Choosing a contractor to build a website is not only about the quality of the final product, but also about your peace of mind, budget, and time. You may already have had a negative experience: missed deadlines, unexpected costs, or a developer who simply disappeared. This is a very common problem.
In this article, we will honestly break down the dilemma web studio or freelancer, analyze the pros and cons of each approach. Our goal is to help you find a developer who will become a reliable contractor and help you order an online store that brings profit rather than headaches.
Freelancer: cheap, but risky
Working with a freelancer often looks attractive, primarily because of the lower price. This can be a good option for very simple tasks. But when it comes to building a full-fledged online store, there are significant risks of working with a freelancer that you should be aware of in advance. 
Pros:
- Price: As a rule, a freelancer’s services cost less than a studio’s, since they have lower overhead.
- Direct communication: You communicate directly with the executor.
Cons:
- Lack of guarantees: A freelancer may get sick, disappear, or simply abandon the project halfway through. A development contract, if it exists at all, often has no real legal force.
- Missed deadlines: One person physically cannot control all processes, which often leads to delays.
- Limited expertise: One specialist is rarely equally strong in design, programming, marketing, and analytics.
- Lack of a systematic approach: Work is often done chaotically, without a clear plan and technical specification.
Large agency: systematic, but expensive and without an individual approach
Website development by a top-tier agency is the choice of large brands that are ready to pay for name and scale. Such companies offer structure and reliability, but this approach has its drawbacks, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Pros:
- Reliability and guarantees: A large agency will not disappear, and all agreements will be fixed in a contract.
- Comprehensive approach: The in-house team includes all necessary specialists, from strategist to tester.
Cons:
- High price: The cost of services can be 2–3 times higher due to a large staff, office, and marketing expenses.
- Assembly-line approach: Your project will likely be one of dozens. You risk getting a template solution without deep immersion in your business.
- Lack of flexibility: Large companies are often bureaucratic. Any changes and revisions may take weeks to approve.
- You are not a priority: If you don’t have a seven-figure budget, your project will most likely be handled by a junior manager rather than key experts.
Specialized studio (Kliox): the golden mean
Between the two extremes—risky freelancing and the expensive assembly line of large agencies—there is a third path. This is cooperation with a specialized studio like Kliox, which combines the best features of both approaches. 
We offer the advantages of a web studio without its disadvantages:
- Expertise and focus. We don’t do everything. Our team specializes exclusively in e-commerce (online stores). This guarantees that we deeply understand your niche and know how to create online stores that sell.
- Personal responsibility. You communicate directly with key experts and the founder. Your project is not one of many for us, but an important partnership where we personally take responsibility for the result.
- Flexibility and speed. We work without unnecessary bureaucracy. This allows us to respond quickly to your requests and make changes while maintaining a high pace of work.
- Reliability and guarantees. Like a large website development agency, we work under a contract, fix deadlines and budget. You get all legal guarantees, but at a more reasonable price.
This approach allows you to order an online store from us not just as a service, but as the beginning of a reliable and long-term partnership.
Conclusion: a checklist for verifying a reliable contractor
So, the choice between a web studio or a freelancer depends on your priorities. But regardless of whom you choose, there are universal criteria that will help you find a truly reliable contractor.
Before you find a developer and sign a contract, check them against this checklist:
Portfolio and case studies: Do they have experience specifically with online stores in your or a similar niche? Do they show business results, not just pictures?
Contract and guarantees: Do they offer to sign a development contract that clearly fixes deadlines, cost, and stages of work?
Approach to the technical specification: Do they help you prepare a detailed technical specification, or are they ready to work “by word of mouth”? Professionals always insist on a clear plan.
Reviews and reputation: What do previous clients say about them? Is it easy to find real reviews of their work?
Communication: How quickly and to the point do they respond to your questions? Do you feel that you are being heard?
Experience the difference in practice
The best way to evaluate a contractor is through personal communication.
Let’s discuss your project. You will be able to ask us any questions, assess our approach and expertise. It’s free and will help you make an informed decision.
