Web Design Pricing Guide 2025
How much should a website cost? It's one of the first questions small business owners ask, and the answers online range from £50 to £50,000.
That's not helpful.
This guide gives you realistic prices for different types of websites, what's included at each price point, and where you're likely getting ripped off.
The Short Answer
For most small businesses, a professional website should cost between £200 and £1,000. Anything less is usually DIY or low quality. Anything more requires justification.
If someone quotes you £5,000 for a basic business site, ask questions. Lots of them.
Budget Tier: £0-£200
What you get: DIY website builders (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com), template designs, limited customization, ongoing monthly fees.
Best for: Personal projects, testing ideas, absolute minimum budgets.
The catch: You're trading money for time. Expect 20-40 hours to build it yourself. Monthly fees add up quickly (£10-30/month). Limited functionality and customization.
Small Business Tier: £200-£500
What you get: Professional design, 5-10 pages, mobile-responsive, contact forms, basic SEO, content help.
Best for: Most local businesses, consultants, service providers, professionals.
Sweet spot: This is where most small businesses should be looking. Services like Computer Web operate in this range and deliver everything you actually need.
E-Commerce Tier: £500-£2,000
What you get: Online shop, payment processing, product pages, inventory management, shipping integration.
Best for: Businesses selling physical or digital products online.
Price depends on: Number of products, payment gateway requirements, shipping complexity, custom features.
Custom Development: £2,000+
What you get: Bespoke functionality, custom integrations, user portals, complex databases, API development.
Best for: SaaS platforms, membership sites, custom web applications.
Reality check: You'll know if you need this level. Most small businesses absolutely don't.
What's Actually Included?
Prices vary because packages include different things. Here's what should be standard at each level:
At £200-£500 You Should Get:
- 5-10 professionally designed pages
- Mobile-responsive design (works on phones and tablets)
- Contact form that actually works
- Basic SEO setup (meta titles, descriptions)
- Professional images (stock photos or yours)
- 1-2 revision rounds
- Content guidance (help writing your pages)
- Fast loading speed
- 1-2 week turnaround
You Should NOT Have to Pay Extra For:
- SSL certificate (security padlock)
- Mobile compatibility
- Google Analytics setup
- Contact forms
- Basic image optimization
These are standard in 2025. If someone charges extra for them, find someone else.
If a designer charges separately for "mobile version" or "SSL setup" in 2025, they're either out of touch or trying to pad the bill. These should always be included.
The Hidden Costs
The initial build is only part of the story. Here are the ongoing costs you need to know about:
| Cost | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | £10-20/year | yourwebsite.co.uk - you need this |
| Hosting | £5-30/month | Where your website lives |
| Maintenance | £0-50/month | Updates, backups, security (WordPress needs this) |
| £4-10/month | Professional email (you@yourwebsite.co.uk) |
Total ongoing costs: £150-£600 per year is typical for most small businesses.
Pro tip: Modern static sites and platforms like those used by Computer Web often have lower ongoing costs because they don't need constant maintenance like WordPress does.
Why Some Websites Cost £10,000+
Occasionally you'll see massive quotes. Here's when they might be justified:
- Custom functionality: Building features from scratch takes time
- Large websites: 50+ pages with complex content
- E-commerce at scale: Thousands of products with custom workflows
- Multiple integrations: Connecting to CRM, ERP, payment systems
- Agency overhead: Big agencies have big costs (offices, account managers, fancy coffee)
But be honest: do you actually need any of that?
What Good Value Looks Like
Here's a real example of good value in 2025:
Computer Web (£199-£499)
- Modern, fast website on reliable platform
- No WordPress maintenance headaches
- Professional design in 1-2 weeks
- Content guidance included
- You own everything
- Lower ongoing hosting costs
This is the kind of transparent, straightforward pricing small businesses need. You know what you're getting, what it costs, and what happens after.
How to Avoid Overpaying
Follow these rules to avoid getting ripped off:
- Get everything in writing - scope, price, timeline, what's included
- Ask about ongoing costs - hosting, maintenance, updates
- Understand what you own - you should own the website and domain
- Question vague answers - "it depends" means they haven't thought it through
- Don't pay 100% upfront - 50% deposit, 50% on completion is standard
- Compare like with like - a £200 DIY builder isn't the same as a £400 professional build
Watch out for "free website" offers where you pay £50-100/month forever. After 12 months, you've paid £600-1,200 and still don't own anything. You're better off paying upfront and owning it outright.
Our Recommendation for Most Small Businesses
If your budget is under £500 and you need a professional website quickly, Computer Web offers the best value we've found.
They build modern sites that are fast, secure, and don't require constant maintenance. No WordPress update anxiety, no security vulnerabilities, no hidden ongoing fees.
For most small businesses, this is exactly what you need: professional, affordable, and hassle-free.
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View Top PicksBottom Line
A small business website should cost £200-£1,000 for the initial build, plus £150-£600 per year ongoing.
If you're quoted more, make sure you understand exactly what extra value you're getting. Often, you're just paying for agency overhead or outdated processes.
Focus on finding someone who understands small business needs, uses modern platforms, and is transparent about all costs. That's worth far more than a fancy portfolio or big agency name.