Sandbanks DigitalDorset's boutique web design agency
A full-service digital agency run by two Dorset founders. Websites, custom web apps, e-commerce and SEO, all designed and built in-house. Agency-grade craft and accountability, built in-house by the two founders, from £0 upfront.
An agency, not just a web designer
The full range and accountability of an agency, delivered by a small, senior team that does the work itself.
Full-service, under one roof
Websites, custom web apps, online shops and search — the whole digital side of your business handled by one team, not stitched together across a designer, a developer and an SEO freelancer who never speak.
Senior founders on every project
Elliot and Dan run the agency and do the work themselves. There are no juniors to delegate to and nobody your account is handed down to — the people who scope your project are the people who ship it.
Built in-house, never outsourced
Every line of design and code is produced here in Dorset. No offshore subcontractors, no white-labelling, no mystery about who is actually building your site.
Bespoke, not templated
We design and hand-code in modern Next.js, bespoke to your brand. No page builders, no themes bought off a marketplace and re-skinned — the software-grade craft you would expect from a far larger agency.
Transparent pricing
Fixed, itemised quotes and a simple £0-upfront monthly plan from £75/month. A fair 12-month minimum term is what keeps that £0-upfront possible; after it, the plan rolls month-to-month. No day-rate surprises, no invoices you did not see coming.
Local and accountable
An independent Dorset agency you can meet in person, with a verified Google profile and real client reviews. We are accountable to people we might see at the harbour on a Saturday.
Boutique agency, large agency or freelancer?
A freelancer is cheapest but a single point of failure, and rarely a strong designer and a strong developer in one person. A large agency brings process and range, but your project is often junior-led, slowed by approval chains, and you rarely speak to whoever builds it. A boutique agency sits between the two: senior people on every project, direct contact, continuity, and bespoke work, built in-house.
For most Dorset SMBs that blend is the right answer. We break the decision down in full, with real cost ranges, in our freelancer vs agency guide.
Everything your business needs online
Four disciplines, one in-house team — so your website, shop and marketing are built to work together.
A Dorset agency you can actually reach
We are an independent agency based on Ashley Road in Poole — not a national chain, not a marketplace, not a reseller. You brief the founders directly, you get the same two people from first call to launch and beyond, and if something needs sorting you talk to whoever built it, usually the same day.
Being local and accountable is the whole point: a Google-verified profile, real 5-star reviews from Dorset businesses, and a team you might bump into at the harbour. Read more about the two founders or see the work we have shipped.
Simple, transparent, no surprises
Discovery
One conversation is usually enough. We learn your business, your customers and what success looks like, then scope it clearly and quote a fixed price.
Design
We design your site and walk you through it before any production code is written. You sign off the look and structure first, so there are no surprises.
Build
Clean, tested Next.js, optimised for every screen. You get a staging URL early so you watch it come together rather than waiting until the end.
Launch & grow
We handle the technical launch, connect your domain, then host, maintain and keep improving it on a simple monthly plan.
Common questions
What is the best web design agency in Poole or Dorset?
That depends on what you need. For a big multi-stakeholder build with formal procurement, a large agency fits. For most Dorset SMBs, a boutique agency like Sandbanks Digital is the better blend — senior people on every project, direct contact with the founders, and bespoke, software-grade work at a fair, transparent price. We are Poole-based, Google-verified with 5-star reviews, and every project starts with a free demo so you can judge the work before you commit.
How much does a web design agency cost?
Traditional agencies typically charge £4,000 to £15,000+ upfront for an SMB website, because you are paying for project managers, account managers and office overheads. We work differently: £0 upfront and from £75/month on a 12-month plan, which bundles design, build, hosting, maintenance and support. Larger custom builds are quoted on scope, always fixed and itemised. See our pricing page for the full breakdown.
Are you a real agency or a freelancer?
We are a boutique agency — a small, senior team rather than a single freelancer or a large firm with juniors and account managers. Two founders, both experienced engineers, do the work in-house. You get the accountability, continuity and full-service range of an agency (websites, web apps, e-commerce and SEO) with the direct contact and speed of working with the people who actually build it.
Where is the agency based, and do you only work in Dorset?
We are based in Poole, Dorset, and work with businesses across Bournemouth, Christchurch, Sandbanks and the wider Dorset coast, as well as clients across the UK. Being local means face-to-face meetings are easy for Dorset businesses, but everything we do works just as well remotely.
Do you only do web design?
No. As a full-service digital agency we also build custom web apps and SaaS MVPs, e-commerce stores, and handle local SEO and performance. It is all done by the same in-house team, so your website, your shop and your marketing are built to work together rather than fighting each other.
Why choose an independent agency over a big one?
With a large agency your project is often junior-led, slowed by approval chains, and filtered through an account manager. With an independent boutique agency you deal directly with the senior people building it, decisions are fast, and the people who quote your project are the ones who build it. You keep agency-grade quality and accountability, without the layers and hand-offs.