[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":761},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-much-should-a-business-website-cost":3,"related-\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-much-should-a-business-website-cost":726},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":10,"categories":701,"cta":703,"date":710,"description":16,"excerpt":711,"extension":712,"image":663,"imageAlt":663,"meta":713,"navigation":714,"path":715,"readingTime":716,"seo":717,"stem":719,"tags":720,"__hash__":725},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-much-should-a-business-website-cost.md","How Much Should a Business Website Cost? What You Are Actually Paying For",{"name":7,"avatar":8,"description":9},"Perlat Kociaj","\u002Fimages\u002Fperlat.jpeg","Full Stack Web Developer",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":662},"minimark",[13,17,20,23,28,31,60,63,66,70,73,76,92,95,97,101,104,109,132,136,153,157,171,173,177,185,188,217,220,243,246,260,262,266,269,273,290,294,311,315,337,340,342,346,349,353,356,360,368,372,380,384,391,395,403,407,410,412,416,419,462,464,468,471,503,505,509,512,516,542,546,563,567,591,593,597,600,644,647,649,653,656,659],[14,15,16],"p",{},"You need a website for your business. You ask three developers for a quote and get three wildly different numbers. One says a few hundred. Another says several thousand. A third comes back with a figure that makes you question whether you are building a website or buying a house.",[14,18,19],{},"Website pricing is confusing because there is no standard product. A \"website\" can mean anything from a single-page template to a fully custom web application. The price depends entirely on what you need, who builds it, and how it is built.",[14,21,22],{},"Here is what actually drives the cost so you can make informed decisions.",[24,25,27],"h2",{"id":26},"quick-answer","Quick Answer",[14,29,30],{},"Typical price ranges for business websites:",[32,33,34,42,48,54],"ul",{},[35,36,37,41],"li",{},[38,39,40],"strong",{},"Template-based brochure site"," (5–10 pages): lower end of the market",[35,43,44,47],{},[38,45,46],{},"Custom-designed brochure site"," (5–15 pages): mid range",[35,49,50,53],{},[38,51,52],{},"Ecommerce store"," (custom design, product management): mid to upper range",[35,55,56,59],{},[38,57,58],{},"Custom web application"," (bespoke functionality, integrations): upper range",[14,61,62],{},"The price depends on design complexity, functionality requirements, content volume, and who builds it. Ongoing costs (hosting, maintenance, domain) add to the total.",[64,65],"hr",{},[24,67,69],{"id":68},"why-there-is-no-single-answer","Why There Is No Single Answer",[14,71,72],{},"Asking \"how much does a website cost?\" is like asking \"how much does a building cost?\" A garden shed and a restaurant are both buildings, but the price difference is enormous.",[14,74,75],{},"Websites vary just as widely:",[32,77,78,81,84],{},[35,79,80],{},"A five-page site with a template and stock photos is a different product from a fifteen-page site with custom design, animations, and a booking system",[35,82,83],{},"A freelancer working from home has different overheads from an agency with a team of designers and developers",[35,85,86,87],{},"A site built on a page builder requires different skills than one ",[88,89,91],"a",{"href":90},"\u002Fservices\u002Fweb-development","built with custom code",[14,93,94],{},"Understanding what you are paying for is more useful than fixating on a specific number.",[64,96],{},[24,98,100],{"id":99},"what-a-basic-brochure-site-includes","What a Basic Brochure Site Includes",[14,102,103],{},"A brochure site is the digital equivalent of a business card or leaflet. It tells visitors who you are, what you do, and how to contact you.",[105,106,108],"h3",{"id":107},"typically-includes","Typically includes",[32,110,111,114,117,120,123,126,129],{},[35,112,113],{},"Homepage with key messaging",[35,115,116],{},"About