That’s where the subscription-based model comes in. In this article, we'll discuss what a website design and development subscription is, how it works, its pros and cons (oh yes, cons also exist), and, of course, things to consider when choosing the right agency. Fasten your seat belts, and let’s go!
How does a website design and development subscription work?
The web design and development subscription is simply a business model in which you pay a flat monthly rate for specific services—precisely as you do with YouTube Premium or Spotify, let’s say.
Everything is as simple as it sounds: you are given different types of subscriptions offering various ranges of services. They may differ based on the number of hours the agency spends on your project per month or the type of services included in the package.
For example, you can choose between website development and design, only website development, or a full package of services and never care about the invoices anymore. The exact price for the package you selected will be automatically paid at the end of the month with no additional costs. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Pros and cons of the subscription-based design and development
The web design subscription model brings clarity and transparency, ensuring clients understand exactly what they're paying for and what to expect in return. Everything your website may need in one simple subscription. But what are the other benefits? Let’s dive deeper.
1. Flexibility
The web design subscription model brings clarity and transparency, ensuring clients understand exactly what they're paying for and what to expect in return. Everything your website may need in one simple subscription. But what are the other benefits? Let’s dive deeper.
2. Ongoing support
With a subscription, you receive continuous support and updates, allowing your website to evolve alongside your business needs seamlessly. From the pleasant bonuses, the work probably won’t stop if you suddenly run out of money on the card and delay the payment for a couple of days, as happens with all subscriptions.
3. Suitable even for tight budgets
Whether your business is big or small, you can avoid hiring a team that exceeds your budget or neglecting your business's growth. You can always choose the lowest plan and still get high-quality work. Yes, this will take a bit more time, but you will get the job done without the need to hire the whole team.
Let’s hear from Alexandru Stan, CEO of Tekpon, about his experience using the website subscription services:
Let me tell you my story. I needed somebody to take care of the website. I was first looking for somebody in-house, but instead, I came across an agency that does the same, but for a monthly subscription. So, I signed up and got an actual in-house design and development department. Of course, they had more other clients as they are just an agency, but my feeling was that they were a part of the team. They have regular calls with our colleagues and fully engage in other processes. It's like you have your own team for a couple of thousand per month, but you don't pay salaries. And for you as a business, it's fantastic. It was probably one of the best business decisions I’ve made in the last few months.
Alexandru Stan, CEO of Tekpon
Even though this solution sounds great and requires almost zero client involvement compared to the traditional model, it still has some disadvantages you should consider as features limit and different CMS.
Just stop for a second and think, do you need e-commerce capabilities, user profiles, or custom complex integrations? Subscription plans may restrict these functionalities, so ensure a clear understanding of the task.
Different agencies also work with various CMS platforms. So, before you sign up, make sure that the agency uses the website-building software or platform you and your team will be able to manage in the future.
Examples of website development subscription models
Markupus is a web design and development agency that switched to the subscription model, so it can serve as an excellent example of this approach.
We can develop and design your website from scratch, develop it based on existing designs, rebrand and optimize it, or provide regular website support and maintenance. For more unique requests, we can also offer a traditional pricing model.
Each subscription package includes a different number of working hours that you can adjust to your needs. Need just ongoing website support and some development tasks? The Essential package is ideal for you. Need the whole website development from scratch? Take a look at the Medium package.
We offer straightforward pricing, access to our skilled team's expertise, and personalized attention. Many of our clients choose a subscription model, often extending their collaboration for several months. If you need a trusted website development partner, schedule a call with Markupus to get a demo!
How to choose the best subscription plan
Sometimes, when it comes to choosing the right plan, clients get lost in all those lists of services. Many agencies help you choose the plan based on your needs, but they are also interested in selling you more than you may actually need.
So, here are the tips for choosing the right plan:
1. Prepare a clear request
Before contacting agencies and researching, make sure you clearly understand the list of services you need. For example, suppose your website needs to be redesigned and developed. In that case, there is no need to take the package with website audit and optimization unless this is also something you have considered.
2. Decide on your business goal
Decide on your future business goal. Do you want to scale rapidly or maintain a stable business? If you plan to scale, you need to ensure that at least one of the plans provides the possibility for growth for your website. Choose a plan that best suits your growth speed needs.
3. Take into account the CMS
Ensure the plan's CMS will be easily manageable for you and your team. If, for example, you are unfamiliar with Webflow and used to using WordPress, consider asking for an individual solution or ensuring the agency provides clear instructions on how to use the CMS.
4. Don’t neglect the call
If the company offers you a demo call with their team, don’t hesitate to accept it. During the call, you can ask all the possible questions, discuss the differences between the plans, and tell the company about your request. As mentioned before, be attentive when selecting a package that includes more than you actually need. Consider all the pros and cons and make a final decision.
Considering all these details, you have a much higher chance of finding the right web development partner on the first try. Buy wisely and choose the best for your business needs!
