Free guide and template · PDF
Website requirements template: brief a site that brings in business
A website requirements document describes what the site must achieve, for whom, with which pages, which content and which budget. This free template walks you through eight sections, with the questions to ask yourself and the common mistakes, so the quotes you receive can be compared.
Free. Your first name and email are all it takes.
In the PDF
What is in the template?
- 01
How to use it, and a project sheet
Why to write the document before asking for a quote, and the basic information to give any web agency or freelancer.
- 02
Eight sections to fill in
Goals, audience, pages, content, search, features, budget, timeline. Checkboxes and blank lines, no jargon.
- 03
One tip per section
And the mistake I see most often, so you can avoid it before it gets expensive.
- 04
A page table and a content table
To decide which pages to create, and who supplies each text or photo, by what date.
- 05
A final check
Eight points to tick before you send the document to agencies.
LioneaExcerpt · page 3
01 · Goals
What is the main action you expect from a visitor?
How will you know the site is working?
Where do your clients come from today?
The common mistake. "A modern website" is not a goal, it is a means. Ask yourself what should happen after the visit: that is what the site has to trigger.
Who it is for
Who is this template for?
- The founder building a first website who doesn't know what to ask agencies for.
- The company redesigning its site that wants to keep what already works.
- Anyone who has received three quotes that can't be compared and wants to start again from a shared brief.
- The marketing or sales team that has to scope the project before taking it to management.
For an online store with several hundred products, or for business software, this template is a starting point, but you will need to go further into the detail of the features.
Get the PDF
Get the template
- 01
Enter your first name and your email.
- 02
You receive the link to the PDF (10 A4 pages).
- 03
Fill it in at your own pace, then send the same document to every agency you consult.
Frequently asked questions
Website requirements in practice
Do I need a requirements document to get a website built?
No, but without one every agency guesses what you want. You get quotes that don't describe the same thing, and the misunderstandings show up during the project. A few clear pages are enough.
Should I include my budget in the requirements document?
Yes, as a range. It lets the agency propose what fits your budget instead of guessing. Also include what you can spend afterwards: hosting, maintenance, updates.
What if I don't know how to answer a question?
Write "to be decided with the agency". That is useful information: it shows what is still open, and a good agency will help you answer it.
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