Whether you’re a startup business or a large well-established organisation, the one question that is always at the forefront when requiring a new website is “How much will it cost?” 

Your expectations vs what is actually achievable will largely depend on your budget. If your budget is restricted, then it’s unlikely that your new website will be fully bespoke and more likely that pre-existing page builders will be used. 

There are some website design agencies or freelancers that offer a multi-page website from just a few hundred pounds, however it’s important to be realistic with the level of service you’ll receive, the quality of design that’ll be delivered and whether your new website will be optimised in order to contend with your competition. With “too good to be true” low cost options, the quality of your website is usually compromised. 

It’s recommended to contact several agencies or freelancers for proposals before making a decision and agreeing a price. Oftentimes, web designers will be able to offer a number of options depending on your budget. 

Leading London web design agency, Webpop Design, explains that “Web design is very much a service that can be tailored to a clients requirements.” They go on to explain that “a custom web design project with twenty pages, advanced functionality and a powerful CMS installed will cost much more than a one page website built on a modular page builder using a third party template.” 

The cost of your new website will depend on a number of considerations, which we explore below:

What functionality does your new website need?

Your website functionality will give your website design team an indication of how much work is required to get your website up and running.

For example, if you’re an online retailer, you’ll likely require an ecommerce platform with a shopping cart and possibly a user login area. Whereas, if you’re a hairdressing salon, you might require an online booking system or contact forms. 

Having a clear understanding of what functionality your website will need will enable a web designer to give you a more accurate price.

How many pages will your website need?

The majority of websites consist of at least a homepage, about us page, contact page and terms & conditions. However, it’s important to consider that the more pages you require the higher the cost will likely be. The cost will also largely depend on the agency you use and how they charge; do they charge per number of pages or by number of separate designs?

What content will be used on your new website?

Content isn’t just referring to written text, this also relates to video, graphics and photography too. If you are able to provide your chosen agency with existing content then your overall cost might be less than if you need help with creating new content. 

Considering static vs dynamic design?

If you’re looking for a cheaper website design option, then you might want to consider static vs dynamic design. Static web design means that your website will have very little, if any, moving or interactive elements compared to a more dynamic design which could incorporate animations, hover effects or moving design elements for example. Dynamic websites take much longer to develop and so, understandably, this often comes at a higher cost. 

Do you need web hosting?

All websites are made up of a number of files which need storing on a web server. Web hosting is a service offered by many companies, such as GoDaddy, and is usually charged on an ongoing monthly basis. Web hosting prices vary and there are often several options to choose from depending on your requirements.

Will you require ongoing support, SEO or marketing?

Once your website is live, you might require additional support, whether that be training on your chosen content management system, SEO support or marketing. 

Oftentimes, website design companies offer search engine optimisation (SEO) services as an additional extra. Some companies spend hundreds and even up to tens of thousands of pounds on SEO support in order to boost their rankings in popular search engines, like Google.

Do you need website security?

In order to keep your website secure, you’ll require an SSL certificate but might also choose to invest in extra security in order to protect your website further. Security software varies in cost and so this is something you might want to incorporate into your overall budget. 

To summarise

So, how much does a website cost? The answer really does depend on your expectations vs your budget. You can use a free website builder online or set up a basic small business website for a few hundred pounds, but realistically if you want to compete in search engines and are looking for a quality website that is truly bespoke to your business, then your budget will need to stretch to the thousands. While more complex websites can demand a price of several tens of thousands of pounds. Our advice would be to shop around, gather some proposals and be realistic with what you can afford. If you’re looking for a truly bespoke website, that compliments your brand and is search engine optimised, then a reputable website design agency may be the route to take, however, if you have a small budget and are not looking to attract traffic, a cheaper option might be more suitable for you.