A website development agency is a company that builds websites for other businesses and individuals. They handle everything from initial strategy and design through development, testing, and launch.

That's the textbook answer.  

Here's the more useful answer:

A website development agency is a team of specialists (designers, developers, project managers, and strategists) who work together to turn your business needs into a functioning website that helps you drive tangible outcomes.

We’re not just writing code or making things look pretty.  

We’re solving business problems using websites as the solution.

When you hire a website development agency, here's what typically happens:

1. Discovery and Strategy

Before they design anything or write any code, good agencies spend time understanding your business, your customers, your competitors, and your goals.

This phase includes:

• Business requirements gathering

• Target audience analysis

• Competitor research

• Content strategy planning

• Technical requirements definition

• Project scope documentation

Why this matters: This is the difference between agencies that build what you ask for versus agencies that build what you actually need. Sometimes those are different things.

Typical timeline: 1-2 weeks

Output: Strategy document, project requirements, wireframes

2. Design and User Experience

Once they understand what you need, they design how it should look and how users will interact with it.

This phase includes:

• Brand alignment (logo, colors, typography)

• Visual design mockups

• User interface (UI) design

• User experience (UX) planning

• Interactive prototypes

• Mobile responsive design

Why this matters: This is where you see what you're getting before they build it. Changes are cheap at this stage. After development starts, changes get expensive fast.

Typical timeline: 2-4 weeks

Output: Design mockups, prototypes, style guides

3. Development

This is the actual building part—turning designs into working websites.

This phase includes:

• Frontend development (what users see and interact with)

• Backend development (databases, server logic, business rules)

• Content management system (CMS) setup

• Third-party integrations (payment processors, email services, analytics)

• Custom functionality implementation

• Database architecture

Why this matters: This is where expertise really counts. Bad development means slow sites, security vulnerabilities, and code that breaks constantly. Good development means fast, secure, maintainable websites.

Typical timeline: 4-12 weeks depending on complexity

Output: A working website

4. Testing and Quality Assurance

Before launch, good agencies test everything extensively.

This phase includes:

• Cross-browser testing (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)

• Mobile device testing (iPhone, Android, tablets)

• Performance testing (page speed, load handling)

• Security testing (vulnerability scanning)

• Functionality testing (forms, shopping carts, user flows)

• Accessibility testing (screen readers, keyboard navigation)

Why this matters: Users find bugs you didn't catch. Professional testing minimizes those surprises.

Typical timeline: 1-2 weeks

Output: Bug reports, fixes, quality assurance documentation

5. Launch and Deployment

Getting the site live and making sure it stays live.

This phase includes:

• Server setup and configuration

• Domain and SSL certificate setup

• Database migration

• Content population

• Final testing in production environment

• Go-live coordination

Why this matters: Launches can go wrong in spectacular ways. Agencies have checklists and procedures to minimize disasters.

Typical timeline: 1 week

Output: A live website

6. Training and Handover

Teaching you how to use and maintain your new website.

This phase includes:

• CMS training (how to update content, add pages, upload images)

• Documentation (how different features work)

• Analytics setup (tracking visitors and conversions)

• Handover of credentials and technical documentation

Why this matters: A website you can't update yourself is a website that will be outdated in three months.

Typical timeline: 1-2 days

Output: Training materials, documentation, credentials

7. Ongoing Support and Maintenance (Optional)

Many agencies offer continued support after launch.

This typically includes:

• Security updates and patches

• Plugin/platform updates

• Bug fixes

• Content updates

• Performance monitoring

• Backup management

• Technical support

Why this matters: Websites need ongoing maintenance. Things break, security vulnerabilities emerge, platforms need updating.

Not all agencies are the same. They tend to specialise in different areas:

Full-Service Digital Agencies

• What they do: Everything. Website design and development, plus branding, digital marketing, SEO, content creation, social media.

• Team size: 20-200+ people

• Best for: Businesses that want one partner for all digital needs

• Typical cost: £20,000-£100,000+ for website projects

• Example clients: Mid-size to large companies with substantial budgets

Specialised Web Development Agencies

• What they do: Focus specifically on website design and development. Some specialize further in e-commerce, WordPress, or specific industries.

• Team size: 5-30 people

• Best for: Businesses that need professional websites but handle marketing themselves

• Typical cost: £10,000-£50,000 for website projects

• Example clients: Small to mid-size businesses, startups

Boutique Design Studios

• What they do: High-end custom design with development capability. Heavy emphasis on visual design and brand experience.

• Team size: 3-15 people

• Best for: Brands where visual design and user experience are critical differentiators

• Typical cost: £15,000-£75,000+ for website projects

• Example clients: Consumer brands, design-focused startups, creative industries

Software Development Companies

• What they do: Build web applications and complex software that happens to run in browsers. This is different from building marketing websites.

• Team size: Varies widely

• Best for: Businesses building web applications, SaaS products, or MVPs with complex functionality

• Typical cost: £15,000-£150,000+ depending on complexity

• Example clients: Tech startups, companies building custom software products

• Critical distinction: If you're building a web application (user dashboards, complex features, custom business logic), you need a software development company like Octogle, not a traditional website agency.

When you hire an agency, you're not hiring one person. You're hiring a team.  

