Website pricing varies wildly because "a website" can mean anything from a single landing page to a complex booking system. This guide breaks down realistic costs for different types of projects in the UK market.
The Short Answer
- Simple landing page: £500 - £1,500
- Small business website (5-10 pages): £1,500 - £4,000
- E-commerce site: £3,000 - £15,000
- Custom web application: £10,000 - £50,000+
These ranges are for working with a freelance developer or small agency. Large agencies typically charge 2-3x these amounts.
What Affects the Price
Complexity of Features
A brochure site with static pages costs less than a site with:
- User accounts and login
- Online booking or scheduling
- Payment processing
- Custom calculators or tools
- Integration with other systems (CRM, accounting, etc.)
Each interactive feature adds development time. A simple contact form might take an hour. A full booking system with calendar, payments, and email confirmations takes days or weeks.
Design Requirements
Design costs range from:
- Template-based: £200-500 (customising an existing design)
- Custom design: £1,000-3,000 (unique design created for your business)
- Premium custom design: £3,000-10,000 (extensive design work with multiple revisions)
Template-based designs work well for many businesses. Custom design makes sense when your brand identity is central to how customers perceive you.
Content Creation
Most quotes assume you provide the content (text, images, videos). If you need content created:
- Copywriting: £50-150 per page
- Professional photography: £200-500 per session
- Stock images: £10-50 per image (or subscription services)
Ongoing Costs
Don't forget recurring expenses:
- Domain name: £10-15 per year (.co.uk) or £15-20 (.com)
- Hosting: £5-50 per month depending on traffic and requirements
- SSL certificate: Often included with hosting, or free via Let's Encrypt
- Maintenance: £50-200 per month for updates and security patches
Cost Breakdown by Project Type
Simple Landing Page (£500-£1,500)
A single page with:
- Clear headline and value proposition
- Key information about your service
- Contact form or call-to-action
- Mobile-responsive design
Ideal for: service professionals, event promotion, coming-soon pages.
Small Business Website (£1,500-£4,000)
Typically 5-10 pages including:
- Homepage
- About page
- Services or products pages
- Contact page with form
- Basic SEO setup
Ideal for: local businesses, professional services, small shops.
E-commerce Website (£3,000-£15,000)
An online shop with:
- Product catalogue
- Shopping cart and checkout
- Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
- Order management
- Inventory tracking
Lower end uses platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Higher end involves custom development for specific requirements.
Custom Web Application (£10,000-£50,000+)
Bespoke software built for your specific needs:
- Booking and scheduling systems
- Customer portals
- Internal business tools
- Marketplace platforms
Prices vary enormously based on complexity. A simple booking tool might be £10,000. A full marketplace platform could be £100,000+.
Freelancer vs Agency
Freelance Developer (£300-£600/day)
Advantages:
- Lower overhead means lower prices
- Direct communication with the person building your site
- More flexibility on scope and timeline
Considerations:
- May have limited availability
- Single point of failure if they're unavailable
- May not offer ongoing support contracts
Small Agency (£500-£1,000/day)
Advantages:
- Team covers different specialisations (design, development, SEO)
- More capacity for larger projects
- Usually offers maintenance contracts
Considerations:
- Higher prices due to overhead
- May involve account managers between you and the technical team
- Minimum project sizes often apply
Red Flags to Watch For
- Prices that seem too good: A £200 "custom website" will be a template with your logo
- Vague quotes: "Approximately £2,000-£10,000" means they haven't understood your requirements
- No portfolio: Ask to see similar work they've completed
- Ownership unclear: Make sure you own your domain and can take your site elsewhere
Getting an Accurate Quote
To get useful quotes, provide:
- Clear description of what you need: Pages, features, integrations
- Examples of sites you like: Helps communicate style and complexity
- Your timeline: Rush jobs cost more
- Budget range: Helps developers propose appropriate solutions
A good developer will ask questions to understand your needs before quoting. Be wary of instant quotes without discussion.
Is It Worth the Investment?
A professional website should pay for itself. Consider:
- How many new customers would cover the cost?
- What's the value of appearing professional and trustworthy?
- How much time will a good website save you (fewer phone calls, automated bookings)?
For most businesses, a website is one of the best investments you can make in your professional presence.