page",[35,118,119],{},"Services or product overview",[35,121,122],{},"Contact page with a working form",[35,124,125],{},"Basic SEO setup (page titles, meta descriptions)",[35,127,128],{},"Mobile-responsive design",[35,130,131],{},"Hosting and domain setup",[105,133,135],{"id":134},"what-drives-the-price-up","What drives the price up",[32,137,138,141,144,147,150],{},[35,139,140],{},"Custom design vs using a pre-made template",[35,142,143],{},"Number of pages",[35,145,146],{},"Quality and quantity of photography",[35,148,149],{},"Copywriting (if the developer writes the content for you)",[35,151,152],{},"Integration with third-party tools (booking systems, CRMs)",[105,154,156],{"id":155},"what-drives-the-price-down","What drives the price down",[32,158,159,162,165,168],{},[35,160,161],{},"Using a template or theme",[35,163,164],{},"Providing your own content and images",[35,166,167],{},"Fewer pages and simpler functionality",[35,169,170],{},"Using a website builder platform",[64,172],{},[24,174,176],{"id":175},"what-an-ecommerce-site-includes","What an Ecommerce Site Includes",[14,178,179,180,184],{},"An ",[88,181,183],{"href":182},"\u002Fservices\u002Fecommerce-solutions","ecommerce website"," is significantly more complex than a brochure site because it needs to handle products, payments, shipping, and customer accounts.",[105,186,108],{"id":187},"typically-includes-1",[32,189,190,193,196,199,202,205,208,211,214],{},[35,191,192],{},"Everything in a brochure site",[35,194,195],{},"Product catalogue with categories and search",[35,197,198],{},"Shopping cart and checkout flow",[35,200,201],{},"Payment gateway integration",[35,203,204],{},"Order management",[35,206,207],{},"Customer accounts (optional)",[35,209,210],{},"Inventory tracking",[35,212,213],{},"Shipping and tax configuration",[35,215,216],{},"SSL and security setup",[105,218,135],{"id":219},"what-drives-the-price-up-1",[32,221,222,225,228,231,234,237,240],{},[35,223,224],{},"Number of products and product variations",[35,226,227],{},"Custom product pages or configurators",[35,229,230],{},"Multiple payment methods",[35,232,233],{},"Complex shipping rules",[35,235,236],{},"Integration with accounting or ERP systems",[35,238,239],{},"Subscription or recurring payment features",[35,241,242],{},"Multi-currency or multi-language support",[105,244,156],{"id":245},"what-drives-the-price-down-1",[32,247,248,251,254,257],{},[35,249,250],{},"Using an established platform (Shopify, WooCommerce)",[35,252,253],{},"Standard product types without complex variations",[35,255,256],{},"Using the platform's built-in checkout and payments",[35,258,259],{},"Smaller product catalogue",[64,261],{},[24,263,265],{"id":264},"custom-development-vs-templates-vs-page-builders","Custom Development vs Templates vs Page Builders",[14,267,268],{},"The method used to build your site has a significant impact on both the initial cost and the long-term experience.",[105,270,272],{"id":271},"page-builders-squarespace-wix-etc","Page builders (Squarespace, Wix, etc.)",[32,274,275,278,281,284,287],{},[35,276,277],{},"Lowest initial cost",[35,279,280],{},"Limited customisation",[35,282,283],{},"Ongoing monthly platform fees",[35,285,286],{},"You can often manage content yourself",[35,288,289],{},"Performance and flexibility are constrained by the platform",[105,291,293],{"id":292},"template-based-builds-wordpress-with-a-theme-shopify-with-a-template","Template-based builds (WordPress with a theme, Shopify with a template)",[32,295,296,299,302,305,308],{},[35,297,298],{},"Moderate initial cost",[35,300,301],{},"More flexibility than page builders",[35,303,304],{},"Can be customised to a degree",[35,306,307],{},"May require a developer for changes beyond the basics",[35,309,310],{},"Quality depends heavily on the theme chosen",[105,312,314],{"id":313},"custom-development","Custom development",[32,316,317,320,323,331,334],{},[35,318,319],{},"Highest initial cost",[35,321,322],{},"Built specifically