Ask ten web designers what a website costs and you’ll get ten answers. That’s because “a website” can mean anything from a single page to a full online shop. Here’s how the pricing really works in the UK, and what you should expect to pay.
The three ways to get a website
Do it yourself with a website builder. Services such as Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy charge a monthly fee, typically around £10 to £30 a month for a business plan. You save money up front but spend your own time on it, and you keep paying for as long as the site is live.
Hire a freelancer. A freelancer will usually charge somewhere between a few hundred pounds and £3,000 for a small business site, depending on experience and how much is included.
Hire an agency. Agencies add project management, strategy and design, and they price accordingly. A small business website from an agency often starts around £2,000 and can go well beyond £10,000.
These are rough guides rather than fixed market rates, but they show why quotes can vary so widely for what looks like the same job.
What actually changes the price
- Number of pages. A five-page site is far less work than a fifty-page one.
- Custom design. A design made from scratch costs more than adapting a good template.
- Online shop or booking. Taking payments or bookings adds a lot of work and testing.
- Content. Writing your text and sourcing photos takes time if you can’t supply them.
- Ongoing support. Updates, backups and security are often charged separately.
The running costs people forget
The build is only part of the cost. Every website also needs:
- A domain name, usually around £10 to £15 a year for a .co.uk.
- Hosting, which can be a few pounds a month for a small site.
- An SSL certificate for the padlock. Most hosts now include one free, so be wary of paying much for this.
- Updates and backups, especially on WordPress, where plugins need regular attention.
How to avoid overpaying
Before you commit, ask these questions:
- Who owns the domain name and the website once it’s finished?
- What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
- What will I pay each year after launch?
- Will it work properly on phones? Most local searches happen on one.
- Can I see an example or a mock-up before I pay?
If a quote can’t answer those clearly, keep looking.
What most small businesses actually need
A local business rarely needs anything complicated. A clear homepage, your services, photos, opening hours, a map, a tap-to-call button and a contact form will do most of the work, as long as the site is fast and works on a phone.
That’s why we offer a simple small business website for £149, including the domain and first-year hosting, with a free homepage mock-up first. If you already have a site, the free website check shows whether it just needs a few fixes rather than a rebuild.
Common questions
What is a fair price for a small business website?
For a simple brochure site of up to five pages, a fair one-off price runs from a few hundred pounds with a freelancer to a few thousand with an agency. Some specialists, including us, build simple sites for less by keeping the scope tight.
Do I have to pay for a website every year?
Yes, at least for the domain name and hosting. Budget for both every year, and check who owns them before you sign anything.