Most people compare web quotes on price, because price is the only part written in a language they recognise. That is how you end up with the cheapest quote and the most expensive project.
These are the questions that actually tell you who you are dealing with. Ask them before you sign anything.
About ownership
Who owns the code when this is finished? The only acceptable answer is "you do". Some studios keep the code and license it back, which means you cannot leave and cannot hire anyone else.
Whose name is on the domain and the hosting? Yours. Both. A studio holding your domain holds your business.
What do I get on the last day? Repository access, hosting credentials, domain control, and any accounts created for you. If a handover document is not part of the price, ask why not.
About scope
What exactly is not included? Photography, copywriting and translations are the three most commonly assumed and most commonly missing. Get them named.
What happens when the scope changes? Every project changes. A quote that pretends otherwise becomes an argument. There should be a rate, a process, or both, in writing.
Can I see the list of pages and what each one does? "A website" is not a scope. A studio that cannot produce that list has not thought about your project yet.
About time
When does it start, and what makes it slip? The honest answer includes what you have to provide, and by when. Most delays are content, not code.
How will I see progress? A preview URL you can open whenever you like beats a status email every time.
About after launch
This is the section most people skip, and it is where projects go wrong.
What happens if it breaks on a Saturday? Ask who answers, how fast, and whether it costs extra.
Who applies updates? Software rots. If nobody is named, the answer is nobody.
What is the plan for the second year? That one question separates a project from a purchase. A studio that has thought about year two will have an answer ready — ours is care plans, and yours should have something equivalent.
Can I edit the content myself, and what exactly can I edit? "Yes" is not the answer. "Yes, these fields on these pages" is.
One question to ask yourself
Did they tell you not to build something?
A studio that says yes to everything is selling. The most useful thing we do on some calls is tell a client their template is fine and they should spend the money on marketing instead. If nobody has pushed back on any part of your brief, nobody has thought hard about it.