12 August 2026
Web design that wins enquiries, not just compliments
Post By
Harry James
Published
1 October 2026
"How much does a website cost?" is one of the first questions every business owner asks, and the honest answer is: it depends. This guide explains the typical price ranges in the UK in 2026, what affects the cost, and the ongoing costs people often forget.
Typical website costs in the UK
These are typical market ranges for small and medium businesses. Prices vary by provider and project, so treat them as a guide rather than a quote.
| Type of website | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | £0 – £500 to set up | Plus a monthly plan. Cheapest, but you do the work and design is limited. |
| Freelancer, small brochure site | £500 – £2,000 | Good value for simple sites. Quality and support vary a lot. |
| Agency, small business website | £1,500 – £5,000 | Custom design, copy help, SEO foundations and ongoing support. |
| Online store (e.g. Shopify) | £2,500 – £10,000+ | Depends on number of products, integrations and custom features. |
| Custom website or web app | £10,000+ | Bespoke functionality such as portals, booking systems or integrations. |
What affects the price of a website?
- Number of pages. A five-page brochure site costs far less than a site with dozens of service and location pages.
- Design. A template adapted to your brand is cheaper than a fully custom design.
- Content. If you need help writing copy or sourcing photos, that adds time.
- Features. Online booking, payments, product filters, member areas and integrations all add cost.
- E-commerce. Each product needs setting up, and stores need payments, shipping and stock management.
- SEO. Building the site properly for Google from day one costs a little more but saves a rebuild later.
Ongoing costs to budget for
The build is not the only cost. Most websites also need:
- Domain name: roughly £10 to £20 a year for a .co.uk or .uk address.
- Hosting: roughly £5 to £30 a month for most small business sites. Shopify plans have their own monthly fee.
- Maintenance and support: updates, backups and small changes, either pay-as-you-go or a monthly plan.
- Marketing: SEO, Google or Meta ads to bring visitors to the site once it is live.
Is a cheap website a false economy?
A low-cost site can be fine if you just need to exist online. But your website is often the deciding factor in whether someone contacts you or a competitor. A slow, confusing or outdated site quietly loses enquiries every week, which can cost far more than the money saved on the build.
The better question is: what will this website bring in? If a new site wins a few extra customers a month, it usually pays for itself quickly.
How to get an accurate quote
Before you contact anyone, write down what the site needs to do, roughly how many pages you need, any features such as booking or payments, and two or three websites you like. That makes quotes faster and easier to compare.
Want a fixed price for your website? Tell us what you need and we will send a clear quote with no hidden extras.
Get a free quoteFrequently asked questions
How much does a basic website cost in the UK?
A basic brochure website typically costs from around £500 with a freelancer to £1,500–£5,000 with an agency, depending on the number of pages and how much help you need with content.
What are the ongoing costs of a website?
Budget for a domain (around £10–£20 a year), hosting (roughly £5–£30 a month for most small sites), and optional maintenance or support plans.
Is a cheap website worth it?
It can be for a very simple online presence. But if the site is slow, hard to use or does not rank, it can cost more in lost enquiries than you saved.
How long does it take to build a website?
Most small business websites take a few weeks once content is ready. Online stores and custom builds take longer.
