Web design agency, freelancer or full-stack studio: which is right for your business?
A fair comparison for business owners in Limburg and the rest of Flanders who are having a website, online shop or software developed. Featuring the questions you should ask EVERY developer.
A web design agency divides your project amongst several people and passes on those overheads. An individual freelancer is cheaper, but continuity and guarantees are rarely set out in writing. A full-stack studio such as TST Reclamewerken combines both advantages: a single experienced developer who designs and builds everything themselves, with a signed contract, a fixed price agreed in advance, ownership of the code upon payment and 30 days’ free aftercare.
Side by side, point by point
No names, but the patterns we hear every week from business owners who are switching.
| Traditional agency | Freelancer on a casual basis | TST Advertising (full-stack studio) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who’s building your website? | Team: account manager, designer, developer | One person, varying specialisms | One full-stack developer who handles design, coding and SEO all by themselves |
| Communication | Via an account manager; response within a few days | Immediate, but availability varies | Deal directly with the builder, including via WhatsApp; get a reply the same day |
| Speed | Weeks to months due to internal transfers | Varies, depending on the schedule | A starter website is usually live within two weeks |
| Pricing model | Hourly rates plus a management fee, often on a subscription basis | Competitive, but additional work is rarely documented | Fixed price agreed in advance, in writing, no surprises |
| Ownership & code | Often linked to their platform or subscription | Rarely set out in writing | Once payment has been made, it is 100% your property, including the source code, as set out in the contract |
| Contract & warranties | Standard Terms and Conditions for Agencies | Usually no formal agreement | Signed cooperation agreement, GDPR clause, 30 days’ free aftercare |
| Follow-up after handover | The agency’s ticketing system | Individual emails | Dedicated customer portal: real-time project status, design approvals with supporting PDFs, documents and support |
| Technology | Often WordPress or a page builder | Variable | In-house code: faster, more secure and with no monthly licence fees |
Small team, big benefits
And perhaps most importantly: we provide personalised training for every customer, using plain language. We design the controls to match the way you think, not the way a manual dictates. Technical knowledge or age doesn’t matter at all; the system adapts to you, never the other way round.
5 questions you should ask every website builder
1. Will I receive a signed contract?
With the scope, fixed price, schedule and aftercare set out in black and white. No contract means no guarantees.
2. Who owns the code once payment has been made?
If the answer is vague, you are effectively renting your own website. Insist on a full transfer of ownership.
3. How do I monitor my project?
A portal with live status updates and approvals prevents endless email threads and misunderstandings.
4. What happens if bugs are found after handover?
Ask about a specific aftercare period. With us: 30 calendar days free of charge, as stated in the contract.
5. Who’s actually doing the building?
Are you speaking to a sales representative or the developer? With us, it’s the same person.
Bonus: is the price really fixed?
Ask what happens in the event of additional work. A fixed price agreed in advance should remain fixed.
Feel free to compare us, and then ask for a fixed price
Put your project together in 2 minutes. Within 24 hours, you’ll receive a detailed quote with a fixed price, with no obligation.