for your needs",[35,324,325,326,330],{},"Best ",[88,327,329],{"href":328},"\u002Fservices\u002Fperformance-optimization","performance"," and flexibility",[35,332,333],{},"Easier to scale and adapt over time",[35,335,336],{},"Requires a developer for structural changes",[14,338,339],{},"None of these is inherently better. The right choice depends on your budget, your needs, and how much the website matters to your business.",[64,341],{},[24,343,345],{"id":344},"ongoing-costs-people-forget","Ongoing Costs People Forget",[14,347,348],{},"The price of building a website is not the total cost. There are recurring costs that many business owners do not account for.",[105,350,352],{"id":351},"domain-name","Domain name",[14,354,355],{},"Your web address (e.g., yourbusiness.com) needs to be renewed annually. This is usually a small cost, but letting it expire can be a serious problem.",[105,357,359],{"id":358},"hosting","Hosting",[14,361,362,363,367],{},"Your website needs a server to run on. Hosting quality affects ",[88,364,366],{"href":365},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-is-my-website-slow-7-simple-things-that-usually-cause-it","speed",", reliability, and security. Cheap hosting saves money upfront but can cost you in performance and downtime.",[105,369,371],{"id":370},"ssl-certificate","SSL certificate",[14,373,374,375,379],{},"Required for ",[88,376,378],{"href":377},"\u002Fblog\u002Fdo-i-really-need-https","HTTPS"," and the secure padlock in browsers. Many hosts include this for free, but some charge separately.",[105,381,383],{"id":382},"maintenance","Maintenance",[14,385,386,387,390],{},"Software updates, security patches, backups, and monitoring. Ignoring ",[88,388,382],{"href":389},"\u002Fservices\u002Fwebsite-maintenance"," leads to security vulnerabilities, broken features, and higher recovery costs later.",[105,392,394],{"id":393},"email","Email",[14,396,397,398,402],{},"Business email (",[88,399,401],{"href":400},"mailto:you@yourdomain.com","you@yourdomain.com",") is usually a separate cost from your website. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are the most common options.",[105,404,406],{"id":405},"content-updates","Content updates",[14,408,409],{},"If you need a developer to update your site's content, that is an ongoing cost. If the site is built so you can update content yourself, this cost drops significantly.",[64,411],{},[24,413,415],{"id":414},"red-flags-in-cheap-quotes","Red Flags in Cheap Quotes",[14,417,418],{},"A very low price is not always a bargain. Watch out for:",[32,420,421,427,438,444,450,456],{},[35,422,423,426],{},[38,424,425],{},"No mention of mobile responsiveness."," If the quote does not mention mobile, the site might not work properly on phones.",[35,428,429,432,433,437],{},[38,430,431],{},"No SEO setup."," Basic SEO (page titles, meta descriptions, sitemap) should be included. If it is not, your site may be ",[88,434,436],{"href":435},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-does-google-not-show-my-business-website","invisible to Google",".",[35,439,440,443],{},[38,441,442],{},"No mention of security."," SSL, updates, and basic security measures are not optional extras.",[35,445,446,449],{},[38,447,448],{},"Template with no customisation."," If the price is very low, you might be getting an off-the-shelf template with your logo swapped in and nothing else.",[35,451,452,455],{},[38,453,454],{},"No ongoing support."," What happens when something breaks? If the quote covers only the build and nothing after, you may be on your own.",[35,457,458,461],{},[38,459,460],{},"Ownership unclear."," Make sure you own the domain, the hosting account, and the website files. Some cheap providers retain ownership.",[64,463],{},[24,465,467],{"id":466},"red-flags-in-expensive-quotes","Red Flags in Expensive Quotes",[14,469,470],{},"A high price does not guarantee quality either. Watch out for:",[32,472,473,479,485,491,497],{},[35,474,475,478],{},[38,476,477],{},"Vague