Freelancer vs. Agency: The Low-Risk Choice for Johannesburg Web Design

The Problem: High Cost vs. High Risk

As a Johannesburg SME, you face a critical dilemma: pay the high premium for a large agency, or risk the single point of failure that comes with an unknown freelancer.

Both options have risks. Agencies start from R15,000+, often charging a premium to cover their overhead. Freelancer rates range from R300 to R1,800 per hour, but carry the risk of unreliability and limited capacity.

The Agency Model: Trading Cost for Structure

• Cost: High (R15,000 - R100,000+).
• Pros: Access to a full team (designer, copywriter, developer) and low project risk.
• Cons: Slow process, high overhead fees, and risk of being "upsold" on unnecessary features.

The Freelancer Model: Trading Time for Value

• Cost: Medium (R5,000 - R20,000+).
• Pros: Personal, direct communication with the expert. Highly cost-effective for focused projects.
• Cons: Key-Person Risk (single point of failure) and limited capacity to handle complex issues.

The Low-Risk Solution for Johannesburg SMEs

Endpoint Media operates on an agile, expert-led model. You bypass the agency overhead while getting a single point of accountability (Frank Smit) who is deeply invested in your performance.

By choosing a dedicated local expert with a proven process, you significantly de-risk your investment and maximize your chance of dominating the local search results. See how our local clients dominate their suburbs.