How to Choose the Right Web Agency for Your Company's Growth and Profitability

Many believe that it’s just about finding a web agency that can create a nice website cheaply. That’s a common misconception. But it’s a bit like buying a car for your sales team without caring if it can be serviced or even suits the job.

What does it cost, and what do you actually get?

It’s easy to focus on the price tag. “Cheapest wins,” many reason. But the price tag says nothing about what you actually get or what you risk losing. A basic corporate website, with 5-7 unique pages and a contact form, today costs between 80,000 and 130,000 SEK depending on the level of ambition. If you get a price under 60,000 SEK, it’s wise to double-check what’s included—often things like SEO, support, or performance measurement are missing.

“The important thing isn’t to push the price down. It’s to buy the right thing, with open cards.”

A good web agency helps you generate more leads, increase conversion, and save internal time on administration. I’ve seen companies that, after an investment of 120,000 SEK, increased their revenue inquiries by 45% in one year. Those who tried to save money and bought the “cheapest website” for 40,000 SEK ended up spending just as much fixing bugs or were forced to rebuild from scratch after two years. Reworking is expensive.

What you don’t hear in the sales meeting

Many agencies talk about “unique solutions” but forget to explain how they work with you long-term. Look at references and ask for real results, not just pretty pictures. Ask for numbers: “How have you helped similar companies with growth and profitability?” A project costing 150,000 SEK but generating 800,000 SEK extra per year is a very different deal than a cheap, passive site.

Also keep in mind that support isn’t free or guaranteed. Most web agencies charge between 1,000 and 1,800 SEK per hour for ongoing work. Expect at least 10–20 hours per year if you want continuous improvements and quick fixes when problems arise. It’s cheaper than having an employee do the job, but it must be included in the budget.

How to avoid the most common mistakes

My advice, after 15 years in the industry and countless coffees with skeptical CEOs, is simple:

• Ask for concrete examples of ROI (return on investment) from previous projects
• Always sign contracts covering follow-up and support, not just delivery
• Avoid buying into proprietary solutions where you get “locked in”
• Ask if you own the code and content yourself

The most important thing I’ve learned is that choosing an agency isn’t a technical question. It’s a business question. Your website should cover its own costs—and then some. If you want to talk more concretely about what this could mean for your company, get in touch with darek.se.