Website Costs Explained: What You Actually Pay For
Website costs break down into design, development, hosting, content, and maintenance. Understanding each helps you budget realistically.
Introduction
Small business website costs typically fall into five categories. Understanding each helps you budget realistically and avoid nasty surprises.
Design and development is the biggest upfront cost. A professional 5-page local business website usually costs £500-£3,000 depending on complexity, custom features, and who builds it.
Key Points
Hosting keeps your site online. Budget £5-£30/month for shared hosting, or £20-£100/month for faster, more reliable options. Cheap hosting often means slow speeds and downtime.
Key Takeaway
Hosting keeps your site online.
Domain names cost £10-£20/year. Not expensive, but worth securing your business name and common variations.
Content includes text, photos, and any video. Professional copywriting adds £200-£500 per page. Quality photos make a huge difference — either hire a photographer or use your best phone shots in good light.
What This Means for You
Maintenance is the hidden cost most businesses miss. Security updates, backups, content changes, and broken links need regular attention. Budget £50-£200/month or factor in your own time.
Key Takeaway
Maintenance is the hidden cost most businesses miss.
“The total first-year cost for a professional small business website is typically £1,500-£5,000 including setup and a year of maintenance.”
FAQ
Common Questions
Quotes vary based on scope, custom features, design quality, and whether you are using a freelancer, agency, or DIY builder. Cheaper is not always better — slow, poorly built sites cost you customers.
Yes, with Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress. But cheap DIY sites often lack speed, mobile optimisation, and local SEO — the things that actually bring you customers.
Hosting (£5-£30/month), domain (£10-£20/year), maintenance (£50-£200/month), and occasional content updates. Factor these into your budget from day one.
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