What is a design system?
October 1, 2026
A design system defines the colors, fonts, logo, and building blocks of your website before the first page is built. This way you can see…
When companies choose a web agency, one crucial question is often overlooked: What kind of contractual relationship will they actually have? The type of contract, however, has a significant impact on the project's progress, flexibility, and costs.
Contract for work and services: Clear scope of work, clear price
Unless otherwise agreed, web projects in Switzerland are generally considered contracts for work and services. This means:
- The agency owes a defined result, for example a functioning website as previously agreed.
- The customer owes compensation for the creation of this work.
A contract for work and services makes particular sense if
- the customer knows exactly what he wants,
- Content, structure, and marketing strategy already exist.
- and the requirements can be clearly and conclusively defined.
Any changes that may occur during implementation must be re-offered and commissioned separately.
Basis for the project: Flexibility for dynamic projects
In agile or evolving projects, a fixed-price contract is often a hindrance. Constant new quotes create additional work and delay implementation.
In such cases, a project-based collaboration is recommended. This involves not delivering a fixed product, but rather working continuously as needed. It is important to have a clear agreement regarding billing intervals – for example, monthly.
Our experience shows that monthly reporting and invoicing has proven effective for longer-term collaborations on a project basis.
Contract for work and services vs. order basis: a comparison
Contract for work and services vs. order basis: a comparison
| criterion | Contract for work and services | order basis |
|---|---|---|
| Goal definition | Clear objective / defined result | Flexible, development-oriented |
| Cost control | Fixed price possible | Ongoing billing based on expenses |
| Change requests | They need to be re-offered. | Can be implemented flexibly |
| Project form | Ideal for static projects with a clear vision | Ideal for agile, creative, or complex projects |
| administrative effort | Higher when changes occur | Deeper, as no new offers are needed. |
| Risk | Incorrect assumptions made in advance lead to additional costs and conflicts. Contracts are usually difficult to amend or terminate. | Cooperation can be continuously adjusted or terminated at short notice. |
Conclusion: Choose the right type of contract consciously
Beforehand, consider which type of contract is best for your project – a contract for work and services, a service agreement, or a combination of both. Above all, clear communication and a transparent understanding on both sides are essential.
When expectations, working methods and billing models are discussed openly from the beginning, fewer misunderstandings arise – and both sides benefit from successful and fair cooperation.
