“How much does a website cost?” is the first question almost every client asks me, and the honest answer is: it depends on what the site needs to do. A website can cost almost nothing or tens of thousands of euros, and both can be the right choice for different businesses.
This guide explains what actually drives the price, what you can expect to pay for different types of websites, and the ongoing and hidden costs most quotes don’t mention. By the end, you should be able to read any quote and understand what you’re paying for.
What drives the price of a website
Two websites can look similar and still differ in price by a factor of five. The difference is almost always in these six things.
1. Design: template or custom
A template is a ready-made design with your logo and colours swapped in. It’s quick and cheap, but your site will look like many others. A custom design is created around your business, your content and your customers. It takes longer, costs more, and is easier to remember.
2. Number of pages and how different they are
Five pages that share the same layout cost less than five pages that each need their own structure. A typical presentation site has a homepage, a services page, an about page, a contact page and often a projects or gallery page.
3. Content: who writes and who provides photos
This is the cost most people forget. If you provide finished texts and good photos, the build is faster. If the designer has to write copy, structure your services or source images, that’s extra work, and it should be.
4. Features
A contact form is standard. Booking systems, online payments, a shop, a members area, multiple languages or a quote calculator all add time, testing and sometimes paid plugins.
5. SEO and performance setup
A site that loads fast, is structured correctly and has proper page titles and descriptions takes extra care to build. It’s invisible when it’s done right, and expensive to fix later when it isn’t.
6. Who builds it
A do-it-yourself builder, a freelancer and an agency can deliver the same type of site at very different prices. You pay for experience, process, communication and how much of the work is done for you.
Typical price ranges
These are rough ranges for small businesses in Europe, based on the projects I see and quote. Prices vary by country, by who builds the site and by what’s included, so treat them as orientation, not a price list.
| Type of website | Typical upfront cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | Your time + monthly subscription | Testing an idea, very small budgets |
| Template site set up by a freelancer | A few hundred to about €1,000 | A simple online presence, fast |
| Custom-designed WordPress site | From about €1,500 to €5,000 | Most small and growing businesses |
| Agency project with strategy and copywriting | €5,000 and up | Larger companies, complex sites |
| Site with custom features (quotes, client area) | From about €3,000, depending on scope | Businesses whose site is part of daily operations |
For reference, my own presentation websites start from €1,500, with a fixed price agreed in writing before any work begins.
Ongoing costs: what you pay after launch
A website is not a one-time purchase. Plan for these yearly costs from the start:
- Domain name. Usually a small yearly fee.
- Hosting. Where the site lives. Cheap shared hosting is fine for small sites, but very cheap hosting often means a slow site.
- Maintenance. Updates, backups and security checks. On WordPress this is not optional. A site that isn’t updated eventually slows down or gets hacked.
- Paid plugins or licences. Some features need a yearly licence.
- Changes and new content. New services, new prices, new photos. Either you do it yourself or you pay someone to.
A maintenance plan usually covers the technical side. My plans start from €500 per year.
Hidden costs most quotes don’t mention
When comparing quotes, check whether these are included. If they’re not, ask, because you’ll pay for them anyway.
- Copywriting. Writing clear, persuasive texts takes time. Many quotes assume you’ll provide them.
- Photography. Real photos of your work, team or premises beat stock images, but they cost money.
- Translations. A second language is not just copy-paste. Every page, form and email needs to be translated and checked.
- Legal pages. In the EU you need a privacy policy and, if you use analytics or ads, cookie consent.
- Revisions. How many rounds of changes are included? Unlimited revisions often mean an unclear process.
- Training. Can you update the site yourself after launch, or will every change cost you?
How to get an accurate quote
The more precise your request, the more precise the price. Before you ask for quotes, write down:
- What your business does and who your customers are
- What you want the website to achieve (enquiries, bookings, sales, credibility)
- The pages you think you need
- Any features beyond a contact form
- Whether you have texts, photos and a logo ready
- Two or three websites you like, and why
- Your budget range, even a rough one
Sharing a budget range is not a weakness. It lets a good designer tell you what’s realistic for that amount, instead of guessing.
Is a cheaper website a bad idea?
Not always. If you’re testing an idea or just need to exist online, a simple template or website builder can be enough. The problem starts when a cheap site has to do the job of an expensive one: bring in clients, rank on Google, and represent a serious business.
The real question is not “how much does a website cost” but “what does it cost me not to have a good one”. If a better site brings you even one or two extra clients a year, it usually pays for itself.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a business website? A presentation site usually takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the number of pages and how quickly content is ready. Sites with custom features take longer.
Can I pay in instalments? Most freelancers and agencies split payment into an upfront deposit and a final payment at launch. Ask before you start.
Do I own the website once it’s paid? You should. Make sure the domain is registered in your name and that you have access to the hosting and the site’s admin.
Is WordPress free? The software is free. You pay for hosting, the domain, design and development, and any premium plugins. If you’re still choosing a platform, read WordPress, Wix or Custom-Built? What Fits Your Business.
Want a precise number for your website?
Tell me in a few lines what your business does and what you need the site to do. You get a written reply within one working day, with how I’d approach it and a realistic price range. See services and prices →