Read our Guide on Website Design Pricing to help you make an informed decision, and book a call with our team to find out what type of website you need.
What Drives the Cost Up for Website Design Services?
When it comes to Website Design and Development, there’s certainly more to it than meets the eye, which is why the pricing can increase so much.
Bespoke Design
If you are looking for a completely bespoke website design (rather than choosing from a template or standard design), this will certainly drive the price up. This will usually involve discussion about website styles you like/dislike, and the creation of a wireframe design for mobile and desktop before the actual website build begins.
Website Pages
Additionally, the more web pages you add, the higher the price is likely to be. Essential pages may include a Home page, About page, Contact page, Service pages, Reviews page, and GDPR pages.
Additional pages could include a Photo and/or Video Gallery, Case Studies & Projects, Prices & Financing options, Sectors, FAQs, Areas You Serve, and Blogs.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Search Engine Optimisation is another factor which may drive the cost of your website up. Some companies include on-site SEO as standard, whilst others charge extra for this service, or don’t offer it at all.
It involves keyword and competitor research, professional SEO-optimised copywriting, SEO-optimised images (& videos), optimising your website for speed & conversions on all devices, defining & inputting SEO Titles & Descriptions that will be displayed on Google search results, and more.
Functionality & Complexity
The more complex the functionality is on your website, the more time your web developers will need to spend developing and testing it.
e-Commerce Websites, such as WooCommerce or Shopify, may have hundreds of product and category/collection pages, plus functionality like product subscriptions, product configuration, abandoned cart emails, etc., which would certainly add to the complexity and cost of your website.
Additional functionality may include quoting, booking, and appointment tools, such as Truequote for boilers, Acuity Scheduling for appointments, Free to Book for booking accommodation, Live Chat, such as Tawk.to, Live Review feeds, and much more… the possibilities are limitless.
| Cost Driver | Description | Examples |
| Bespoke Design | Creating website wireframe from scratch, unique styling, more time spent increases cost & can also ncrease implementation time | Completely Bespoke Website Design to match an exact design concept / brand guidelines that need to be followed |
| Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) | SEO may be included or charged extra, involves research, copywriting, image optimisation, speed & conversion optimisation | Keyword and competitor research, professional SEO-optimised copywriting, SEO-optimised images, optimising for speed & conversions |
| Pages, Functionality & Complexity | More web pages and additional functionality increase price | Standard pages: Home page, About page, Contact page, Service pages, Reviews page, GDPR pages Additional pages: Gallery, Case Studies & Projects, Prices & Financing options, Sectors, FAQs, Areas You Serve, Blogs: Functionality: Quoting, booking, appointment tools, Truequote for boilers, Acuity Scheduling, Free to Book, Live Chat (Tawk.to), Live Review feeds & bespoke functionality / integrations |
What Drives Costs Down for Website Design Services?
A number of things can keep costs down, such as the number of pages or doing all or part of it yourself. And different payment models can certainly make a new website more affordable.
A 1-Page Website
Some small businesses or sole traders may opt for a one-page website when they are starting out, and this would significantly drive the price down for Web Design Services.
The cost can still be kept relatively low by having a full website with just the essential pages in the early days: e.g. Home Page, Services, Contact, GDPR, etc.), without any additional functionality or other pages.
DIY Content & Images
If you’re thinking about doing it yourself or have help from a friend or family member, that could possibly keep the initial costs to a minimum. However, in our experience, people often find that trying to build a website using builders like Wix or Shopify is not straightforward and is extremely time-consuming. In many cases, these DIY websites never actually go live.
You may also find a web design company or freelancer that does just that – design you a website and leave the rest to you. That means you have to source all of your images and write your own copy – they’ve simply built a frame for you to build your business on. It pays to ask about this during the sales process.
Pay-Monthly Website Options
Pay-Monthly Websites can be a great way to minimise your initial website design and build costs, without having to pay a large upfront deposit.
However, make sure to read the small print, as some business models mean you are paying for a service-based subscription, without owning the website outright. On the other hand, some Pay-Monthly Websites’ business models mean that you are paying off your website cost over a set number of months, e.g. 24 months, after which you will own the website.
