It's usually the first question people ask, and the honest answer is that it depends. That's not a dodge. Two websites can look similar on the surface and take very different amounts of work to build. What matters is understanding what you're paying for, so you can compare quotes properly and spend your budget where it counts.
What affects the cost
The number of pages and templates
A website is built from templates. A simple business site might need a home page, a service page layout, an about page and a contact page. A larger site might need case studies, a blog, team profiles and location pages. Each new type of page adds design and build time, whereas adding more pages that use an existing template costs very little.
Design
A site built from an off-the-shelf theme is quicker to produce, but it'll look like plenty of others. A custom design takes longer because it's shaped around your brand, your customers and what you want them to do. For most businesses, that's where the value is.
Features and integrations
Online booking, payments, member areas, product filters, and connections to your CRM or accounting software all add work. Some of these are quick to set up. Others need custom development and careful testing.
Content
Someone needs to plan, write and gather the words and images for every page. If your content is ready, the project moves faster. If it's being written as the site is built, the timeline usually stretches.
E-commerce
Online shops have more moving parts than brochure sites: products, stock, delivery rules, payments and emails. The platform matters too. I cover the main options in my guide to e-commerce websites.
Costs after launch
The build is only part of the picture. Budget for:
Hosting, so your site stays fast and online
Domain renewal, usually yearly
Maintenance, covering security updates, backups and small fixes
Software licences, if your platform or plugins need them
A good quote will spell these out upfront so there are no surprises later.
How to get an accurate quote
The more I know, the more accurate the quote. It helps to share:
What you want the website to achieve, such as more enquiries or online sales
The pages and features you think you need
A few websites you like, and why
Whether your content is ready
Any deadline you're working towards
How I price projects
Every project I take on is quoted individually, because every business needs something slightly different. After a chat about what you need, I'll send a clear quote that sets out exactly what's included, so you can make a decision with confidence. If you're planning a new site, take a look at my web design service or get in touch.
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