One designer quotes you a small amount, another quotes many times more, and a website builder advert says you can do it yourself for almost nothing. So what should a website actually cost? The honest answer is that it depends on what the site needs to do for your business. This guide explains what you're paying for, the ongoing costs that catch people out, and how to make sure your money buys a website that brings in customers, not just one that looks nice.
Why website prices vary so much
A website can be anything from a single page with your phone number to an online shop with hundreds of products and a booking system. Two quotes that look wildly different are often for very different things. Before comparing prices, compare exactly what's included.
What affects the price
- Number of pages: a home page, services, about and contact page is very different from a site with separate pages for every service and area.
- Custom design or template: a design built around your brand takes more work than adjusting a ready-made template.
- Features: online booking, e-commerce, payment, client logins or a chatbot all add work.
- Content: who writes the text and supplies the photos? Professional copywriting and photography add cost but make a big difference.
- SEO setup: a site built properly for Google, with good page titles, structure, speed and Search Console set up, saves you money later.
- Training and handover: whether you'll be able to make simple changes yourself.
The ongoing costs people forget
The build is only part of the cost. Make sure you know who pays for these, and how much, every year:
- Domain name (like yourbusiness.co.za), which needs renewing
- Hosting, where your website lives
- Business email, if it isn't included with your hosting
- Maintenance and updates, to keep the site secure and working
- Changes and new pages as your business grows
Always make sure the domain name is registered in your business's name, not the designer's. Losing control of your domain is one of the most painful and expensive problems to fix.
DIY website builders vs a professional
DIY builders can be a sensible start if you have more time than budget and are comfortable with technology. The trade-off is your time, and the fact that many DIY sites look fine but don't bring in enquiries, because they miss the basics below. A professional site costs more upfront but should be built to generate business from day one.
What every small-business website needs
- Works properly on phones, because most of your visitors will be on one
- Loads quickly
- Explains clearly what you do, where you work and why to choose you
- A separate page for each main service
- Click-to-call and WhatsApp buttons, plus a simple enquiry form
- Reviews or examples of your work
- Google Search Console set up, and a link to your Google Business Profile
Questions to ask before you pay
- Exactly which pages and features are included?
- Who writes the content and supplies the images?
- What are the yearly costs after launch?
- Will the domain and website be owned by my business?
- Is the site set up for Google from the start?
- How do changes work after launch, and what do they cost?
How we price websites
Every business needs something slightly different, so we give you a clear, fixed quote before any work starts, with everything included listed in writing. Our websites are mobile-first, fast and SEO-ready from launch, and we can also upgrade an existing site if a full rebuild isn't needed.
Thinking about a new website or wondering whether your current one is costing you customers? Get in touch for a free review and we'll tell you what we'd fix first.