How Much Does a Website Cost? An Honest Guide for Small Businesses
If you've ever Googled "how much does a website cost?" and come away more confused than when you started, you're not alone. The range of answers out there is enormous — from £99 DIY website builders to five-figure agency quotes — and it can be genuinely hard to know what's reasonable, what's a rip-off, and what you actually need.
So here's my attempt at an honest, jargon-free answer. No vague "it depends" and no hidden agenda — just a straightforward breakdown to help you make the best decision for you and your business.
Why the prices vary so wildly
The first thing to understand is that "a website" isn't one thing. A simple one-page site for a local tradesperson is a completely different project to an e-commerce store with 500 products. The price difference reflects the difference in complexity, time, and skill involved — not necessarily anyone trying to fleece you.
Broadly speaking, websites are built in one of three ways:
DIY website builders (Squarespace, Wix, Wordpress.com)
You build it yourself using templates. Monthly costs range from around £10–£40/month. The upside is low cost. The downside is time, the learning curve, and the fact that template sites often end up looking generic — which can undermine the credibility you're trying to build.
Freelance designers
A freelance designer builds a custom or semi-custom site for you. This is what I do. This typically ranges from £500 to £5,000+ depending on complexity, experience, and what's included. You get a professional result without agency overheads, and usually a much more personal experience. Yes I do use website builder templates to get us started - but I always aim to fully understand your business needs and translate them into a unique experience that works for your customers.
Design agencies
Agencies tend to start from £3,000–£5,000 for a basic site and can run into the tens of thousands for larger projects. You're paying for a team, a process, and often a brand name. For most small businesses, this is more than you need.
What affects the price of a freelance-built website
Here's what will push a project up or down in cost:
Number of pages — A five-page portfolio or services showcase site is significantly simpler than a twenty-page site with a blog, booking system, and multiple product pages.
Custom design vs templates — A fully bespoke design built from scratch takes more time than working within a platform like Squarespace. Both can look great, but the starting point is different.
Content — Will you provide copy and photos, or does the designer need to help create or source those? Content is often the thing that slows projects down and adds cost.
Functionality — Do you need online booking? A shop? A membership area? Each adds complexity and time.
Ongoing support — Some freelancers offer maintenance packages; others hand the site over and step back.
Languages - If you need your site translated into multiple different languages, this can push up the price. Clarify with your designer how the translations will be handled, by a translator? Using Ai?
What should a small business realistically budget?
For most freelancers and small businesses needing a professional, clean, functional website — something that represents them well, works on mobile, and gives you a solid digital home — a budget of £800–£2,500 is realistic.
Below that range, you're likely looking at someone very early in their career. Above it, you're moving into more complex projects or designers with premium positioning.
That said, the right investment depends entirely on what your website needs to do for your business. A holiday rental owner who can generate £3,000 in direct bookings by reducing their Booking.com dependency has a very clear return on investment. A freelance photographer just starting out might be better served by a simpler, lower-cost option to begin with.
What you should always ask before hiring a designer
Before committing to anyone, make sure you know the answers to these questions:
- What's included in the price? (Pages, how many revisions, copywriting, images, mobile optimisation)
- What platform will the site be built on — and will I be able to update it myself afterwards?
- What happens if I need changes after launch? Is there a support package, or will I be charged hourly?
- Do you have examples of similar projects? A designer who has worked with businesses like yours will understand your needs more quickly.
- How long will the project take? A good designer will answer all of these clearly and without hesitation. Vague answers or resistance to transparency are red flags.
A note on cheap
I want to be honest about this: very cheap websites tend to cost more in the long run. A site that doesn't reflect your brand well, doesn't work properly on mobile, or was built on a platform you can't manage yourself will need to be redone — and you'll pay twice.
The goal isn't the cheapest website. It's the best value website — one that does its job, represents you well, and grows with your business.
A website to represent your business is like a long-term investment. Badly designed sites can look outdated very quickly. You want to think about a solution that will provide you with a profesional-looking site, for the longest time possible.
Thinking about a website for your business?
I'm a freelance website designer based in Lanzarote, working with small businesses, freelancers and charities across the Canary Islands and beyond. I offer transparent, flexible pricing and a free 45-minute consultation so you can ask any questions you may have before committing.
Price can be a real barrier for organisations working with tighter budgets — and that's something I take seriously. I offer a significant discount for NGOs, non-profits and charities, so if you're working for a social cause, it's always worth getting in touch. I believe a good website should be within reach for the organisations that need it most.
Get in touch here or visit my site to see my work.