How much does a website cost in the UK?

The three ways small businesses get a website

Almost every small business website in the UK is made in one of three ways, and each has a very different cost shape.

A web design agency

An agency gives you a project manager, a designer and a developer. You get a bespoke design and someone to call when things go wrong. This is usually the most expensive route, with a large upfront fee and often a monthly retainer for hosting, updates and small changes. It suits businesses with complex needs, such as online booking systems tied into other software or large product catalogues.

A freelance web designer

A freelancer is usually cheaper than an agency and can be excellent. The risk is continuity: if your designer moves on, gets busy or stops answering emails, you can be left with a site nobody else understands. Ask who owns the domain, who holds the hosting login and what happens if they are unavailable.

Doing it yourself with a website builder

Builders charge a monthly subscription and give you templates to fill in. The money cost is low, but the time cost can be high. Many owners start a builder site on a quiet weekend and find it still half finished months later, because writing every page and choosing photos from scratch is hard work.

The costs people forget

The build price is only part of the story. When you compare quotes, ask about each of these:

• Domain name. Your web address is renewed every year. Make sure it is registered in your name, not the designer's.
• Hosting. The server your site lives on. Some quotes include it, some bill it separately.
• Security certificate. The padlock in the browser. Browsers warn visitors away from sites without one, so it is not optional.
• Updates and maintenance. Self-hosted systems need regular software updates, or they become slow and vulnerable.
• Changes. Will a new photo, a price change or a new service page cost extra each time?
• Plugins and add-ons. Booking calendars, contact forms and galleries can carry their own subscriptions.
• Your time. Every hour you spend wrestling with a website is an hour you are not quoting, working or invoicing.

How to judge value, not just price

A cheap website that brings in no enquiries is expensive. A website earns its keep when local customers can find it, trust it and contact you easily. Before you pay for anything, check what you actually get on these points.

1. Can people find it? Ask whether page titles, descriptions, a sitemap and structured data are set up properly. These are the basics search engines rely on.
2. Does it work on a phone? Most local searches happen on mobile. Test the designer's previous work on your own phone. Our guide on why websites are slow on mobile explains what to look for.
3. Is it easy to contact you? A clear phone number, a short form and, ideally, a way to book appointments.
4. Can you change it yourself? If you have to email someone to change your opening hours, the site will go stale.
5. Do you own it? Your domain and your content should stay yours if you leave.

One-off fee or monthly subscription?

A large one-off fee feels like buying something outright, but the site still needs hosting, updates and changes every year after. A monthly subscription spreads the cost and usually bundles hosting, security and support together, which makes it easier to budget. The trade-off is that you keep paying for as long as you use it, so check that you can cancel without a long contract.

Whichever route you choose, write down the total cost over three years, including your own time. That figure is far more useful than the headline price on a quote.

Questions to ask before you sign anything

• Who owns the domain and the content?
• What is included each month, and what costs extra?
• How long is the contract, and how do I leave?
• Who do I contact when something breaks, and how quickly do they reply?
• Can I see three sites you have built for businesses like mine?

If you already have a site and are wondering whether it is worth replacing, read the signs your website is outdated first.

What Site Shifter costs

Site Shifter is one flat price: €29.95 a month, billed in euros, and you can cancel any month. You answer six questions, which takes about ten minutes, and get a complete site with pages, wording and photographs. Then you spend about an hour making it your own. Hosting, the security certificate and search basics are included, and you keep your own domain. There is an optional Studio extra at €29 a month for AI product photos and short clips. See the full breakdown on our pricing page.

Frequently asked