Business6 min read
What Should a Small Business Website Cost?
Website prices vary widely. Here's what actually drives the cost, and how to compare quotes fairly.
Ask five providers what a website costs and you may get five very different answers. That's not always because someone is overcharging. It's usually because they're quoting for different things. Understanding what drives the cost helps you compare quotes fairly.
What affects the price
- Number of pages and amount of unique design
- Features such as booking, payments or customer accounts
- Whether you can edit content yourself (CMS)
- Content writing and photography
- SEO and performance work
- Integrations with other tools
- Ongoing maintenance and support
Template vs custom design
Template-based sites are quicker and cheaper but can look like many others and may be harder to extend. Custom-designed sites cost more upfront but reflect your brand, can be optimised for your goals and are easier to grow.
Watch for hidden costs
Ask whether the quote includes domain, hosting, SSL, revisions, content entry and post-launch support. A lower price that excludes these can end up costing more.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Will I own the website and its content?
- Can I update it myself?
- Is it mobile-friendly and fast?
- Is basic SEO included?
- What happens if something breaks after launch?
- What is the payment schedule?