FAQ: Should I hire a freelancer or a web development agency?

We get asked this question a lot and wanted to provide some insight. There is no right or wrong answer to this question. In the end, it all comes down to how comfortable and confident you are with the vendor you select.

So what is the difference between a freelancer and an agency?

* Note these are general statements and do not represent every vendor within each category.

Freelancer:

• Will have less overhead which helps to reduce cost
• Might outsource some of the design or development of the website
• Typically involved in all aspects of the project and can turn around a project quicker
• Usually not as responsive to your questions, but more likely to have all the answers to your questions
• Less planning before the start of your project
• More likely to have bugs after launch (less testing done)
• May or may not receive supporting documentation and training on how to maintain your website

Web Agency:

• More resources involved in the project (greater cost)
• Typically there is a dedicated project who is readily available but may not be able to answer technical or design-related questions
• Greater upfront planning
• Will receive supporting documentation and training on how to maintain your website
• The project is likely to take longer

With both freelancers and agencies, you can reduce your costs by knowing what the goal of your site is and what your content will look like. For smaller projects typically a Freelancer is the way to go, but for large-scale projects, an Agency likely makes the most sense.