A low day rate does not mean an economical site. To compare a freelance WordPress developer with outsourcing, work out the real cost of a delivered site: billed days, management time, rework and the risk of unavailability. This is what agencies that do well actually do.
What the day rate does not tell you
The daily rate is an entry price. It ignores what really makes the bill vary.
- The real number of days. Two developers at the same rate can take two or five days on the same template.
- Rework. Every round of corrections consumes time, yours included.
- Availability. A freelancer who is ill, on leave or busy with another client blocks your schedule.
- Management. Brief, follow-up, review: it falls to you, billed or not.
The method: work out the real cost of a site
For each option, add the four items below and divide by the number of sites delivered.
| Item | Freelancer at a day rate | Outsourcing, fixed price or time-and-materials |
|---|---|---|
| Production | Day rate × days actually spent | Announced fixed price, or hourly rate × hours |
| Your management | At your expense | Shared with the provider |
| Rework | Billed in days | Included in the fixed price if the brief is validated |
| Risk of unavailability | Carried by you | Carried by the provider |
The calculation is simple, but it forces you to record the real time spent. Do it on your last three sites: the gap between the advertised rate and the full cost is often the real issue.
When a freelancer is the right choice
- A strategic or very specific need, where working closely matters.
- A one-off project, with a contact you already know.
- A short assignment that does not justify a more structured contract.
When outsourcing is the right choice
- A regular flow of sites, which calls for stable production capacity.
- Activity peaks you cannot absorb on your own.
- A need for continuity: a team covers an absence without your schedule moving.
At Webi Studio, website creation starts from €490, and our dedicated experts work on a time-and-materials basis from €25 an hour. All rates are in the published price list, and we explain how it works on our WordPress and WooCommerce outsourcing page.
Making the right choice in four questions
- How many sites a month over the next twelve months?
- Who manages, and who takes over in case of absence?
- How much coordination time can you really devote?
- What is the full cost per site on your last three projects?
To compare on a specific case, send us your brief: the itemised quote arrives within 24 hours.