Two prices are not comparable until you know what each buys. Put every proposal against the same brief, expose the gaps and ask for written clarification before choosing.
Build one comparison sheet
Use a column for each proposal and a row for each requirement. Copy what is actually stated; mark missing information as “not specified” rather than interpreting silence as inclusion. Send each professional the same clarifications when they change the brief.
- Deliverables and the checks used to accept them.
- Included revisions, exclusions and client-supplied materials.
- Start date, milestones, dependencies and approval deadlines.
- Initial fee, recurring charges, third-party costs and payment timing.
- Ownership, licences, handover, support and the change-request process.
Separate essential requirements from preferences
Identify requirements that must be met before comparing scores or prices. Then choose a few relevant criteria, such as demonstrated experience, clarity of method, schedule fit and total cost. Record the evidence for each judgement. A scoring sheet helps expose assumptions; it does not turn uncertain claims into facts.
Resolve an apparent price gap
Suppose one website proposal includes design, development and content migration, while another includes development alone. Ask both to price the same deliverable list before concluding that one is cheaper. Also compare the work your own team must supply: a low fee can still require substantial internal effort.
Compare time as well as money
A four-week schedule may depend on approved content arriving before work starts. Ask when the clock begins, which milestones require your response and what happens if a dependency is late. Confirm whether launch support is included and distinguish an estimated date from a firm commitment with stated assumptions.
Keep a decision record
Save the final proposal version, clarifications and reasons for choosing it. Confirm the scope, payment milestones and approval process together. Accord.ia’s approach centres on clearer requests and comparable proposals; access to marketplace workflows depends on the current rollout. You can use this comparison method with proposals obtained elsewhere too.
