How much does it cost to create a business website?
There can be no denying that in today’s digital world, a business needs a professional, fully functioning website in order to thrive. With that in mind, most British business owners have probably pondered: ‘how much does a website cost in the UK?’. Though, perhaps the question should be: how much does it cost a business to not have a website? Of course, the answer to that question is dependent on so many factors. However, it does highlight the importance of having an online shopfront – a website where potential clients, current clients and other stakeholders can easily find and recognise you and navigate their way around, to ascertain the information they need or want to know.
With so many variables, the average cost of a website is tricky to calculate. That said, practised in all things website-related, we know all there is to know about the industry. This, and research, is how we have arrived at the following:
The cost of a website can be anywhere between £500 and £50,000 plus.
In order to establish the cost of a website, there are lots of elements that need consideration, which we’ll delve into in this guide.
You’ll see, as we take you through these elements, that asking: “How much does a business website cost?” is too ambiguous a question to get you anywhere close to some clarity.
How much does a simple website cost?
Breaking it down into what type of website you are looking for is a good place to start and there are three main types to choose from – a self-build website, a template website built by an expert or a fully bespoke website.
If your budget is restricted, you might want to think about building your own. It may seem daunting if it’s something you haven’t done before, but if you need one, are tech-savvy and you can dedicate some time to doing it, this could be a great way to get your business out there. For small websites with limited functionality, you are likely to pay somewhere between £500 and £1,500. Generally speaking, the larger the website and the more pioneering and complex it is, the more it will cost, both in terms of time as well as money. And it’s important to factor in the cost of your time. If you are not a website developer with experience, the time it can take to build your own website can be considerable and many people find they hit a wall when it comes to more advanced functionality.
A template website offered from a company that includes the website build as part of the cost is an attractive option for most people as the costs remain low but they can focus on the day-to-day running of their business whilst their website is built by someone who knows what they are doing. The price varies depending on the company you choose to work with and the level of functionality required but is likely to be between £150 and £1,500.
If you are looking to stand out from the crowd and have the budget available to achieve this, a fully bespoke website may be the way to go, particularly if you are serious about online marketing and growing your business online. This means you get something entirely unique, that no one else has but, this comes with a cost, with the average bespoke website costing between £10,000 and £15,000, increasing to as much as £100,000 plus for large complex websites with a wide range of functionality.
Before deciding which route to take, it’s important to work out what your business website needs to have and your budget. This cuts out unnecessary expenditure and will set you on the right path.
Consider the long-term plan. Will you be able to add features to your website as your business grows? Or is it going to be vital for your business that you invest in your website now so it can hit the ground running, attracting potential clients fast with a cleverly designed, user-friendly and functional platform?
Taking into consideration the costing for various elements will help as you work out your budget. The things you’ll need to keep in mind include:
- Design: Custom design work prices will vary according to the level of input you need. We’ll look at this in more detail a little later in this guide.
- Coding: This is the writing of instructions for a machine to execute. Using a website builder or a company to build a template website will mean you don’t need coding skills and is usually included in the package unless you need something outside of the package offered.
- Domain name: Your unique ‘www. name’ is your online address that makes it easy for your business to be found. Prices vary, though £15 per year gives you some idea.
- Hosting: A service that’s necessary for a website to be accessible online, it can typically cost around £240 a year.
- SSL certificate: Another must-have, this is a digital certificate that provides authentication and keeps user data secure. This works out at between £50 and £150 per year depending on the level of security required.
- Maintenance: All websites need to be maintained, for security updates at the very least but you should also have maintenance in place to help with any updates you want to make to your website. Expect something in the region of £2,000 upwards per year, though this will very much depend on how much maintenance is needed and the frequency.
- Website builder: If you’re building your own website and using a website builder, such as GoDaddy or Wix, for example, or a company that builds the website for you, you may find that the cost of some of the above are included in the package you are paying for. Be mindful that there may be limitations when it comes to certain aspects, such as design and functionality.
- Content: Content creation will add to the cost if you are outsourcing it. Again, the level of content you need and who you use to do it will dictate the cost. Note that by content, we mean all forms of content: copy, graphics, images, video and so on.
- Digital marketing: Should you choose to outsource this, companies will charge based on the service you need.
- eCommerce functionality: An online store where clients can purchase products and services can incorporate a variety of features, including a subscription service or wish list. Prices tend to range from £3,000 to £30,000 on top of the base-level website costs already discussed.
Cost differences between template and bespoke websites
To be sure you are getting value for money, it’s worth knowing the differences between template and bespoke websites – the pros and cons of each.