This can make it cash-flow friendly for business owners who don’t have the capacity to pay for their website in full at the outset.
| Cost Driver | Description | Impact on Cost |
| One-page website | Some may opt for a one-page website | Significantly drives price down |
| Small number of essential pages | Just a few web pages (Home Page, Services, Contact, GDPR, etc.), without functionality | Keeps costs down |
| DIY Content & Images (maybe even DIY Build) | Source all images and write own copy; website company builds only the frame (or you may even choose to build the website yourself) | Keeps costs to a minimum, but can sometimes be a false economy |
| Pay-Monthly Subscription Options | Minimise costs with monthly payments instead of large upfront deposit | Cash-flow friendly; may not own website outright depending on business model |
| Pay-Monthly Ownership Model | Pay off website cost over set months (e.g. 24 months), then own the website | Cash-flow friendly; ownership after payment term |
Why Are Some Website Design Companies So Expensive?
This is an incredibly important question, and you will want to know what you’re paying for, especially when it’s at a premium. The cost of website design services may increase, depending on the company you choose, along with their level of expertise.
Expertise & Reputation
You may find that you get what you pay for when you approach a web design company to design and build your website. However, you don’t necessarily need to pick the most expensive one just because it has all the bells and whistles.
Some web design companies specialise in Search Engine Optimisation and Conversion Rate Optimisation to go with your website, which is essential if you want to be found on search engines and generate leads. They may also have built a solid reputation as an established company, and in turn, they have created that element of trust that is really hard to come by nowadays.
You may also find that some Web Companies pay closer attention to detail than others, whilst others make careless mistakes.
Always check online reviews and testimonials, and take a good look at previous projects, and About Us pages and ideally Team Bios to get a good feel for the company.
Location
Location also potentially plays a factor in cost, especially in larger cities, like London, where their overhead costs are far more expensive than those in smaller towns. You might find smaller local companies whose web design services are cheaper; however, they might not specialise in your type of trade or business.
| Factor | Description |
| Expertise & Reputation | Level of expertise, reputation, trust, established company, get what you pay for |
| Specialisation | Search Engine Optimisation, Conversion Rate Optimisation, building everything from scratch |
| Location | Larger cities like London have higher overhead costs, smaller local companies may be cheaper |
Why Are Some Website Design Companies So Cheap?
Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed the horror stories from some of our clients who had previously opted for a cheaper web design company, and the results were more than a little bit disappointing!
Poor Aftercare Support
You may find that once your website is live, their after-sales support is either incredibly poor or non-existent. Some cheaper web design companies might promise to deliver your complete website within a certain timeframe, but fall short of your expectations. Or perhaps you want to make changes to your website, and there’s no one there to answer the phone or reply to your email!
Freelancers vs Agencies
You may find that some freelancers are less expensive than agencies. However, this may mean that they don’t have a whole team of experts covering all aspects of website design and SEO, and they might even potentially have to outsource part of their work. Whether you choose a freelancer or agency, make sure to look at their online reviews, full range of services, examples of their client websites and results; otherwise, you might find yourself disappointed with the finished product and aftercare services.
Use of Offshore Staff
Some agencies may use offshore web designer and developers, whose hourly rates are lower, and this can definitely lead to reduced costs.
AI Content Creation
Plus, instead of hiring professional copywriters, they might simply use ChatGPT to write your website’s content.
| Topic | Details |
| Freelancers vs Agencies | Freelancers may be less expensive, may lack a team, or may outsource work. Check client website examples. |
| Poor Support | After-sales support may be poor or non-existent, unresponsive to changes or enquiries |
| Use of Offshore Staff | Some agencies use offshore web designers and developers, with lower hourly rates |
| AI Content Creation | May use ChatGPT or other AI tools instead of professional copywriters for website content |
Where Does Our Own Website Design Pricing Fall?
Whilst we certainly won’t be the most expensive Web Design Company you come across, we also won’t be the cheapest either. We’ll hold our hands up – you will likely get cheaper quotes for a website that “does the job”. But what one of our valued clients has rightly said – “Quality isn’t cheap, and cheap isn’t quality!”
Our websites are designed with Search Engine Optimisation and Conversion Rate Optimisation in mind from the very beginning, helping you get found on search engines and in AI searches and generate quality leads. They’re also compatible with all devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktops, and are optimised for speed and security… to name just a few benefits!
