changes. Before signing, confirm the domain is registered in your name, what hosting costs per year, and that you get admin access and source code. Most low-price traps aren't in the first invoice but in renewals and change fees of NT$10K–30K a year from year two.
The pain: a NT$9,900 website that cost NT$60,000 in three years
The owner of a small cleaning company found a "website for NT$9,900 including one year of hosting" offer. It went live in two weeks and he was happy. In year two came the renewal: NT$18,000 for hosting and maintenance. Changing the home page photo cost NT$500 each time. Adding online booking meant a rebuild quoted at NT$40,000. Over three years he spent more than NT$60,000, and the domain was registered in the vendor's name, so he couldn't take it elsewhere.
The direct answer: three rules for choosing a web design company
Bottom line: compare three-year total cost first, confirm who owns the assets, and only then compare the first quote.
- Calculate three-year total cost: build fee + yearly hosting, domain and maintenance + expected change fees.
- Keep the assets yourself: domain, hosting account and admin access, at minimum something you can log into and transfer yourself.
- Match price to needs: a company introduction can be cheap; bookings, memberships or payments shouldn't go to the lowest bidder.
| Website type | Typical build cost | Is cheap web design a fit? |
|---|---|---|
| One-page site | NT$15K–40K | Yes: little content, few changes |
| Brochure site (5–10 pages) | NT$40K–150K | Possibly, if renewals are spelled out |
| Functional site (booking, members, payments) | From NT$200K | No: low prices usually mean bolted-on templates |
The checklist: 10 questions to ask before signing
Bottom line: if three or more of these get vague answers, don't sign, however cheap it is.
- Whose name is the domain registered in? It should be your company's; check with TWNIC or your registrar, or it may be held hostage when you switch.
- What do hosting and maintenance cost from year two? Put it in the contract to avoid surprise increases.
- Do I get an admin account? At minimum, you should be able to edit text, swap images and add posts.
- Do I get the source code or a full backup? Confirm you receive all files and the database when the relationship ends.
- Custom design or template? Templates are fine, but the price should reflect it.
- How are changes charged? What's free during warranty, and the per-change or hourly rate afterwards.
- How long is the warranty and what does it cover? Usually 3–6 months from acceptance.
- Are images and fonts licensed for commercial use? When a copied image triggers a claim, the site owner usually bears it.
- How will mobile layout and speed be accepted? Agree to check with tools such as PageSpeed Insights.
- Who actually does the work, and is the business registered? Look it up in the Ministry of Economic Affairs company registry to make sure the job isn't subcontracted down a chain.
Five common low-price website traps
Bottom line: a low price isn't the problem; hiding the cost until later is.
- Hosting lock-in: a low build fee recovered through NT$10K–30K a year in hosting you can't move.
- Assets held by the vendor: domain and admin sit in their account, so switching means rebuilding.
- Pay per change: new photos or a new phone number cost money each time, adding up to more than a maintenance plan.
- Features bolted onto templates: booking or carts pieced together from plugins break after an update and end up rebuilt.
- Nobody to call: freelancers without a registered business or contract can't be reached when the site breaks.
Decision checklist: can this cheap web design company be trusted?
Bottom line: if you can't tick 8, compare at least one more vendor.
- ☐ Does the quote list yearly fees from year two?
- ☐ Will the domain be registered in my company's name?
- ☐ Will I receive an admin account?
- ☐ Does the contract say I get a full backup on termination?
- ☐ Is there a written contract, not just a LINE chat?
- ☐ Can I find their business registration?
- ☐ Have I seen at least three live sites they built?
- ☐ Are warranty period and change scope written down?
- ☐ Do I only need to introduce my business, with no booking or payments?
- ☐ After calculating three-year cost, is it still the better deal?
FAQ
Is cheap web design worth using?
Yes, for brochure sites of five pages or fewer that rarely change. Confirm the domain is in your name and yearly fees are in the contract to avoid most traps.
Why does a website cost money again in year two?
Hosting, domain and maintenance are annual fees. A brochure site runs about NT$2,000–20,000 a year depending on whether maintenance and changes are included.
What happens if the domain is registered to the vendor?
You may not get it back if you switch vendors or they disappear. Register it to your company and keep login access to the registrar account.
What should a web design contract include?
At least scope, yearly fees from year two, warranty, change pricing, asset ownership and file handover on termination. A LINE chat is hard to rely on.
Next step: who we're right for, and who we're not
At ScriptWalker (a Taiwanese Laravel/Flutter custom development studio), websites start at NT$15,000 and systems at NT$80,000. The domain is registered in the client's name, we hand over admin access and site backups, and our quotes show three-year total cost. We suit small businesses that need booking, memberships, inquiries or system integration. If you only need a one-page business-card site for under NT$10,000, building it yourself on Wix or Google Sites is better value, and we'll tell you so.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 0916-224-047
- LINE: @ufv9089p