A template website, whether you choose to self-build or work with a company that will build it for you, provides a ready-made design that can be adapted to showcase your business. Functionality and a design that can be changed around, to some extent, is already in place for you to use as you wish. A change of image here and some different text there will differentiate your business from any others using that same template, particularly once your branding is in place. One of the biggest advantages of utilising a template is that your website will be up and running faster, as some of the work has already been done and functionality is in place. For this reason, these types of websites are more affordable.
For something entirely unique, a bespoke website is built from the ground up. Designed from scratch, it isn’t based on any template or framework and doesn’t take code from elsewhere. This means that no other business website will have the same footprint. A custom-made website should be built to your exact specifications, with your business model and objectives at its core. It should make your business instantaneously recognisable, with subtleties that set you apart from your competitors. Naturally, the extra work that goes into a tailor-made website takes time. So, if you’re in a rush, this might not be the way to go. Also, because there is far more work involved, a bespoke website is likely to cost considerably more than a template option. How much more depends on what work is involved.
Either type of website can make a great choice. They both serve a purpose. You will need to consider which is right for you and your business.
Will you need all the bells and whistles? If you do, they can really make your business stand out. Can you afford the cost and the time it will take to get a bespoke website live? Or is a template website most suitable, with a speedier turnaround and lower cost?
If you’d prefer to hire a website designer, costs will need to be in line with your budget. There are various kinds of designers to choose from.
Freelance website builder cost
Freelancers tend to offer the most affordable solution. Choose someone who has a good reputation, with plenty of good reviews for reliability and an impressive portfolio. You will need to be sure that they can do all the work you require for your website and that they are in it for the long haul and will see the project through to successful completion. In tough times, the dependability of full-time employment may prove something they feel they can’t turn down. Also bear in mind that creating a website requires more than one discipline – website design and development are two different sets of skills. Often, a freelancer will specialise in one and will be self-taught in the other in order to take on website projects.
Small agency professional web design cost
Whilst smaller agencies will likely cost more than a freelancer working on their own, they will have specialists in all areas of website design and development. From designers to developers, from content creators to social media experts, from marketers to maintenance specialists, all the expertise you could need for your website – your business’ ultimate sales tool – is under one roof. Here at WEBPRO, not only is this the case, you get a dedicated project manager, providing support from start to finish.
Large agency custom web design pricing
Large agencies typically charge much higher prices. With bigger teams and swish, spacious offices come larger overheads. That said, you will have even more people looking after you and your website. It’s a good idea to check how long the process will take, as the more hands your website goes through – the more sign-offs required – the longer it will be before your website can go live.
Whoever you decide to approach, giving out the same brief will give you a better idea on costings. Your end goal will remain the same, it’ll simply be a matter of working out who is the best person or company for the job.
Factors that can affect the cost of a website
There are many factors that can add to the cost of a website. Some are essential and others you can choose or discard. The domain name, hosting, SSL certificate, coding and design are all necessary for a functioning website. If you’re DIYing your website or using a template company, remember a website builder package may include some of the essential services. Whilst factors such as maintenance and content creation are necessary, if you have the know-how, you can save money (though not time) by taking care of these yourself. Depending on your business and the type of website you need, additional features like eCommerce functionality will almost certainly cost more.
Template versus bespoke websites
Both websites built on templates and tailor-made websites can make fantastic solutions. Depending on your business type and objectives, timelines and cost, you need to establish which will be the most suitable choice for you.
Choosing the most fitting website designer
If you are outsourcing your website design, your budget may well dictate who you should use. Whether you opt to work with a freelancer, small or large agency, consider dependability, experience and expertise, as well as the prices they charge.
How much does a website cost UK?
The cost of a website ranges from £150 to £50,000 plus.
What are the ongoing costs of a website?
The ongoing annual cost of a basic website will depend on the type of website you have and who is hosting. It can cost £875 upwards annually if you’re using a website designer; and if you’re using a website builder, it can work out to be around 15% of this.
Will a website designer be able to adapt my current website?
If you’re hoping to save money by tweaking or developing a current website, you may find that this is possible depending on the state of your current website and what you are looking to achieve. A good website designer will have an honest conversation with you about what can be achieved with your current website versus starting again.
- We have all the designers, marketers, developers and branders under one roof, so you get everything your project needs from one conveniently placed team
- Our team has been cherry-picked to only include the most experienced and skilled individuals to ensure the very best results for clients
- We only take a personalised approach and promise to treat you and your business as true individuals
As our specialist teams put your website together, we make sure it can grow with your business. That’s not only true of fully bespoke websites. Our semi-bespoke template websites are designed and built with growth in mind and there are customisation options available if you are looking for additional features or functionality. This can be particularly useful if your budget is limited at the outset.
Our genius developers can build a bespoke website destined for growth.
