The short version
- Price is driven by page count, custom design, functionality and who writes the content.
- A cheap build with no ongoing support usually costs more over three years, not less.
- Hosting, domain, updates and security are ongoing costs whoever builds it.
- Always ask what happens after launch. That answer separates most quotes.
It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is that it depends. That is unsatisfying, so this article explains what it actually depends on, so you can look at two quotes for the same job and understand why one is double the other.
What actually drives the cost of a website
- How many pages. A five page site for a trade business is a very different job from a thirty page site with a booking system.
- Custom design versus a template. A template is quicker and cheaper. A custom build looks like your business rather than everybody else's.
- Functionality. Contact forms are simple. Online booking, payments, customer logins and stock are not.
- Who writes the words. Copy is the part most people underestimate, and it is usually the difference between a site that ranks and one that just exists.
- Whether SEO is included. A site nobody can find is an expensive business card.
- What happens after launch. Ongoing support, updates and changes either come with it or they do not.
The ranges you will come across
Doing it yourself
A site builder subscription is the cheapest route on paper. The cost is your time, and the ceiling is fairly low. Most DIY sites end up looking like DIY sites, and they rarely rank, because the technical and content side is where the work actually is.
A one off build from a freelancer or agency
A properly built small business site is usually a few hundred to a few thousand pounds depending on everything in the list above. The critical question here is what happens the day after it goes live. A one off build with no support means every future change is a new invoice, or you learn to do it yourself.
Build plus a monthly plan
This is how we work and how most modern web businesses work. A lower upfront cost to build, then a monthly fee that covers hosting, security, updates, changes and support. It spreads the cost and it means somebody is still responsible for the site in a year.
Our own builds start from £399 with a monthly plan from £129. The exact figure depends on the size of the site, and we agree it with you before any work begins.
The costs people forget
- The domain name, renewed every year.
- Hosting, which every site needs whether it is bundled or billed separately.
- An SSL certificate, so browsers do not warn people away from your site.
- Updates and security patching, which is not optional if you want the site to stay online and safe.
- Changes. Prices move, staff change, services get added. Somebody has to make those edits.
Why the cheapest quote often is not the cheapest
A site built cheaply and then abandoned is the most common problem we get called about. It goes live, nobody touches it for two years, the contact form quietly stops working, and the business has no idea how many enquiries it lost. Add up the cost of a cheap build plus the rebuild it needs three years later, and the sums usually favour paying properly the first time.
The other thing worth weighing is whether the site was ever built to be found. A beautiful site with no local SEO will sit on page four while a plainer competitor takes the calls.
Questions worth asking any web designer
- What is included in the price, and what is extra?
- Who writes the content, me or you?
- Is search engine optimisation part of the build or an add on?
- What happens after launch, and what does support cost?
- Do I own the site and the domain if I ever move away from you?
Any web designer who answers all five without hesitating is usually one worth working with.
Want a straight answer about your own business?
Tell us what you do and where you are, and we will tell you honestly what is worth doing and what is not. First chat is free and there is no pressure.