A useful project brief does not need to be a long document. It needs to remove the biggest uncertainties before development starts.
Begin with the business goal. Explain what the website should help the business accomplish and who the main visitors are.
List the required pages and features. Examples include forms, e-commerce, booking, membership, multilingual content, dashboards or third-party integrations.
Share the current website if one exists, plus two or three references that demonstrate the type of structure or experience you prefer. Explain what you like about each reference rather than asking for a copy.
Clarify content responsibility. State whether text, images, products and brand assets are ready or whether assistance is required.
Finally, include the target deadline and a realistic budget range. Those two details help determine the appropriate technical approach and project scope.
A clear brief speeds up quotation, reduces assumptions and makes later project changes easier to identify.