5 Signs Your Web Agency is Going to Hit You with Hidden Fees

I've been in this industry for years, and I've seen it happen too many times: a business hires an agency, gets quoted a "reasonable" price, then six months later they're paying 2-3x what they expected.

The worst part? Most of these surprises are predictable. There are warning signs. Red flags. Things that signal "you're about to get hit with hidden fees."

Let me show you what to watch for, so you don't become another horror story.

Sign 1: Vague Initial Estimates

If an agency gives you a range instead of a fixed price, that's your first red flag.

Bad: "Probably around €5,000-10,000, depending on requirements." Good: "€49,99/month for the Starter Plan, which includes X, Y, and Z."

Vague estimates are a trap. They give the agency flexibility to charge more later. "Oh, that feature? That's not in the base price. That'll be an additional €2,000."

What to do: Ask for a fixed price. If they can't give you one, they either don't know what they're doing or they're planning to upsell you later.

Sign 2: "We'll Figure It Out As We Go"

This is code for "we'll charge you for everything we figure out."

I've seen agencies use this approach to justify billing for:

• "Research time" (learning how to do something they should already know)
• "Discovery sessions" (figuring out what you actually need)
• "Exploration" (trying different approaches and billing for all of them)

What to do: Demand a detailed scope upfront. If they can't define what's included, they can't give you a fixed price. And if they can't give you a fixed price, walk away.

Sign 3: Encouraging Scope Changes Without Clear Pricing

Some agencies encourage you to add features mid-project. "Oh, we can add that! No problem!"

Then the bill comes: "That feature wasn't in the original scope. That'll be an additional €1,500."

What to do: Ask about their change request process. How do they handle scope changes? Do they quote additional work before doing it? If they don't have a clear process, you're going to get surprise bills.

Sign 4: Hourly Billing Without Caps

Hourly billing itself isn't necessarily bad, but watch for these red flags:

• No maximum project cap ("we'll bill you for however long it takes")
• Vague hourly rates ("around €100-150/hour, depending on complexity")
• Time tracking that isn't transparent ("we spent 20 hours on research")
• Billing for "learning" ("we had to learn this new technology")

What to do: If they insist on hourly, demand a cap. "This project will not exceed €X." If they won't agree to a cap, they're planning to bill you for everything.

Sign 5: Surprise Charges for "Standard" Features

I've seen agencies charge extra for:

• "Responsive design" (this should be standard in 2025)
• "SEO optimization" (basic SEO should be included)
• "Contact forms" (seriously, I've seen this)
• "Hosting setup" (this takes 10 minutes)

What to do: Ask what's included in the base price. Get it in writing. If they charge extra for things that should be standard, that's a red flag.

How TEDECA Avoids These Issues

At TEDECA, we eliminate these problems by design:

Fixed-price quotes - You know exactly what you're paying. No ranges. No "probably around." Just a clear price.

Detailed scope - Everything is defined upfront. What's included. What's not. What costs extra. No surprises.

Transparent communication - We tell you about costs before we do the work. If something costs extra, you know before we start.

Written agreements - Everything is documented. No verbal promises. No "we'll figure it out later."

Change management - If you want to add something, we quote it first. You approve it. Then we do it. No surprise bills.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

Before you work with any agency, ask these questions:

1. Is pricing fixed or hourly? - If hourly, is there a cap?

2. What's included in the quoted price? - Get a detailed list. In writing.

3. How are change requests handled? - Do they quote additional work before doing it?

4. Are there any potential additional costs? - Hosting? Maintenance? Updates?

5. What happens if the project takes longer than expected? - Do you pay more, or do they?

6. What's your change request process? - Is it formal? Is it documented?

7. Can I see a sample contract? - Review it before signing. Look for vague language.

The Cost of Ignoring Red Flags

I've seen businesses ignore these warning signs and pay the price:

Budget overruns - Projects that cost 2-3x initial estimates Strained relationships - Trust breaks down when bills keep coming Compromised quality - Cutting corners to stay within budget Delayed launches - Projects drag on because of scope negotiations

Prevention is better than damage control. Choose an agency that's transparent from day one.

Real Example: What Happens When You Ignore Red Flags

A startup I know hired an agency that gave them a "rough estimate" of €5,000. No detailed scope. No fixed price. Just "probably around €5,000."

Six months later:

• They'd paid €12,000
• The site still wasn't done
• Every change was a negotiation
• The relationship was destroyed

They came to us, paid €479,99/year, got a complete site in 7 days, and have been happy ever since.

The "cheap" option cost them €12,000. The "expensive" option cost €479,99/year. The math is clear.

The Bottom Line

Hidden fees are predictable. There are warning signs. Red flags. Things that signal trouble ahead.

If an agency:

• Gives you vague estimates instead of fixed prices
• Can't define scope upfront
• Encourages changes without clear pricing
• Uses hourly billing without caps
• Charges extra for standard features

Walk away. These are red flags. You're going to get hit with hidden fees.

At TEDECA, we've built our entire model around transparency. Fixed prices. Detailed scope. Clear communication. No surprises.

Because we've seen what happens when agencies aren't transparent. And we don't want that for our clients.

Ready to work with an agency that's transparent from day one? Get your fixed-price quote in 24 hours and let's build something without the surprises.