What’s more, we’re pretty much you’re one-stop-shop for all your Digital Marketing needs, from SEO and PPC, including Google Ads, to Logo and Graphic Design, Social Media Training, and Video Production Services.
Specialising in Trades & Small to Medium-Sized Businesses
At the Web Design and SEO Company, we have developed a tried-and-tested process for our SEO and Website Design Services that deliver real, quality results for Tradespeople and Small to Medium-Sized Businesses. And, we have an expert team of specialists behind us, from professional Copywriters and SEO & Digital Marketing Experts to Web Developers, Project Managers, PPC Managers, and even a Videographer.
Additionally, our customer support is second to none, and we have something to suit all budgets!
Pay-Monthly Website Pricing
Whether you are a Plumber, Electrician, Landscaper & Gardener, Builder, Carpenter, Locksmith, any other type of Tradesperson, or Small Business Owner, our Small Business Website, which can be paid monthly or in full, offers a budget-friendly solution, starting from just £58.85 + VAT per month, with a small deposit, or £1,495 + VAT in full. And the best part? You can purchase your New Website through our Online Shop and get an instant price! Or, if you prefer, you can Book a Call with us to discuss your needs and get a free quote.
These websites include a Home page, an About page, a Contact page with Form, up to four Service pages, a Consent Management Platform, and GDPR pages, as standard.
You can then configure your website by adding more Service pages, a Meet the Team section, Reviews, FAQs, Gallery, Videos, Prices and Finance pages. You have complete control over your budget.
You will need our “Monthly Website Care Package“, which will be invoiced separately and is payable monthly at £39 + VAT per month, or you can pay in one go if you prefer, with a minimum term of 24 months. This includes your website hosting, support, and maintenance:
- Fast, secure, reliable hosting (99.9% uptime)
- Daily website backups
- SSL certificate (“the padlock”), (which encrypts the information people enter into your contact forms – to keep it secure)
- Regular proactive website checks and plugin updates by one of our Web Developers
- Actioning of any website theme or plugin security alerts or Google Search Console alerts
- The benefit of our pro Agency plugins to keep your site running optimally
- Unlimited minor content updates for life! (This includes changes to images, copy, reviews, opening hours, etc. on existing website pages. This excludes new copy sections, website pages/posts/projects.)
- 24/7 access to our UK, office-based Support Desk
Our cashflow-friendly Pay Monthly Websites allow you to pay off your website over a period of 6, 12 or 24 months. After this, you will have full website ownership, and all you’ll have to pay for is our WDSEO Website Care Package, along with any subscription costs you have selected, such as Dynamic Google & Facebook Reviews feeds, Appointment Booking Tools, or Quote Tools.
Please note: if you require any additional functionality or integrations, such as Online Appointment Bookings, Integration with Job Management or CRM Systems, or Boiler & Heat Pump Quote Tools, please Book a Call with us.
Bespoke Website Design Pricing
Alternatively, if you have unique styling and functionality requirements, we can provide Bespoke Website Design Services, including Shopify eCommerce Websites. Whilst this Website Design Service might be on the more expensive side in comparison to the pricing of our Small Business Website, you’ll have complete freedom over the functionality and design of your new website. This might include appointment, course, event or room booking tools, calendars, product catalogues, job management apps, live chat, live social media feeds, integrations and much more.
The sky really is the limit! You’ll get the chance to review your website Home Page, Header & Footer wireframe before we proceed further, to ensure you’re completely happy with the design. Your satisfaction is our top priority.
To get your Bespoke Website Design project started, simply book a free call with us. We’ll take the time to get to know your business requirements and provide you with a free, no-obligation quote. Payment options may be available – this can be discussed on an individual basis.
| Service Type | Pricing Approach | Included Pages/Features | Payment Options |
| Small Business Website | Budget-friendly, not cheapest or most expensive | Home, About, Contact with Form, 4 Service, GDPR. Can choose to add as many other pages as you need. | Pay in full or monthly over 6, 12 or 24 months, or in full. Full ownership after full payment. |
| Bespoke Website Design Services | More expensive, complete freedom over design /functionality | Shopify eCommerce (if needed), unique styling /functionality | Pay 50% deposit & remaining 50% once live. Full ownership once paid. |
Lifetime Cost vs Initial Price of Your Website
Once you have paid for the initial cost of your website, whether over the span of 6, 12 or 24 months with our Pay-Monthly Websites, in full, or as a 50% deposit upfront cost followed by the remaining cost once your website is live, all that will be left to pay is for the ongoing hosting, support, and maintenance. This is part of our WDSEO Website Care Package, which will be invoiced separately and costs £39 + VAT per month for our Small Business Websites, with a minimum term of 24 months. For Bespoke and eCommerce websites, the monthly fee depends on the complexity of the website and its support and maintenance needs.
