What a website project actually involves
"I need a website" covers several separate jobs. Design and layout are only the visible part. Behind them sit page structure, copywriting, programming, payment setup and analytics. Most customers in Uzbekistan arrive on a phone, often from Instagram or Telegram, so a mobile-first build is the foundation, not an extra.
When you compare quotes, compare the scope, not just the total. Two different prices often describe two very different amounts of work.
- Page structure and a simple prototype
- Design and responsive layout
- An admin panel so you can edit texts and prices yourself
- Lead forms that notify you in Telegram or a CRM
- Online payment through Click or Payme for a shop
- Basic SEO setup and analytics counters
- Domain, hosting and an SSL certificate
Freelancer, small team or agency
A freelancer suits a clear, limited task: a landing page, a business card site or a simple catalogue. You talk to one person, there is no middleman, and it is usually cheaper. The catch is that the whole project rests on one individual, who can fall ill, get overloaded or simply stop replying.
A team or agency covers more roles: designer, developer, project manager, sometimes a marketer. That matters when the site is part of your sales and has to connect with ads, analytics and a CRM. The difference is rarely code quality. It is responsibility, and who answers for results after launch.
What drives the price
Cost depends on the number of pages and screen types, how original the design is, how complex the features are, how many integrations you need, how much text and photography has to be produced, and how tight the deadline is. A template on a site builder and a site with custom logic are different products and should not be compared directly.
Ask about recurring costs too: domain renewal, hosting, plugin licences and support after handover. These are the items that tend to surprise people a few months later.
Risks nobody mentions upfront
The most common risk is a vague brief. Without a written scope, every change request turns into an argument about whether it was included. The second is access. The site, domain and hosting account should be registered to you, not to the developer.
The third is missing documentation and source files. If the developer leaves and nobody else can work with the project, you are effectively held hostage. Finally, a site built without analytics cannot be judged: you will not know whether it brings enquiries or just exists.
How to vet a freelancer before paying
A polished portfolio is not enough. Ask for links to live sites and open them on your phone, checking loading speed and how easy the forms are to use. If you can, speak to a past client.
- Split the work into stages and pay per stage
- Put scope, deadlines and the number of revisions in a written contract
- Confirm that the domain and hosting are registered in your name
- Ask who maintains the site after launch, and on what terms
- Ask how analytics will be set up and which goals will be tracked
Start with the goal
Before choosing anyone, decide what the site is for: collecting leads, selling online, building trust or appearing in search. Structure, scope and budget follow from that. A shop needs a catalogue and payments; a service business needs a clear offer and a fast contact form.
Agree on metrics as well: cost per lead, share of visitors who leave contact details, search positions. Without them it is hard to tell whether the site pays for itself.
Making the final call
If the task is small and you are ready to supervise the process, a freelancer is a sensible choice. If the site must work together with advertising and analytics, a team that owns the whole customer journey is safer. markdev builds websites end to end in Uzbekistan. Tell us what your business needs, and we will talk through which way of working fits, with no obligation.
FAQ
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
Often yes, because there is less overhead. Compare the scope, guarantees and support, not only the final figure.
Do I need a contract with a freelancer?
Yes. It should state the scope, payment stages, deadlines, number of revisions and the handover of access and source files.
Who should own the domain and hosting?
You, or your company. Give the developer access rather than the other way round.
Can a website builder be enough?
For a simple business card site or to test an idea, yes. For custom logic, integrations and flexible SEO, custom development is a better fit.
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