What drives the price of a website
Mainly the scope (number of pages and languages), whether the design is custom or based on a template, and extra features such as an admin panel, bookings or an online shop.
Asking “how much does a website cost” is like asking “how much does a car cost”. The answer depends on what you need. The good news for a small business is that most need a clear business website, not a complex system, and that can be done well for a reasonable price.
When I prepare a quote, I look at these things:
- Scope: one longer page, or a site with separate pages for each service.
- Design: a layout designed for your business, or an adjusted ready-made template.
- Content: do you have texts and photos ready, or do they need to be written and selected?
- Languages: every language version means translation and proofreading.
- Features: forms, an admin panel for editing content, online booking, a calculator, an online shop.
- Integrations: connections to e-mail, spreadsheets, a CRM or accounting software.
Which types of websites small businesses use
Usually a one-page site, a business website with subpages, a website with an admin panel, an online shop or a website with a custom application. Each step adds work and possibilities.
One-page website
Everything important on one long page: who you are, what you do, examples of work, testimonials and contact details. It suits sole traders, small shops and new businesses. It is quick to build and reads well on a phone.
Business website with subpages
Each service gets its own page, plus an about page, references or FAQs. It is a better base for search engines, because every service can have its own heading and description.
Website with an admin panel
If you often change opening hours, announcements, prices or the gallery, an admin panel pays off. You make the changes yourself without a developer. I build a custom admin panel for most of my websites.
Online shop and web application
Selling products, stock, orders, a client area or bookings are a different story. The price depends on specific features; more in my article on custom web application development.
One-off and yearly website costs
Besides building the site, budget for a domain and hosting, which are paid yearly. Website builders and some agencies add a monthly subscription on top.
When comparing quotes, people often forget that a website is not just a one-off payment. Total costs over three years can be very different for two quotes that look similar at first glance.
- Domain: your web address, such as yourcompany.com, renewed yearly.
- Hosting: the server space where the site runs. For a simple site it is a small yearly amount.
- Business e-mail: addresses on your own domain, often included with hosting.
- Builder or platform subscription: with Wix, Squarespace and similar services you pay monthly for as long as you use the site.
- Maintenance and changes: if you cannot edit content yourself, every change can be another invoice.
I recommend calculating the total for three years ahead. I go into more detail in the article a website without monthly fees.
Want to see a design of your website?
Send me a few sentences about your business and I will get back to you with a proposal.
Get in touchHow to compare website quotes
Compare what exactly each quote includes: custom design, number of pages, mobile version, admin panel, basic SEO, hosting and who will own the site.
Two quotes with the same price can mean a completely different result. Before deciding, get answers to these questions:
- Will I see a design before I pay the full amount?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- Will the site be fast and optimised for mobile?
- Will I be able to edit texts, photos and opening hours myself?
- Are basic SEO settings included: headings, descriptions, sitemap, speed?
- Who owns the domain, the code and the logins?
- Do I pay anything monthly after launch, and for what exactly?
- What happens if I want to move the site elsewhere later?
More questions and warning signs are in the article how to choose a web designer.
Where you can save and where you should not
Save on scope, not on quality. Fewer pages with good copy beat many empty pages. Do not cut corners on the mobile version, speed and clear contact details.
A small business does not need everything at the start. A sensible approach is to launch a quality foundation and add features once it is clear they pay off.
Where you can save
- start with fewer pages and add more later,
- prepare texts and your own photos yourself, at least as a draft,
- add online booking or a calculator when there is demand for it.
Where you should not save
- mobile version: most visits come from phones,
- speed: a slow site loses people before they read the first sentence,
- clear contact: e-mail, phone and address one tap away,
- ownership: the domain and logins should belong to you.
When a website pays for itself
A website pays off when it brings customers or saves time. Often a few new jobs or fewer calls with the same questions are enough to cover the investment.
It helps to see a website as an investment rather than a cost. Work out what one new customer brings you and how much time each week you spend answering questions a website could handle: opening hours, prices, how to order.
A good website works even when you do not. It answers questions at night, takes enquiries at the weekend and shows people from search engines why they should choose you.
What a website costs with me
I build a business website for €600 as a one-off payment, with no monthly fees. Hosting and the domain are free for the first year and then cost roughly €80 a year. I send you a design for free within 2 working days.
I want you to know exactly what you get before you decide, so I work like this:
- You send me a few sentences about your business and a link to your current site or social profile.
- Within 2 working days I send you a design of your website, free and with no obligation.
- If you like it, we agree on the materials and I finish the site, a simple one usually within 7 days.
- I launch it on your domain, set up basic SEO and hand over the logins.
The price includes custom design, the mobile version, a spam-protected contact form and basic SEO settings. Extensions such as an admin panel, bookings or language versions are quoted by scope. An overview of everything I do is on the services page.
Frequently asked questions
Why do website prices vary so much?
The difference comes from scope, custom design versus a template, the number of features and whether the quote includes hosting, maintenance and monthly fees. Compare total costs over several years, not just the first invoice.
Do I have to pay for a website every month?
No. With a custom website you pay for the build once and then only for the domain and hosting once a year. Monthly subscriptions are typical for website builders and some agency packages.
How much does a website cost with you?
I build a business website for €600 as a one-off payment. Hosting and the domain are free for the first year, then roughly €80 a year. Extensions are quoted by scope.
Will I see a design before paying?
Yes. I send you a design for free within 2 working days, and only then do you decide whether to continue.
Can the website be extended later?
Yes. An admin panel, online booking, a calculator or another language version can be added after launch without rebuilding the site.
Want to solve this in your business?
Send me a short message about what you need and I will get back to you with a proposed solution.
Contact meI build custom websites, web applications and AI solutions for businesses in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and beyond. I write about how technology can save small businesses time and bring new customers.