Hosting & Maintenance
Quality web hosting is essential to keep your website up and running without interruption, ensuring optimal speed and security. We have alerts set up to notify us of any potential issues and regularly check and update your website to keep it safe and secure, making sure it works properly (as it should!). This includes Daily Backups, SSL Certificate & Security Monitoring, & Website Maintenance (including regular checks and actioning of any Google Search Console issues).
Customer Support
Plus, we are always at the end of the phone if you require any support from us. Our UK office-based team is available to help you from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, excluding Bank Holidays.
If you would like to update your website, all you have to do is email [email protected] or send us a Support Ticket, and we’ll schedule those changes for you. These include changes to images, reviews, opening hours, or copy on existing website pages. If you require new copy sections, additional functionality, or a new website page/post/project, we’ll send you a quote and complete the work for you once you have agreed to the cost.
FAQs About Our Website Design Pricing
How Much Does a Pay Monthly Website Cost?
To get an accurate price for setting up your new Small Business pay-monthly website, you can either Book a Call and receive a free quote, or you can head to our Online Shop to discover our Small Business Website for yourself. As you choose the pages you need, the price will automatically update, helping you stay within your budget. Don’t worry – you can always request additional pages at any time. If you are satisfied with the website cost and have found answers to all your questions, you can place your order online 24/7 at a time that is convenient for you.
There are several videos you can watch – these should hopefully answer all of your questions!
Here’s how the website pricing works:
- There is a small deposit.
- Visit the product page to find your monthly cost.
- The cost includes a Home Page, an About page, a Contact page, GDPR pages, up to four Services Pages & a Consent Management Platform.
- As you add more pages, the price will increase accordingly.
- You then have the option to pay in 6, 12, or 24 monthly instalments or in full, which covers your Website Design and Development, SEO-optimised Copywriting, Stock images, if required, a Consent Management Platform, a .co.uk Domain, and Webmail.
- In addition to your website, the WDSEO Website Care Package will be invoiced separately at a cost of £39 +VAT per month, which includes Quality Hosting, Unlimited Minor Content Edits and UK-based Support, Daily Backups, SSL Certificate & Security Monitoring, & Website Maintenance (including regular checks and actioning of any Google Search Console issues).
- If you need help with your business’s Branding, you also have the option to invest in a Professional Logo Design, along with a Letterhead & Business Card Design Bundle.
To learn more about the costs of your website, check out the following: What Will My Tradesman Website Cost?, How Much Will My Small Business Website Cost?, and Terms & Conditions.
How Much Will My Shopify or Bespoke Website Cost?
The cost of a bespoke or Shopify eCommerce website will vary significantly depending on your specific business requirements. To better understand your needs, we need to gather more information from you.
If you’re interested in a bespoke website design for your business in the UK, or an eCommerce website, please feel free to Book a call with us. Simply fill in your contact details and indicate your preference for a phone call, Zoom meeting, or face-to-face appointment. You can then schedule a time for us to call you back to discuss your website requirements.
Following our call or meeting, we will prepare and send you a customised quote for your website. This quote will outline the necessary Functionality and Service Pages, along with any additional services you may choose, such as Logo & Graphic Design, PPC, or SEO.
After you have paid for your website, the only ongoing cost will be for our Monthly Hosting, Support, and Maintenance, as well as any SEO or PPC services, if required.
What Payment Methods Do You Accept?
When you purchase the Small Business Website from our Online Shop, you can pay using any major Debit or Credit Card if that’s the easiest way for you to pay.
For offline transactions, you can also use bank transfers and regular monthly payments. As mentioned above, payment options may be available, which can be discussed on an individual basis.
