Web Agency or Freelancer: How to Choose in Quebec?

Torn between hiring an agency or a freelancer to build your website? Both can deliver an excellent result, and both can let you down. The right choice depends less on the label than on your project, your budget and the person who will actually do the work. Here’s an honest comparison to help you decide.

The freelancer: direct, flexible and often affordable

A freelancer is someone who works for themselves. Quebec has excellent designers, developers and SEO specialists who have chosen to work this way.

Strengths

• Direct contact. You talk to the person doing the work. Nothing gets lost between the salesperson and the developer.
• Flexibility. A freelancer can often adapt quickly to a change or a small mandate.
• Often a lower cost. With no office or team to fund, they can offer a gentler rate.
• Sharp expertise. Many freelancers are very strong in their specialty.

Limits

• One pair of hands. Vacation, illness, a busy stretch: your project waits.
• Expertise sometimes focused on a single area: design or development or SEO. A site that brings in business usually needs all three.
• Continuity. If the person changes careers, you need to be sure you can carry on with your site without them.

The agency: more hands, more structure

An agency brings several people under one roof: sales, project management, design, development, SEO, marketing.

Strengths

• Several complementary skill sets on the same project.
• Continuity of service: if someone leaves, your file stays.
• Follow-up, maintenance and support that are easier to organize over the long term.
• The capacity to handle more ambitious projects, with several people working in parallel.

Limits

• The cost of structure. Internal meetings, coordination, handoffs: that work is real, and it ends up on your invoice.
• Middlemen. You often deal with an account manager, not the person writing the code. Nuances can get lost along the way.
• Subcontracting. Some agencies send part of the work outside. That isn’t necessarily a problem, but you have a right to know.

The real question: who does the work?

“Agency” and “freelancer” are labels. What really matters:

• Who will actually design, build and write your site?
• Has that person built sites comparable to yours?
• Who will be around in two years for an update or a problem?
• Can you leave with your site if the relationship ends?

An experienced, organized and transparent freelancer can be a better choice than a big agency where your file passes from hand to hand. The reverse is also true.

How to choose

Project size and complexity

A simple showcase site is something a skilled freelancer can deliver very well. An online store with integrations, a fifty-page bilingual site or a project on a tight deadline calls for more capacity.

SEO needs

If your site has to bring you customers through Google, make sure the person or team actually knows SEO, not just design. A beautiful site nobody finds brings in nothing.

After launch

Who will handle updates, fixes and additions? At what price, and how fast? Ask before you sign, not after.

Your budget

Compare quotes that describe the same work. To know what to expect, read our guide on how much a website costs in Quebec.

Two situations to help you

These examples are hypothetical, to illustrate the reasoning.

• A hairstylist who wants a four-page site with a link to her booking tool. A freelancer she trusts is a perfectly sensible choice, as long as the domain and hosting are in her name.
• A renovation contractor who wants a page for every town he serves, a project gallery and month-to-month SEO. He needs someone who handles both the site and search, and who will still be around next year.

Questions to ask before you sign

• Who will I be dealing with, and is that the person doing the work?
• Is any part of the project subcontracted?
• How many hours are planned, and for which tasks?
• Will the domain, hosting, content and accounts be in my name?
• Will I be able to edit my own copy and photos?
• What SEO is included?
• Can you show me sites you’ve built and put me in touch with a client?

Red flags, whichever you choose

• A price with no breakdown of what’s included.
• Accounts or a domain name registered in the supplier’s name.
• A guaranteed first position on Google.
• No examples of past work.
• Response times stretching out before the project has even started.

So where does Actif Marketing fit?

We’d rather be upfront: we’re not a big agency with floors of account managers. With us, the person you talk to is the one who designs, builds and optimizes your site, with fourteen years in the trade. No subcontracting, no middleman. We combine the direct contact of a freelancer with a complete offer: design, development, web copywriting and SEO.

Our prices are public: $100 an hour with no project-management hours, or Ready14 at $99 a month if you don’t want to pay upfront. And everything is in your name: domain, hosting, content and accounts. The details are on our pricing page, and you can learn more about our web agency.

Frequently asked questions

Is a freelancer always cheaper than an agency?

Often, but not always. Compare the hours and what’s included, not just the total. A low rate with hours that keep piling up can cost more in the end.

What happens if my freelancer becomes unavailable?

If your domain, hosting and content are in your name and the site is well documented, another professional can pick up the work. That’s why ownership is the most important thing to check.

Do I need an agency for SEO?

No. What matters is that the person handling it truly knows SEO, whatever the size of their business.

Can I switch suppliers mid-way?

Yes, as long as you have access to all your accounts and content. Before switching, take stock of where your site stands.

Make your decision with the right information

Whoever you choose, start by knowing where your site stands. Our free website analysis tells you in writing what works, what’s holding you back and where to start. Want to talk about your project? Contact us for a free, detailed quote.