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Freelancer vs Agency: Who Builds Your Website?

When having a website built, one of the first choices is: do you hire a freelance developer or a web agency?

Advantages of a Freelancer

A freelancer offers unique advantages, especially for small to medium projects.

  • Direct contact with the person building your website
  • Lower overhead, often more competitively priced
  • More flexible in planning and communication
  • Personal involvement in your project
  • Faster decision-making without bureaucracy

When to Choose an Agency?

An agency may be better suited to certain situations.

  • You have a large, multidisciplinary project
  • You want one party for everything: from strategy to execution
  • Your company has internal processes that require an agency workflow
  • Your project needs multiple specialists simultaneously

The Best of Both Worlds

At AEH Web Services, you get the personal approach and sharp pricing of a freelancer, combined with the professionalism and reliability you expect from an agency.

  • Direct communication: you work with the person actually building your website
  • 5+ years corporate software engineering experience — agency-level quality
  • Fixed project prices: you know exactly what you're investing upfront
  • Modern technology (Next.js, React, TypeScript) for future-proof websites
  • Code on GitHub: fully transferable and documented

Costs: Freelancer vs. Agency

The price differences are significant. A freelancer has lower overhead, which directly impacts pricing.

  • Business website via freelancer (AEH): from €899 — custom, live in 1-2 weeks
  • Business website via agency: €2,000-€10,000 — longer lead time, more overhead
  • Webshop via freelancer (AEH): from €2,499 — including iDEAL and product catalog
  • Webshop via agency: €5,000-€25,000 — more resources, but also more management layers
  • Hourly rate freelancer: €50-100/hour vs. agency: €100-200/hour

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?

Generally yes, because a freelancer has lower overhead. A business website costs from €899 with a freelancer versus €2,000+ at an agency. Quality doesn't have to suffer — an experienced freelancer often delivers the same level as an agency.

What if the freelancer gets sick?

A valid point. At AEH Web Services, all code is documented and managed on GitHub, so the project is always transferable if needed. This ensures business continuity.

Can a freelancer handle large projects?

Yes, provided the project is well-planned. For very large projects, I collaborate with specialized partners for design or specific technologies. This way you get the best of both worlds.

How do I know if a freelancer is reliable?

Check portfolio, reviews, and references. At AEH Web Services, you can view my completed projects and speak with previous clients if desired.

Do you offer a warranty on your work?

Yes, after delivery I offer a warranty on the built functionality. Bugs are fixed free of charge. I also offer flexible maintenance packages for ongoing support.

Looking for a reliable freelance web developer? Schedule a free introduction.

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