How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website in the UK?

With the advancement of technology today, almost everyone has a smartphone or some way to stay connected. The internet is now essential for finding all sorts of information, like news and ads, mainly through social media, websites, and online platforms.

Businesses then use this to their advantage by using their online presence to reach a bigger audience of potential customers. One smart move they make is building a small business website that gives them a special place online to promote their business and discuss their products or services.

If you are a small business owner, entrepreneur, or an influencer, using this approach may help you achieve your target results. But before starting, you may ask, “How much does it cost to build a website?”. In this article, we will discuss the total investment you need to make when building a small business website—from buying your domain name to choosing a web hosting plan to monthly maintenance and updates. We will also talk about the different factors that affect website cost, DIY vs. hiring a professional web designer, and some practical tips to keep in mind when building your website.

Is Building a Basic Website Costly?

For starters, the cost to build a website depends on various factors. You need to factor in what kind of website you want, the design, features and inclusions, the complexity of the project, whether or not you will use a website builder, and many more. So, you can’t really tell the exact cost unless you ask for a quote from a professional website builder.

It is also best to avoid thinking that creating a website may be expensive and unnecessary. If you want your business to have a remarkable return on investment (ROI) over time, a website can help you achieve this. It will help you reach more potential customers and drive traffic to your business, which means more customers and bigger profit. You can read more about ways in which you can drive traffic to a website in our post here.

Factors Influencing Website Costs

Now that you know some factors affecting the cost of setting up a website UK, let us look deeper and learn the other significant elements that come into play.

1. Website Type and Complexity

One of the main factors determining the cost to build a website is the type of website you want and its complexity. A straightforward website with few pages will cost less than a multifaceted ecommerce website that requires a lot of work. If you are on a tight budget, start with a modest WordPress site and upgrade it over time.

2. Web Design and Branding

Another aspect to consider is your website’s design and branding. If you prefer getting custom designs, expect higher fees because, with this option, you can choose logo designs, colour schemes, and typography.

But if you want to save money, you can use pre-designed templates. Most website builders provide multiple templates to choose from, which is convenient and affordable.

3. Features and Functionality

What makes users appreciate a website is its features. An easy-to-navigate website with convenient features reaches more users and loyal patrons, which makes this another factor in calculating how much a website costs. If you want features like online booking systems, user accounts, payment gateways, and interactive elements, these will surely add up to the cost of your dream website.

4. Content Creation and Management

Of course, a website is only complete when there is adequate content. This is because the information inside your website is why people visit it. This is mainly why content creation and management play a huge part in how much a website costs in the UK. If you decide to go for professional copywriting, photography, or video production services to add to your WordPress website, expect an increase in the bill again.

5. Mobile Responsiveness

When mapping out your budget, consider the responsiveness of your chosen web design to ensure that your website caters to all potential users. Although opting for a quality website with great mobile responsiveness is a bit pricey, it is an excellent investment as most users use mobile phones when browsing.

6. Ecommerce Website Functionality

If you want to sell products or services online, opting for ecommerce website functionality is best. This often needs specialised development and payment gateway setup, resulting in added cost. But focus on the bright side; you’ll get to promote your products more easily, reach more potential buyers, and earn more profit.

7. Domain Name Registration

A domain name is your website’s unique address on the internet (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). This is important for all websites, as you can’t run a website without getting one. You can never find a fixed domain registration cost; it always fluctuates. But as a rough estimate, it typically ranges from £10 to £50 per year.

8. Web Hosting

Aside from a domain name, another essential service to get is web hosting. It makes your website accessible online, encompassing server space, bandwidth, and technical support. For reference, web hosting costs typically range from £2 to £100 or more per month, with the best web hosting services having the more expensive price tag.

9. Maintenance and Updates

Everything needs maintenance if you want it to keep working for a long time, and this is also the same for your website. You need to keep your website in good shape by regularly taking care of it, making updates, and checking its security thoroughly. Not doing this could cause problems and extra expenses later on.

Many web development agencies offer monthly maintenance plans. These plans usually cost between £50 to £200 or even more, depending on how complicated your site is. So, choose what suits you best and enjoy a lasting website!

10. Marketing and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

If you want to attract more people to your website, invest in services that will help you rank on search engines and better market your business. Of course, how much you spend on these can differ quite a bit depending on how much you want to promote your site.

Remember, marketing and search engine optimisation are things you’ll keep doing even after your website is up and running. So, it’s important to set aside some budget for them.

