"How much does a website cost?" is the most common question we hear, and the honest first answer is: it depends on what the site has to do. Two sites with the same number of pages can differ greatly in effort. This guide explains what moves the price, so that you can plan a budget and compare quotes fairly. We do not publish fixed prices here, because the right figure depends on your scope. Ask us for a quote and you will get a clear one.
The main things that change the price
What the site has to do
A site that presents your business is a smaller job than one that takes orders, books appointments or runs a school. The more it has to remember, calculate and connect, the more there is to design, build and test.
- Presentation sites (portfolio, business, landing page): content and design are the main work.
- Online stores: products, stock, delivery, payments and orders add real logic. See e-commerce.
- Systems and portals: accounts, roles, approvals and reports make it a software project. See web applications and school management systems.
Design effort
A clean design built to your brand takes more care than an off-the-shelf template. Custom layout, illustration, animation and careful mobile design all add time. Decide how unique you need to look and spend there.
Content
Someone has to write the text, take or source the photos and organise the pages. If you provide it ready, the cost drops. If you need it written or photographed, plan for that as a separate piece of work.
Integrations
Payments, booking calendars, email systems, WhatsApp, maps and analytics each connect your site to another service. Each connection has to be set up, tested and kept working. See our notes on accepting online payments.
How much you want to manage yourself
If you want to update text, prices and images without help, the site needs an easy editing area. If you would rather have someone else do it, a servicing plan can cover that instead. Both are valid. Decide which suits you.
Speed, search and accessibility
A fast site that search engines can read and that works for all visitors takes planning and testing. It is cheaper to build these in from the start than to repair them later.
Costs people forget
A quote for the build is not the whole picture. Ask about the ongoing items too:
- Domain name, renewed yearly.
- Hosting, which keeps the site online.
- Maintenance, including updates, security and backups. See website servicing.
- Email accounts on your own domain.
- Paid tools or plugins that need a subscription.
- Changes after launch, which should be quoted separately from the first build.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What exactly is included, page by page and feature by feature?
- Who owns the site, the domain and the content when it is finished?
- How long will it take, and what do you need from me, and by when?
- Is it designed for phones first?
- What happens after launch? Is support included, and for how long?
- Which things would cost extra?
Warning signs
- A price with no written scope.
- A promise of top search rankings. Nobody can honestly guarantee that.
- A site that the provider owns and you cannot take with you.
- Unusually low prices with vague "extras" to follow.
- No mention of mobile, speed or backups.
How to plan your budget
Start with the problem the site needs to solve, then work out the smallest version that solves it. Build that first. Websites grow well in phases, and you learn what customers actually use before you spend on the rest. A clear scope, a timeline and a price in writing before work begins protects both sides.
Frequently asked questions
Why do two quotes for "a website" differ so much?
They are usually pricing different things: different features, different design depth, different content and different after-launch support. Compare the written scopes, not the totals.
Is a cheap website a bad idea?
Not necessarily. A small, clear site can be enough for many businesses. The risk is paying for something that is slow, hard to use on a phone or cannot grow. Check what is included before you decide.
Can I start small and add features later?
Yes, and it is often the best approach. Build a solid foundation, launch, learn from real visitors and add features in phases.
Do I own my website after it is built?
You should. Confirm in writing that you own the domain, the content and the finished site, and that you can move it if you wish.