In this article · 5 sections
- Why a brief saves you money
- What to include in your brief
- 1. About your business (3–4 lines)
- 2. The main goal of the website
- 3. Pages you need
- 4. Features
- 5. Content: who provides what
- 6. Websites you like (and why)
- 7. Domain, hosting and email
- 8. Budget range and deadline
- A copy-paste template
- After you send the brief
- Quick tips
Most website projects that go wrong don't fail because of bad code. They fail because the business owner and the agency had different pictures in their heads. One person imagined a five-page brochure site; the other quoted for an online store. A short, clear website brief fixes this before any money changes hands.
You don't need technical knowledge to write one. You need to answer a few plain questions about your business. This guide walks you through them.
Why a brief saves you money
When you send three agencies a vague message like "I need a website, what's the price?", you'll get three quotes that can't be compared. One will be ₹5,000, another ₹50,000, and neither will tell you what's included. With a brief, every agency quotes for the same thing, so the comparison is fair.
A brief also shortens the project. Most delays happen while the agency waits for answers, logos, photos and text. If those are decided up front, the build moves quickly.
What to include in your brief
1. About your business (3–4 lines)
What you sell, who buys it, which cities or areas you serve, and what makes you different. Write it the way you'd explain it to a new employee.
2. The main goal of the website
Pick one primary goal. Examples: - Get phone calls and WhatsApp enquiries - Take bookings or appointments - Sell products online - Show credibility to B2B buyers who already know your name
The goal decides the design. A site built for calls puts the phone button everywhere; a site built for B2B trust puts certifications and client lists up front.
3. Pages you need
List them. A typical service business needs: Home, About, Services (one page per main service), Contact, and perhaps Gallery, Blog and FAQ. If you want separate pages for each city you serve, say so. That changes the scope a lot.
4. Features
Be specific. "Contact form" is one thing; "booking form that checks availability and sends an SMS" is another. Common features: - Enquiry form with email and WhatsApp alerts - Click-to-call and WhatsApp buttons - Photo gallery - Blog you can update yourself - Online payment - Admin panel to change prices or text - Multiple languages (English, Hindi, Punjabi)
5. Content: who provides what
Will you write the text, or should the agency? Do you have good photos, or do you need a shoot or stock images? Do you have a logo? Content is the most common bottleneck. See our website content checklist for a full list.
6. Websites you like (and why)
Share two or three links and say what you like: the layout, the colours, how simple the booking is. "I like it" isn't enough; "I like how the price is visible on the first screen" is useful.
7. Domain, hosting and email
Do you already own a domain? Where is it registered? Do you need business email? If an old website exists, who has its logins?
8. Budget range and deadline
Many owners hide their budget, fearing the agency will inflate the quote. In practice, a range (for example ₹8,000–₹15,000) helps the agency suggest what's realistic. A deadline matters too. Mention it if you're launching before a season, a festival or a shop opening.
A copy-paste template
Business: [name, what you do, where] Main goal: [calls / bookings / sales / credibility] Pages: [list] Must-have features: [list] Nice-to-have features: [list] Content: I will provide [text/photos/logo]; I need help with [ ] Sites I like: [link – what I like about it] Domain/hosting: [own it at ___ / need new] Budget range: ₹ to ₹ Launch by: [date and reason]
After you send the brief
A good agency will ask follow-up questions. That's a positive sign: it means they read it. Be wary of anyone who sends a price within five minutes without asking anything.
When quotes come back, check that each one lists the pages, features, number of revisions, timeline, and what happens after launch (support, hosting renewal, changes). If something in your brief is missing from a quote, ask.
Quick tips
- Keep the brief to one or two pages. Longer briefs rarely get read fully.
- Separate "must-have" from "nice-to-have". It lets you trim scope if the budget is tight.
- Decide who on your side approves the design. Projects stall when five family members each give different feedback.
If you'd like, send your brief to us through the contact page. We'll reply with questions and a clear, itemised quote. Our business websites start from ₹4,999, and the brief tells us which package actually fits.