deliverables."," If the quote does not specify exactly what you are getting, the scope can drift and the final product may not match expectations.",[35,480,481,484],{},[38,482,483],{},"Unnecessary complexity."," Not every business needs a custom-built CMS, advanced animations, or a bespoke design system. Make sure the complexity matches your actual needs.",[35,486,487,490],{},[38,488,489],{},"Agency overhead."," Larger agencies have higher overheads (office space, account managers, project managers). You may be paying for structure you do not need.",[35,492,493,496],{},[38,494,495],{},"Long timelines with no justification."," If a simple site is quoted at several months, ask why. Longer timelines mean higher costs.",[35,498,499,502],{},[38,500,501],{},"Technology lock-in."," Some agencies use proprietary tools that make it difficult to leave. Make sure you can take your website elsewhere if needed.",[64,504],{},[24,506,508],{"id":507},"how-to-compare-quotes-fairly","How To Compare Quotes Fairly",[14,510,511],{},"When you receive multiple quotes, compare them on equal terms:",[105,513,515],{"id":514},"check-what-is-included","Check what is included",[32,517,518,521,524,527,530,533,536,539],{},[35,519,520],{},"How many pages?",[35,522,523],{},"Custom design or template?",[35,525,526],{},"Mobile responsive?",[35,528,529],{},"SEO setup?",[35,531,532],{},"Contact form?",[35,534,535],{},"Content management (can you edit it yourself)?",[35,537,538],{},"Hosting and domain setup?",[35,540,541],{},"Post-launch support?",[105,543,545],{"id":544},"check-what-is-not-included","Check what is not included",[32,547,548,551,554,557,560],{},[35,549,550],{},"Content writing?",[35,552,553],{},"Photography or image sourcing?",[35,555,556],{},"Ongoing maintenance?",[35,558,559],{},"Future changes or additions?",[35,561,562],{},"Training on how to use the site?",[105,564,566],{"id":565},"ask-these-questions","Ask these questions",[32,568,569,572,575,578,581,588],{},[35,570,571],{},"Who owns the domain and hosting account?",[35,573,574],{},"What platform or technology is used?",[35,576,577],{},"Can I move the site to another developer later?",[35,579,580],{},"What happens if I need changes after launch?",[35,582,583,584,587],{},"Is there a ",[88,585,586],{"href":389},"maintenance plan"," available?",[35,589,590],{},"How long is the warranty or support period?",[64,592],{},[24,594,596],{"id":595},"what-to-prioritise-on-a-tight-budget","What To Prioritise on a Tight Budget",[14,598,599],{},"If your budget is limited, focus on what matters most:",[601,602,603,609,615,626,632,638],"ol",{},[35,604,605,608],{},[38,606,607],{},"Mobile-friendly design."," More than half your visitors will be on phones.",[35,610,611,614],{},[38,612,613],{},"Clear, honest content."," Good copywriting is more important than fancy design.",[35,616,617,620,621,625],{},[38,618,619],{},"Working contact form."," If people cannot ",[88,622,624],{"href":623},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-does-my-contact-form-stop-working","reach you",", the site is not doing its job.",[35,627,628,631],{},[38,629,630],{},"Basic SEO."," Page titles, meta descriptions, and a sitemap so Google can find you.",[35,633,634,637],{},[38,635,636],{},"HTTPS."," Non-negotiable for trust and search rankings.",[35,639,640,643],{},[38,641,642],{},"Fast loading speed."," A simple, fast site beats a slow, complex one every time.",[14,645,646],{},"You can always add features later. Start with a solid foundation.",[64,648],{},[24,650,652],{"id":651},"final-thought","Final Thought",[14,654,655],{},"The cost of a business website is not just the build price. It is the build plus hosting, maintenance, content, and the value it brings to your business over time.",[14,657,658],{},"A cheap website that does not work properly, does not appear on Google, and does not convert visitors is not a saving. An appropriately priced website that brings in leads, supports your