Cost & quote
What Does a SharePoint Project Cost? How to Read a Quote
You have got a quote for a SharePoint project on the table, but the amounts seem hard to compare with another provider's. That is normal: there is no fixed price for a SharePoint project, because scope and approach vary widely. This guide teaches you what to look out for so you can properly assess a quote.
In short
- There is no standard price for SharePoint work: the cost depends on scope, customisation and integrations.
- A good quote breaks down analysis, development, testing and delivery separately.
- Pay attention to what is not in the quote: maintenance, hosting and aftercare are often billed separately.
- Day rates and project pricing are both common; always ask how the estimate was built up.
- Compare quotes based on scope, not just the final amount.
- A no-obligation conversation upfront usually gives a more realistic picture than a quote without any discussion.
Why SharePoint projects are priced so differently
The price of a SharePoint project depends mainly on how much customisation is involved, not on how big the company is. A simple document structure using standard SharePoint functionality costs much less than a custom web part with external integrations.
That is why it does not make sense to ask what a SharePoint project costs without a scope. Two quotes for an intranet can differ significantly because one proposes a ready-made template solution and the other proposes custom work with its own search function and approval flow.
How is a quote usually structured?
A solid quote breaks the project down into phases, each with its own estimate: analysis, development, testing, delivery and possibly training. This way you see where your budget is going instead of one total amount with no explanation.
- Analysis and design. Time to understand your current situation and create a technical proposal. For small projects this is sometimes limited; for more complex projects it is a separate phase.
- Development. The actual build time, usually the largest part of the budget for custom work.
- Testing and adjustments. Time for feedback rounds; the more iterations included, the higher this portion can be.
- Delivery and handover. Documentation, user training, and the transition to whoever manages it afterwards.
A concrete example: for a request form with an approval flow for an SME with 20 employees, most of the budget went to developing the approval logic, while analysis and delivery together made up less than a quarter of the total. On another project, with a lot of existing clutter in the site structure, it was the opposite: the analysis phase took up relatively more time than the build itself.
Project price or day rate: what is the difference?
| Criterion | Project price | Day rate |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront clarity | Fixed amount for a defined scope | Cost depends on days actually worked |
| Suited for | Projects with a clearly defined outcome | Projects where scope may evolve |
| Risk with changes | Extra work is billed separately | More flexible when adjusting course during the project |
| Transparency | Requires good scope definition upfront | Requires clear reporting of hours worked |
Both approaches are valid; what matters is that you know upfront which one you are getting and why.
Common mistakes when reading a quote
The most common mistake is looking only at the final amount without checking exactly what is included in the scope. Other pitfalls:
- Not asking about maintenance and support. What happens after delivery if a bug appears or a change is needed?
- Not accounting for licensing costs. Some solutions require additional Microsoft 365 licences that are not always included in the quote itself.
- Not discussing extra work. Ask how changes during the project will be handled, before you start, not afterwards.
- Comparing quotes without equal scope. A lower price can simply mean less functionality, not necessarily a better deal.
What can you concretely expect?
Every situation is different, so I work with project pricing and/or day rates, depending on what best fits your project. After a free call in which we go over your needs, you get a clear quote with a transparent breakdown per phase, so you know exactly what you are paying for. Also see my range of services for an overview of what I build.
Frequently asked questions
Is a day rate more expensive than a fixed project price?
Not by definition. With a well-defined scope, a project price often ends up matching the number of days the work would normally take. The main difference lies in who bears the risk if changes occur during the project.
What if the scope changes during the project?
That is discussed separately and, if necessary, billed as extra work. A good quote states upfront how that process works.
Are hosting and maintenance included in the quote?
That varies by project and is made clear upfront. Feel free to ask if it is not explicitly mentioned.
Still have questions about how I put together quotes? See the FAQ page for more answers.
Next step
Want to know roughly what your project would cost? Get in touch for a no-obligation call. I will discuss your situation and give you a realistic, transparent quote, with no hidden items.