Published averages for website cost vary enormously by country, by who was surveyed and by what counts as a “website”, so I do not quote one. A figure that mixes a five-page brochure site with an online store with a customer portal does not tell you what yours will cost. What you can do is understand what the price is made of.
What moves the price
| Factor | Keeps it small | Makes it larger |
|---|---|---|
| Pages and page types | A few pages with the same layout | Many different layouts, each needing design and testing |
| Content | You supply final text and photos | Copywriting, photography, translation into several languages |
| Functions | A contact form | Booking, accounts, payments, search, an admin area |
| Integrations | None | CRM, email platform, payment provider, existing systems |
| Design | A clean, standard layout | A custom visual identity and interactions |
| After launch | You edit the text yourself | Ongoing changes, monitoring, security updates |
The part people forget
Hosting, a domain, an email service and maintenance are recurring costs, and they are separate from the build. Ask for them to be listed separately so you can compare like with like. A cheap build with an expensive, locked-in hosting plan can cost more over three years than a better-priced build that you can host anywhere.
How to get quotes you can compare
- Write down the pages, the functions and what you will supply yourself. Even half a page of notes is better than “a website for my business”.
- Ask each person to quote the same list, and to say what is not included.
- Ask what happens when you want a change after launch, and who owns the code and the accounts.
- Be wary of a price that is far lower than the rest without an explanation. Sometimes it is a template with a different logo; that can be fine, but you should know that is what you are buying.
The honest answer to “how much” is a conversation about scope. A good developer should be able to give you a range after one call and a firm figure once the list is written down.