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2026-07-21

What packaging factory website tiers actually include: inquire-only, catalog, and custom

Inquire-only page versus catalog with product insights

An English factory website can be a clean, self‑serve digital handshake — or a full product catalog with blog posts that explain your manufacturing capabilities. At B2B Frontage, the Auto plan ($59/year) is the lean, inquire‑only option: a self‑serve English showcase that includes a digital card, an online brochure, and short links. It’s built once and then handed over to you; you can update your company information, digital card content, and brochure through the dashboard, but there is no product catalog, no blog, and no way to add or edit multiple product pages. The site typically gives a buyer your story, contact details, and a few featured highlights — just enough to confirm you’re a real, reachable factory.

When a factory needs a living catalog with product insights, the honest path is a custom build. A custom project moves the site from a static business card into a browsable catalog that can include product descriptions, images, categories, search, and a blog where you can publish deep dives into materials, quality control, or production processes. The packaging industry demo at demo.getb2bsite.com/packaging shows how a catalog and blog can work together for a packaging factory, while the base demo at demo.getb2bsite.com illustrates the simpler Auto‑style showcase.

The key difference is not just the price — it’s the ability to keep the site fresh and to demonstrate expertise over time. The Auto plan may rank for your factory name, but a regularly updated custom catalog with blog content stands a far better chance of being found by buyers searching for specific packaging solutions. Still, neither path is a full e‑commerce engine; they are honest English showcases designed to start a conversation, not to process orders.

FeatureAuto ($59/year)Custom (by quote)
Domain & hostingPlatform subdomain included; optional domain assist (+$5 bind / +$15 register+bind)Included as scoped
Content edits after launchSelf‑serve digital card, brochure, short linksCMS product catalog & blog (scope defined in project)
Blog postsNoneAs agreed in custom scope
Layout or design changesBillable hoursBillable hours (unless covered by retainer)
Annual cost$59Quoted per project

Post-launch edits: why they're billable hours, not free updates

Once a B2B Frontage site goes live, the hosting and domain continue to renew, but the initial build is a one‑time project delivered at a fixed package price. For the Auto plan, the $59 annual fee covers the infrastructure and the self‑serve tools. Any work that goes beyond the defined scope — especially changes to the site’s layout, design, or underlying code — falls outside that package and is billed at an hourly rate. The same principle applies to custom builds: the initial project is scoped and quoted, but post‑launch layout changes are billable unless they are part of an ongoing retainer.

The reason is straightforward: the B2B Frontage model is built to be extremely lean. The $59 annual fee covers the self‑serve showcase and its infrastructure, not an ongoing retainer for a developer. If a factory later decides it wants a different header style, a custom landing page for a trade show, or a new filtering feature, those are billable hours because they require a developer to write and test code. The B2B Frontage rules make this boundary explicit: layout edits are not free updates.

Examples of typical billable layout requests include:

  • Adding a new page template (e.g., a dedicated “Quality” page with custom sections)
  • Changing the site’s colour scheme, typography, or logo placement
  • Integrating a third‑party widget (live chat, map, or external review feed)
  • Modifying the navigation structure beyond the original menu
  • Altering the contact form fields or adding a file upload

For factories that want to avoid surprise costs, the clearest path is to review the demo site and the rules page before signing up, and to treat the initial build as the complete scope. If ongoing design tweaks are likely, a custom build (discussed below) may be a more honest fit from the start.

Product catalogs: not a feature of the Auto plan

The Auto plan does not include a product catalog. The digital card and brochure can highlight a few key items, but there is no product management area, no ability to add or edit multiple product pages with descriptions and images, and no built‑in blog. The platform is designed for a lean, self‑serve English showcase that answers “who you are” and “how to reach you.”

If a factory needs to present a range of products — different types of corrugated boxes, flexible pouches, or glass bottles — with individual descriptions, images, and specifications, the Auto plan is not the right tool. Trying to hack a product catalog into the digital card or brochure will quickly become frustrating and will not give buyers the clarity they expect. The honest path is a custom build, where the project scope can include a proper CMS‑driven catalog, categories, filters, and even a blog to publish regular product insights. There is no artificial product limit; a custom build is tailored to the factory’s real scale.

The B2B Frontage blog itself demonstrates how regular content can expand a site’s reach, but it does not replace a proper product database. When a factory needs more than a digital handshake, the recommendation is a custom build rather than trying to stretch the Auto plan beyond its honest boundaries.

When a custom build is the honest path

B2B Frontage’s Auto plan is built for factories that need a credible English presence without complex functionality. It is not a universal solution. A custom build becomes the honest path when a factory’s requirements clearly exceed the boundaries of the Auto plan. Recognising those boundaries early saves time, money, and frustration.

Signs that a custom project is the better choice include:

  • Need for a product catalog beyond a few featured items on a digital card.
  • Multilingual requirements beyond a single English site (e.g., a Chinese version for domestic buyers).
  • Custom design or branding that cannot be achieved within the self‑serve showcase template.
  • Integration with external systems such as an ERP, inventory management, or a customer portal.
  • Advanced SEO or performance needs that go beyond the built‑in optimisations of the showcase platform.

In these cases, B2B Frontage can still help, but the work would be scoped, quoted, and built as a separate project — not as an add‑on to the $59/year Auto plan. The demo sites at demo.getb2bsite.com and demo.getb2bsite.com/packaging are intentionally minimal to illustrate what the standard Auto plan and a custom catalog can look like. A custom build can start from that same honest foundation but will be tailored to the factory’s real operational scale. The key is to match the website investment to the business need, not to force a complex factory into a thin showcase box.

FAQ

What exactly is included in the Auto plan?

The Auto plan ($59/year) includes a self‑serve English showcase with a digital card, online brochure, and short links. You get a platform subdomain (e.g., yourfactory.getb2bsite.com), and you can optionally add your own domain at checkout (+$5 to bind an existing domain, or +$15 to register and bind a new one). After launch, you can update your digital card and brochure content through the dashboard. No product catalog, no blog, and no layout changes beyond the self‑serve tools — any design or code changes are billable hours.

Can I add a product catalog with the Auto plan?

No. The Auto plan is not designed for product catalogs. If you need to showcase multiple products with descriptions, images, categories, or filters, a custom build is the recommended path. A custom project is quoted separately and can include a full CMS‑driven catalog.

Can I have a blog with the Auto plan?

No, the Auto plan does not include a blog. A blog can be part of a custom build, where you can publish product insights, case studies, and manufacturing expertise. The B2B Frontage blog itself is an example of that kind of content, but it is not available in the self‑serve showcase.

How long does it take to launch an Auto site?

Once you provide all content and materials, a typical Auto site can be built and launched within a few business days. However, the timeline depends on how quickly you supply your company information, digital card details, and any images. Custom builds take longer and are scoped individually.

Will a B2B Frontage site guarantee me more inquiries?

No. An English showcase site — whether Auto or custom — is a tool that makes your factory findable and credible to overseas buyers. It does not guarantee inquiries, orders, or rankings. The site’s performance depends on many factors, including your industry, competition, and how actively you maintain any content (on a custom build). B2B Frontage builds the site; the factory builds its own reputation.

References & Further Reading