Here's who's typically involved:

Project Manager / Account Manager

• Your main point of contact

• Coordinates the entire team

• Manages timelines and budgets

• Translates between business and technical language

• Handles communication and reporting

Strategist / Business Analyst

• Figures out what you actually need

• Documents requirements

• Plans information architecture

• Defines success metrics

UI/UX Designer

• Creates visual designs

• Plans user experience

• Builds prototypes

• Ensures brand consistency

Frontend Developer

• Builds what users see

• Implements designs in code

• Handles responsive design

• Optimizes performance

Backend Developer

• Builds server-side logic

• Manages databases

• Implements business rules

• Handles integrations

Quality Assurance / Tester

• Tests everything before launch

• Identifies bugs

• Verifies functionality

• Ensures quality standards

DevOps / System Administrator (for complex projects)

• Manages servers and hosting

• Handles deployment

• Sets up monitoring

• Ensures security

Not every project needs every role, but professional agencies have access to all these specialists and deploy them as needed.

Let's clarify how agencies differ from other ways to get a website built:

‍
Website Development Agency vs Freelancer

Agency:

• Team of specialists

• Structured processes

• Quality control systems

• Redundancy (if someone leaves, project continues)

• Typically more expensive

• Better for complex projects

Freelancer:

• Individual person (or small team)

• More flexible and personal

• Less overhead, often cheaper

• Single point of failure

• Better for simple projects with clear requirements

Website Development Agency vs In-House Development

Agency:

• Pay for specific project

• Access to specialists as needed

• No recruitment or retention costs

• Outside perspective

• Fixed or predictable costs

In-House:

• Full-time employees

• Deep institutional knowledge

• Immediate availability

• High overhead (salaries, benefits, office space)

• Makes sense for ongoing development needs

Website Development Agency vs DIY (Wix, Squarespace, Etc.)

Agency:

• Professional, custom result

• Expert guidance

• More expensive upfront

• Less hands-on control

• Scalable and maintainable

DIY Tools:

• Much cheaper

• Full control

• Requires your time and effort

• Limited by template capabilities

• Good for simple needs or testing ideas

Website Development Agency vs Software Development Company

Website Agency:

• Builds marketing sites, portfolios, e-commerce

• Focus on design and user experience

• Standard CMS platforms (WordPress, Shopify)

• Good for displaying information and selling products

Software Development Company:

• Builds web applications with complex functionality

• Focus on scalability and custom features

• Custom frameworks and architectures

• Good for SaaS products, custom platforms, MVPs

Critical distinction: If you need a website, hire an agency. If you need a web application, hire a software development company. Octogle is both.

Pricing varies wildly based on complexity, agency reputation, and location. Here are realistic ranges for 2025:

By Project Type

Basic Marketing Website (5-10 pages)

• Small agency/freelancer: £3,000-£10,000

• Mid-size agency: £8,000-£20,000

• Large/premium agency: £15,000-£40,000

E-Commerce Website

• Template-based (Shopify): £5,000-£20,000

• Custom development: £15,000-£60,000

• Complex/enterprise: £50,000-£200,000+

Web Application / MVP

• Simple application: £15,000-£40,000

• Mid-complexity: £40,000-£100,000

• Complex platform: £100,000-£500,000+

By Pricing Model

Project-Based (Fixed Price)

• Defined scope, set price

• Changes trigger additional costs

• Good for well-defined projects

Hourly Rates

• Pay for actual time spent

• UK agencies: £80-£200/hour

• Offshore agencies: £20-£60/hour

• Budget flexibility but less predictability

Monthly Retainer

• Ongoing relationship

• Fixed monthly fee for continued work

• Good for continuous improvement

Hidden Costs to Watch For

• Domain and hosting (£50-£500/year)

• Premium plugins or themes (£100-£1,000)

• Stock photos or custom photography (£200-£5,000)

• Content creation/copywriting (£500-£5,000+)

• Ongoing maintenance (£100-£1,000/month)

Agencies aren't always the answer. Here's when they make sense:

‍

You should hire an agency when:

✓ Your website is critical to your business (primary sales channel, credibility builder)

✓ The project has multiple components requiring coordination

✓ You need it done professionally without becoming a web expert yourself

✓ Timeline matters and you can't spend 6 months learning

✓ You can afford £10,000-£30,000+ for professional development

✓ You need accountability and guaranteed delivery

‍

You might not need an agency if:

✗ Your needs are extremely simple (basic info site)

✗ You're just testing an idea before real investment

✗ You have unlimited time and want to learn web development

✗ Budget is under £5,000 total

✗ You're comfortable with template-based solutions

Not all agencies are created equal. Here are signs you're dealing with professionals:

‍

Green Flags (Good Signs):

✓ They ask lots of questions before giving you a quote

✓ They have a clear, structured process they can explain

✓ Their portfolio shows working examples, not just pretty screenshots

✓ They provide client references you can contact

✓ They explain things in plain language, not jargon

✓ They discuss business goals, not just features

✓ They're transparent about what's included and what costs extra

Red Flags (Warning Signs):

✗ All their portfolio sites look identical (template reseller)

✗ They can't clearly explain their process

✗ They pressure you to sign immediately

This is important and most guides get it wrong:

Website development agencies build sites that display information, look good, and have standard functionality (contact forms, shopping carts, content management).

Software development companies build web applications - custom software that happens to run in a browser.

You Need a Software Development Company (Not an Agency) If:

• You're building a SaaS product

• Your "website" has complex user dashboards

• You need custom business logic and workflows

• Users create accounts with role-based permissions

• Your platform needs to integrate with multiple services via APIs

• Functionality will evolve and scale continuously

At Octogle, we offer both. We specialise in building both scalable websites and web applications with proper architecture, security, and maintainability.

If you’re not sure which solution is right for you, connect with us today for free and we’ll be happy to guide you.