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Web Design Agencies vs SitesByTed

Agencies deliver quality work — eventually. The question is whether 6-12 weeks and $5,000-$15,000 makes sense when Ted delivers comparable quality overnight for $500.

Feature-by-Feature

FeatureWeb Design AgenciesSitesByTed
Cost$5,000-$15,000$500
Timeline6-12 weeksOvernight
Your time required20-40 hours of meetings and feedback30 minutes to submit and review
See before you payRarely — most require depositsAlways — live preview before payment
Mobile responsiveYesYes — mobile-first
SEO optimizedVaries — often basicYes — 50+ factor optimization
Page speedVaries widely90+ PageSpeed score guaranteed
Ongoing content$500-$2,000/mo extra$300/mo on Grow plan
Revisions2-3 rounds included, then hourlyUnlimited until you approve

Where Web Design Agencies Wins

Complex custom functionality

If you need e-commerce, membership systems, custom web applications, or complex integrations, agencies can build bespoke solutions that go beyond standard business websites.

Brand strategy and identity

Full-service agencies offer brand strategy, logo design, and comprehensive visual identity work that goes beyond website design.

Dedicated human project manager

Some businesses prefer a named human contact managing their project. Agencies provide this. Ted does not.

Where SitesByTed Wins

Speed

Overnight delivery vs. 6-12 weeks. For businesses losing customers every day to a bad website, speed is not a nice-to-have.

Price

$500 vs. $5,000-$15,000. Same quality for standard small business websites at a fraction of the cost.

Risk-free

See your finished site before paying. Agencies require 50% deposits before showing any work.

Ongoing value

$300/month for 4 blog posts, SEO monitoring, and content updates. Agencies charge $500-$2,000/month for similar services.

Cost Comparison

Web Design Agencies

Website build$5,000-$15,000
+ Hidden costs$2,000-$6,000 (your time + maintenance)
Total cost$7,000-$21,000 (Year 1)

SitesByTed

Full service$500 (or $4,100/yr with Grow)
Hidden costs$0
Total cost$500 (or $4,100/yr with Grow)
Estimated savings: $3,000-$17,000+

Choose Web Design Agencies If...

  • You need complex custom functionality (e-commerce, web apps, portals)
  • You need comprehensive brand identity work beyond just a website
  • Budget is not a constraint and you prefer a dedicated human team
  • You have complex integration requirements with existing systems

Choose SitesByTed If...

  • You need a professional website for your local business — fast
  • You want to see the finished site before spending any money
  • You cannot afford or justify $5,000-$15,000 for a website
  • You do not have 20-40 hours for meetings and feedback rounds
  • You want ongoing content and SEO, not just a one-time build

See the difference for yourself.

Get your free website score and see a live preview by morning.