- The type of website (landing page, business site, store or web app) drives cost more than anything else.
- Custom design, integrations and content creation are the biggest price multipliers.
- Budget for ongoing costs: domain, hosting, maintenance, security and marketing.
- Compare quotes on scope, ownership and support, not just the headline number.
"How much does a website cost?" is a bit like asking how much a house costs. The honest answer depends on size, materials and what it needs to do. But the price is not a mystery. A handful of factors explain almost all of the difference between a cheap quote and an expensive one.
1. Start with the type of website
The single biggest cost driver is what kind of website you need:
- Landing page: one focused page for a campaign, offer or event. Quickest and most affordable.
- Business website: 5 to 20 pages covering services, about, work, contact and a blog. The most common choice for service businesses.
- Ecommerce store: product catalogue, cart, payments, shipping and order management. Cost grows with the number of products and integrations.
- Web application or portal: logins, dashboards, bookings or custom workflows. Priced like software, because it is software.
2. What affects the price
Design: template or custom
A template is faster and cheaper, but you will look like many other businesses. Custom design takes longer because it is built around your brand, your customers and your goals, and that is usually where better conversion comes from.
Number of pages and templates
More pages mean more design and build time, but what really matters is the number of different page layouts. Ten service pages that share one template cost far less than ten unique layouts.
Platform
WordPress, Webflow, Shopify and custom frameworks like Next.js each have different build and running costs. The right choice depends on who will update the site and what it must do. Our web development team recommends a platform after understanding your needs, not before.
Features and integrations
Booking systems, payment gateways, CRM connections, WhatsApp automation, multilingual content and member areas all add time. Each integration has to be built, tested and maintained.
Content
Copywriting, product photography and video are often the hidden heavy lifting. If you supply finished content, the project is cheaper and faster; if the agency creates it, budget for it.
SEO and performance
A site built with proper structure, fast loading and technical SEO costs a little more upfront, but it saves you from rebuilding later when you realise nobody can find you.
3. Costs people forget
- Domain name renewal every year
- Hosting, which varies from basic shared hosting to managed cloud
- Premium plugins, themes or apps with annual licences
- Maintenance, updates, backups and security monitoring
- Content updates and new pages after launch
- Marketing to bring visitors: SEO, ads and social media
A website without a plan to bring visitors is a shop on an empty street. Set aside a budget for marketing from day one.
4. How to compare quotes fairly
When quotes differ wildly, look at what is actually included:
- Is the design custom or a modified template?
- How many page layouts, revisions and feedback rounds are included?
- Who writes the content and provides images?
- Is basic SEO, speed optimisation and analytics setup included?
- Do you own the domain, design files and code at the end?
- What support is included after launch, and for how long?
A cheaper quote that excludes content, SEO and support often ends up costing more.
5. How to budget sensibly
Work backwards from what the website needs to achieve. If one new client is worth a lot to your business, a website that reliably brings enquiries pays for itself quickly. Decide the must-have features for launch, keep the nice-to-haves for a second phase, and ask for a fixed quote against a written scope.
If you would like a clear, fixed quote, tell us about your project and we will scope it with you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheap website a good idea for a small business?
It can work for a simple online presence, but cheap sites often skip SEO, speed and conversion basics. If the website needs to bring enquiries, it is usually worth investing in those foundations.
How long does it take to build a business website?
A focused landing page can take 1–2 weeks and a typical business website a few weeks, depending on content readiness, number of templates and feedback speed.
Do I need to pay every year for a website?
Yes, for the domain, hosting and any licensed plugins or apps. Maintenance, security updates and new content are optional but strongly recommended.
Should I choose WordPress, Webflow or a custom build?
Choose based on who will update the site and what it must do. Marketing sites suit WordPress or Webflow; complex features or apps may need a custom build.
