The cost of building a website varies dramatically, ranging from a minimal monthly fee for a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to tens of thousands of pounds for a complex, custom-built solution. The right investment depends on your business’s objectives, required functionality, and long-term strategic goals.
This guide demystifies the options available, from low-cost solutions to professional services, to help you make an informed decision that balances cost with value.
Regardless of the solution you choose for building your website, there are mandatory ongoing costs you must factor into your budget. These expenses are essential for a website to be functional, secure, and professional.
Hosting: This is the service that stores all of your website’s files on a server, making it accessible to visitors on the internet.
Domain name: This is your website’s unique address on the internet (e.g., www.yourdomain.co.uk), which typically requires an annual renewal fee.
Email: Professional email services, which use your domain name (e.g., info@yourdomain.co.uk), are a necessary expense to maintain a credible and consistent brand identity.
This approach is best for businesses on a tight budget that require a basic online presence. While it saves on initial design and development costs, it requires a significant investment of your own time
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify offer an all-in-one package with a simple drag-and-drop interface. These services typically include hosting and templates for a monthly subscription, with prices starting from £10–£30 per month. While these are cost-effective, they can have limitations in design customisation and functionality.
As a highly versatile and popular platform, WordPress is free to use, but you will need to pay for hosting (from £5–£15 per month) and a domain name (around £10–£20 per year). This gives you more control and flexibility than a website builder but requires more technical knowledge to set up and maintain.Â
You can get many drag and drop builders to go onto WordPress (e.g. Elementor) making it easy to use, and WordPress is often the more cost-effective option than paying monthly subscription fees.
A crucial point to consider, regardless of the platform, is the quality of your content. Professional photography can significantly elevate even a basic website design, conveying quality and professionalism to your customers. Investing in high-quality photos can be a more impactful spend than a complex design that uses poor imagery.
For businesses requiring a unique design, specific functionality, or a higher level of support, hiring a professional is a more suitable option. The cost here is highly dependent on the scope and complexity of the project.
Rates: £20–£100 per hour
Total Cost: £500–£5,000 for a basic site; £5,000–£20,000+ for more complex sites.
Best for: Businesses needing a custom design or specific features without the overhead of a large agency.
Rates: £50–£200+ per hour
Total Cost: £3,000–£20,000+ for standard sites; £20,000–£100,000+ for large, highly customised platforms.
Best for: Large businesses or enterprises requiring a comprehensive service that includes strategy, design, development, and ongoing support.
A potential drawback of some agencies is the use of proprietary Content Management Systems (CMS), which can lead to vendor lock-in. This means you may incur additional charges every time you need to make even a minor change to your site, as only the original agency can access and modify it. We highly recommend avoiding these businesses.
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For businesses that want a website designed for long-term success, an SEO professional can offer a unique advantage. They bring a content-first and search-engine-optimised mindset to the build, ensuring the site is not only visually appealing but also structured to attract organic traffic and convert visitors.
An SEO expert will build your website with technical SEO best practices already integrated, such as fast page load times, a mobile-friendly design, and a logical site structure. This prevents costly and time-consuming fixes later on.
An SEO-focused professional designs the website with both the user experience and search engine algorithms in mind, helping to ensure that once you have a great-looking site, people can actually find and use it.
Many SEO professionals build websites using accessible and versatile platforms like WordPress with popular theme builders such as Elementor. This approach provides you with a professional, custom-looking website that remains easy to manage and update yourself, giving you full control over your digital asset.
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The cost of a website is a strategic investment that should align with your business goals. By clearly defining your objectives, target audience, and desired functionalities, you can choose the approach that offers the best value.
Whether you opt for a low-cost DIY solution, a freelance designer, an agency, or a strategic build by an SEO professional, it is crucial to consider not only the initial setup costs but also the ongoing expenses related to maintenance, content updates, and digital marketing. The right investment is one that empowers your business with a robust online presence, driving growth and ensuring a competitive edge in the digital marketplace.
The cost of a website depends on the site’s complexity and design requirements. Generally, a basic website may start around £800.
The time depends on the sites complexity, the amount of pages etc but generally it can be ready within one week!
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