11. Website Development

Website development handles the coding and functionality of your website. As a rough estimate, basic websites with simple features can have a development cost of at least £1,000. In comparison, complex projects such as e-commerce platforms or database-driven sites can go over £10,000.

Understanding these eleven factors will help you make smart choices when planning your website project’s budget—whether you choose to build your website on your own or you plan to hire a professional web designer.

Advantages of Having Your Own Website

Before we go deeper into knowing how much a website can be, let’s take a moment to appreciate the many benefits of having a website—whether created DIY or through the help of a website builder.

1. Increased Visibility

A website helps broaden your reach by letting people worldwide find you with just a click. You become visible to potential customers and visitors online, which helps you have a greater chance of earning more profit.

2. Credibility and Trust

In every industry, it is important to gain customers’ trust to keep a business running. You can do this by improving your credibility by having a great website. This is a great way to connect with potential customers and strengthen your reputation.

3. Marketing and Promotion

Websites offer a lively stage for marketing and promotion. With this, you can easily display your products, services, or work to a wide audience.

Customising your website for marketing campaigns can bring significant benefits in engaging with your audience and turning them into customers.

4. 24/7 Availability

Another significant advantage of having a website is you make your business available 24/7. This offers convenience as people don’t have fixed times to browse or purchase online.

DIY Website Creation vs. Hiring Professional Website Builders: Pros and Cons

The answer to “How much does it cost to make a website in the UK?” will also differ depending on your preferred option, whether to build the website yourself or hire a professional website builder. 

We know you want the best results, but you also have a target budget. So, let’s look at the pros and cons of each option to help you make the right choice.

DIY Website Creation

Because people love saving time and money, they prefer doing things independently instead of hiring a professional website builder. This is also true for businesses and entrepreneurs who want to save on website costs. So before you proceed with building your own website, first learn its pros and cons.

PROS

• Affordability: When you choose to create your website yourself, you can save money, especially if you have the skills of a pro. Many easy-to-use website builders and free platforms offer affordable options that significantly reduce your initial costs.
• Control: Building your website gives you complete control over how it looks and what it says. You get to shape your online presence exactly as you want it, from picking colors to arranging content – it’s all up to you.
• Learning Opportunity: Building your website isn’t just about the final result; it’s a chance to learn. You’ll pick up valuable skills in web design and development that can benefit you not just now but in the future, too. It’s an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

CONS

• Time-Consuming: You might think building a website is easy since you can get every resource you need from the internet. However, DIY projects, especially if you’re new to web development, can take up much of your time. Learning the codes, fixing problems, and getting all the little details right can be a bit of a chore. Expect a learning curve and maybe a few hiccups along the way if you choose this option.
• Limited Features: Some DIY platforms don’t offer all the fancy features you might want. Depending on your website’s complexity, you could find yourself a bit limited without some custom coding or extra tools.
• Quality Concerns: While your DIY website can look good, it might have a different polish and professionalism than an experienced developer. Depending on how users view your website, this could affect your business image and branding.

Hiring Professional Web Designers and Website Builders

Just like any other thing, getting the help of professional website builders or developers is the best way to achieve the results you prefer. These experts have the best tools, manpower, and experience in making your dream website with finesse. But like the DIY option, this also has pros and cons.

PROS

• Expertise: When you hire a professional website builder, you’re bringing in someone with a ton of know-how and solid experience. They can make a top-notch, feature-packed website that perfectly matches your goals and vision.
• Time-Efficient: Professional website builders know how to speed up the website-making process. They can get your site up and running quickly, saving you time and letting you focus on other important parts of your project.
• Customisation: With an expert website builder, you can get a fully customised and professional-looking site that fits your brand. They can turn your ideas into a website that stands out from your competitors.

CONS

• Higher Cost: You might already know expertise doesn’t come cheap. Hiring a website builder, experienced web developer, or even an agency can be more expensive upfront than doing it yourself, which might not fit everyone’s budget. But if you are into results, the cost wouldn’t matter as you can earn it back over time.
• Reliance on Others: Working with website builders means communicating your vision and goals. Misunderstandings can lead to revisions and extra costs, so good communication is key.
• Maintenance Costs: After the site’s done, you’ll probably need to ask, “How much does it cost to run a website?.” Why? Because you’ll still need to spend on updates and keeping things running smoothly once your website is live. These ongoing expenses can add to the total website cost.