brand, and runs reliably is an investment.",[14,660,661],{},"Focus on what you need, understand what you are paying for, and choose someone who can explain both clearly.",{"title":663,"searchDepth":664,"depth":664,"links":665},"",2,[666,667,668,674,679,684,692,693,694,699,700],{"id":26,"depth":664,"text":27},{"id":68,"depth":664,"text":69},{"id":99,"depth":664,"text":100,"children":669},[670,672,673],{"id":107,"depth":671,"text":108},3,{"id":134,"depth":671,"text":135},{"id":155,"depth":671,"text":156},{"id":175,"depth":664,"text":176,"children":675},[676,677,678],{"id":187,"depth":671,"text":108},{"id":219,"depth":671,"text":135},{"id":245,"depth":671,"text":156},{"id":264,"depth":664,"text":265,"children":680},[681,682,683],{"id":271,"depth":671,"text":272},{"id":292,"depth":671,"text":293},{"id":313,"depth":671,"text":314},{"id":344,"depth":664,"text":345,"children":685},[686,687,688,689,690,691],{"id":351,"depth":671,"text":352},{"id":358,"depth":671,"text":359},{"id":370,"depth":671,"text":371},{"id":382,"depth":671,"text":383},{"id":393,"depth":671,"text":394},{"id":405,"depth":671,"text":406},{"id":414,"depth":664,"text":415},{"id":466,"depth":664,"text":467},{"id":507,"depth":664,"text":508,"children":695},[696,697,698],{"id":514,"depth":671,"text":515},{"id":544,"depth":671,"text":545},{"id":565,"depth":671,"text":566},{"id":595,"depth":664,"text":596},{"id":651,"depth":664,"text":652},[702],"Article",{"title":704,"titleAccent":705,"description":706,"primaryButtonText":707,"primaryButtonLink":708,"secondaryButtonText":709,"secondaryButtonLink":90},"Planning a new website or rebuild?","Let's talk numbers.","If you want an honest conversation about what your website should cost and what you will actually get, I am happy to walk you through it with no obligations.","Get in touch","\u002Fcontact","View web development services","2026-05-05",null,"md",{},true,"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-much-should-a-business-website-cost",7,{"title":5,"description":718,"ogImage":663},"A plain-English breakdown of website costs for business owners. Covers brochure sites, ecommerce, custom builds, ongoing costs, and how to compare developer quotes.","blog\u002Fhow-much-should-a-business-website-cost",[721,722,723,724],"web development","pricing","small business","budgeting","6bYd9l3bUUqgFGTOUkplTkqKgBaN06LCbah_2YkZ56o",[727,730,732,736,740,744,748,751,754,758],{"title":728,"path":377,"categories":729},"Do I Really Need HTTPS? What Happens If My Website Is Not Secure",[702],{"title":5,"path":715,"categories":731},[702],{"title":733,"path":734,"categories":735},"How Often Should I Update My Website? A Realistic Guide for Business Owners","\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-often-should-i-update-my-website",[702],{"title":737,"path":738,"categories":739},"What Is Website Hosting and Does It Really Matter? A Non-Technical Guide","\u002Fblog\u002Fwhat-is-website-hosting-and-does-it-matter",[702],{"title":741,"path":742,"categories":743},"Why Did My Website Get Hacked? Common Causes and What To Do Next","\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-did-my-website-get-hacked",[702],{"title":745,"path":746,"categories":747},"Why Do Emails From My Website Go to Spam? What Business Owners Need to Check","\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-do-emails-from-my-website-go-to-spam",[702],{"title":749,"path":435,"categories":750},"Why Does Google Not Show My Business Website? A Plain-English SEO Checklist",[702],{"title":752,"path":623,"categories":753},"Why Does My Contact Form Stop Working? Common Causes and Easy Fixes",[702],{"title":755,"path":756,"categories":757},"Why Does My Site Look Broken on Mobile? The Most Common Non-Technical Causes","\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-does-my-site-look-broken-on-mobile",[702],{"title":759,"path":365,"categories":760},"Why Is My Website Slow? 7 Simple Things That Usually Cause It",[702],1777945231260]