"How much will my website cost?" is the first question almost every business owner asks. The honest answer is that it depends on what the website needs to do. Two quotes can look very different because they include very different work. Here are the eight things that change the price of a website, so you can plan your budget and compare quotes fairly.
1. Number of pages
A five-page business website (home, about, services, gallery, contact) takes far less time than a 40-page site with a page for every product or service. More pages also means more content to write and more images to prepare.
2. Custom design or a template
A ready-made template is quicker and cheaper but may look like many other websites. A custom design is planned around your brand and your customers, which takes more time but usually converts better.
3. Features and functionality
Features are often the biggest cost difference. Compare:
- An enquiry form that sends you an email or WhatsApp alert
- Online booking or appointment scheduling
- An online store with cart, payments and order management
- Customer login, dashboards or a full web portal
4. E-commerce
An e-commerce website needs product management, stock, payment gateway, shipping rules, invoices and order tracking. The more products and options you have, the more work it takes.
5. Content writing and photos
Do you already have text and good photos, or does the company need to write the content and arrange images? Good content helps both customers and Google, so it is worth budgeting for.
6. SEO setup
Basic on-page SEO (titles, descriptions, speed, mobile, sitemap) should be part of every website. Ongoing SEO to rank for competitive searches is a separate monthly service.
7. Domain, hosting and email
Check whether the quote includes the domain name, hosting, SSL certificate and business email, and for how long. These are yearly costs. See domain and web hosting.
8. Support and updates after launch
Ask what support is included after the website goes live, and what small changes will cost later.
How to get a quote you can compare
Write down, even in a few lines:
- What your business does and who your customers are
- The pages you need
- The features you need (forms, booking, store, login)
- Two or three websites you like
- Your timeline
Then ask each company for a written scope with the price. That way you compare the same work, not just the final number.
For ready-made options, see our website packages and e-commerce packages. For anything custom, send us your requirements and we will reply with suggestions and a clear written quote.