Can I Host My Website on My Own Hosting, as It Looks Cheaper Than Yours?
We only offer fully managed, hosted websites with quality website hosting to ensure optimal website speed and security, etc. Site speed, for example, is an absolutely crucial factor in SEO these days, so we need to be sure that your website’s hosting is top-notch. In addition, if there is ever an issue with one of our clients’ websites, we need to be sure that we can get hold of excellent customer support from our hosting company, so we have chosen them very carefully indeed.
What Are the Historical Website Design Pricing Trends?
Historically, as you might expect, website design pricing has gone up with inflation, and over the past decade, technology has advanced significantly. Nowadays, the cost of website design can vary widely, ranging from as little as £500 to as much as £15,000, or more. This depends on the company you select, the services they offer, and their level of expertise, as well as the number of pages and functionality you require.
Website Subscription Models
Alternatively, some companies offer a website subscription model with ongoing monthly payments, helping you get online more quickly without having to pay a substantial deposit upfront. Your monthly costs may range from £60 up to £200 or more, depending on the number of pages and functionality you require, etc.
Ongoing Costs & Annual Expenses
In addition to website design and development costs, you will have annual expenses for the domain name, starting at £8 per year (£15 on average), and an SSL Certificate, which typically costs around £50. There are various hosting options, with prices ranging from £50 per year to over £500.
Furthermore, you should also consider the ongoing expenses for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), which can range from approximately £200 to £3,000 or more per month, depending on the specific services you require.
You may also choose to have your agency set up and manage Google Ads for you – for this, there will be a management fee, plus ad spend paid directly to Google.
Trades & Small Business Website Design Pricing
To give you an idea about pricing for new websites, trades or small business website costs might start at around £1,500 for a professional, mobile-friendly, SEO-ed website – including professional copywriting and quality stock images. This would include a Home Page, an About Us Page, 4 individual Services Pages, a Contact Page with a contact form, your GDPR pages, a Consent Management Platform, and links to your social media.
Bespoke Website Design Costs
As mentioned previously, websites with a bespoke design, including eCommerce, can significantly increase the pricing, so the above cost really is a ballpark for websites with minimal functionality and design requirements. Bespoke Websites can range anywhere from £5,000 up to £30,000+, depending on the number of pages and functionality you need. But there’s no exact way of knowing the pricing for your website until your web design company takes the time to understand your requirements.
| Category | Pricing Range | Notes |
| Website Design (General) | £500 – £15,000+ | Varies by company, services, expertise, pages, functionality |
| Website Subscription or Pay Monthly Model | £60 – £200+ per month | Ongoing monthly payments, depends on pages and functionality |
| Domain Name (Annual) | From £8 per year | Annual expense |
| SSL Certificate (Annual) | ~£50 | Annual expense |
| Hosting | £50 – £500+ per year | Various options available |
| SEO (Ongoing) | £200 – £3,000+ per month | Depends on specific services |
| Trades & Small Business Websites | From £1,500 | Includes Home, About Us, 4 Services, Contact, GDPR, Consent Management, social media links, copywriting, stock images |
| Bespoke Website Design | £5,000 – £30,000+ | Includes eCommerce if required, varies by functionality, design, number of pages |
Is the Website Design Price Really Worth It?
So, is the cost of Website Design really worth it? The answer is absolutely yes if you are looking to create a strong online presence for your business! Whilst you might be reluctant to take the leap and spend a bit of money, it really is worth the investment. In fact, having a website is essential for growing your business these days.
In our technology-driven world, if you don’t have an SEO-optimised website, you’ll risk losing valuable customers to your competition. Word-of-mouth recommendations and paid directories alone are no longer the way forward. You can use your new website to inform potential clients and customers about your business and its products and services while boosting your online visibility on search engines like Google and in AI searches like ChatGPT. Additionally, you can display reviews to build trust and help you gain credibility.
There’s certainly no question of whether you need a website or not; you just need to decide which web design company to choose.
Want to Learn More About Website Design Pricing?
If you want to learn more about Website Design Pricing, please feel free to explore our Knowledge Hub, which includes FAQs, Blogs, Videos, and even eBooks on how to choose the right web design company and SEO agency for your Trades or Small Business.
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by calling 01752 291865, filling in our contact form, or starting a Live Chat now!
