How much does a website cost?

By Ben Walker on 24 November 2017

Do you want to create a website for your business? Or maybe your existing site simply doesn’t cut it anymore? Chances are, if you’re looking into getting a brand spanking new website, the price has probably crossed your mind.

But how much does a shiny new website cost? Well, the simple answer is: it varies. The cost is dictated by what you need it to do and how you want it to look. A basic website can be created for £1,000, although the cost can rise, depending on the complexity and scale, to over £10,000. It all depends on what you want to include in your new website.

Let’s look at some of the factors that dictate the cost…

Choose your domain name and hosting option

Choosing a domain name is an important consideration when creating your new website. It needs to be easy to understand, representative of your business and, where possible, memorable. If you’re looking for a domain name that’s in high demand, or with a .com ending, be prepared to shell out a little extra. The cost of a domain can vary from a few pounds for 12 months, to tens, hundreds or even thousands of pounds if someone already owns the domain name you want.

Your website must be hosted somewhere too. You can choose from shared hosting, dedicated hosting or virtual private server (VPS) hosting. Shared is the cheapest, although dedicated offers the most reliable service. Costs vary between £10 to several hundred per month.

Pick your graphics

Your website needs eye-catching pictures to bring its products or services to life. You can go down the stock photography route, where you can buy professional looking images for a small fee, or you can commission some bespoke photography for a more professional finish.

Optimise for mobile, tablet and desktop

According to a recent study by Smart Insights, around 80% of web users are multichannel users. This means most of us use more than one device to access the internet, and the device we choose (mobile, tablet or desktop) often depends on the task at hand. Your new website needs to be responsive, meaning it looks and works equally as well on different devices.

Add to this the fact that Google ranks responsive websites higher in its search listings, and it’s clear that responsive web design is essential.

Build for eCommerce

If you sell products online, it’s important to get a website design agency on board who truly understands sophisticated eCommerce design. Creating an eCommerce website is considerably more complex, and as a result can be more expensive than a basic website. However, having an eCommerce site that appeals to your audience, helps them find the products they want and actually sells your products is a worthy investment in the long run.

Future-proof your website

Bear in mind that your website will need to evolve as your business does. So, make sure it is created using open source software – not only is this cheaper and more secure, but it also gives you the flexibility to make changes in the future. It’s important to have the option to add new pages, edit existing pages and change any elements if and when you need to. By opting for a reliable and easy to use content management system (CMS) you can make changes to your website as your business grows.

Remember maintenance

The less glamorous side of implementing a new website is often overlooked – ongoing maintenance and security. Keeping your website updated and backed-up is an important task, and thankfully many website design agencies offer ongoing maintenance contracts so you don’t have to worry about it.

Tempted to go for the cheap option?

It can be tempting to source your website design abroad or from a cheap provider. Many companies offer unbelievable prices to create your website. The key word being unbelievable. It’s no lie that you get what you pay for. Good website design comes at a price, and too often businesses waste money on sites that simply do not work or are impossible for their customers to navigate. We think you deserve better than that.

Think of your website as an investment

According to market research company Ipsos Mori’s latest Tech Tracker Survey, 70% of internet users use the web to look for products or services they are thinking of buying. Your website is often the first thing your potential customers will see, so it’s important it helps you stay ahead of your competition and leaves a positive, lasting impression.