Finally, the choice between DIY and hiring a professional web designer and website builder depends on your budget, how much time you have, and how complex your project is. Make sure to take these factors into account when deciding.

What to Consider When Hiring a Web Designer and Website Builder

When making a website, you should focus on more than just the website design cost UK. You also need to decide who you will partner with. So, if you want to hire a team of expert website builders, web designers, and developers, there are a few important things to consider to ensure your web project goes smoothly. Here are some key points to remember:

1. Check their work. The first step is to look at the websites they have made before. This will show you the style of your potential website builder and if they can create the look you want for your project.

2. Identify their specialisation. Web designers have different strengths. Some are great with e-commerce sites, others with business websites, and some with artistic portfolios. Make sure to check if the skills of your preferred website builder to ensure they match what you need.

3. Ensure their knowledge of creating mobile websites. Nowadays, lots of people use phones and tablets to surf the web. It is a convenient way of getting updates and learning things. So, take advantage of this and ask if the web designer can make your site work well on all devices, not just computers.

4. Think about user experience. A good website doesn’t just look nice; it’s also easy to use. Ask the web designer or website builder how they ensure people can find their way around and enjoy using the site. Check their launched website and experience first-hand if it is user-friendly.

5. Communication matters. Effective communication matters a lot in a web design project. Make sure the web designer listens to you and can collaborate effectively. You’ll have a smoother website-building process, and the final result will be much better when you understand each other well.

Things to Consider When Making a Website

Before finalising every decision, it is important to keep in mind all the considerations that can impact your project. So, with this, let us first learn all the things you need to consider when building a website.

1. Focus on Your End Goals – What Does Your Website Need to Deliver?

The first step in creating a website is to make things clear for yourself. What do you want to achieve with your website? Is it all about sharing information and teaching your audience? Or are you looking to sell your products or services? Knowing the answer to these questions will guide the whole project.

So, take a moment to jot down why you’re building this website, who you’re trying to reach, and how you’ll measure its success. For instance, to get more people to patronise your business, you must develop an engaging website and effective marketing.

2. What Functionality Do You Need?

The way your website works is super important for how well it does. Think about what you want your website to do. Are you thinking about selling products online? If yes, you’ll need a way for people to buy things safely. If your business offers services, having a system for folks to book appointments online could make things smoother.

Take some time to make a big list of what your website needs to do its job. Think about the most important things first, and remember that some features might affect how much money you’ll spend.

3. What Can You Bring to the Table?

Your role in building your website goes beyond just setting a budget. Think about what you can bring to the table. Do you already have things like a logo and branding guidelines? Can you provide written content for your site? Do you have good-quality pictures and videos you can use? Collaborating closely with your website builder and web designer can help make the work easier and smoother.

Using what you already have can save you money. Plus, your deep understanding of your brand and goals can be a big help in making the web design and development process easier.

So, How Much Does a Website Cost in the UK?

After checking out everything that can affect how much it costs to create a website, you might be thinking, “Okay, but how much does it cost to create a website UK?” Well, as you’ve read, it depends on what you need for your project.

To give you a clearer picture of how much does a website cost UK, let’s look at these cost examples from Forbes for different types of websites:

Take note, these are just rough estimates; the total value of your website will depend on the factors we mentioned before. For a basic website with less than ten pages, you can get a more inexpensive deal compared to this if you are lucky. Just take this as a guide so you know what your budget should be.

The Takeaway: Invest in a Website that Works for You

Now that you know the answer to “How much does it cost to make a website?”, decide on what path you want to take. Take some time to figure out your needs and plan your budget wisely. For better results, hire a professional website developer rather than doing the website on your own.

The smartest thing you can do to promote your business, services, or products is to invest in a well-designed website. You should not treat it as an unnecessary purchase but as an investment, as it serves as your visual ambassador. It works tirelessly to help you succeed by giving you a space to showcase your business.

Imagine you are a store owner, and you don’t have an online presence or an effective marketing strategy. How will you promote your products? Will you stick to giving out flyers or wait for someone to discover your store? Why wait for a time that might not come when you have an option to boost your customer reach?

Create a website to showcase your brand, market your products, and effortlessly connect with your audience. If you’re uncertain about where to begin or how to make your website project a success, consider downloading our FREE GUIDE. This comprehensive guide will provide you with valuable insights and tips that you can implement right away.

A well crafted website will help to spread the word about your store and boost your success rate in the business world. So whether you’re a small business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a creative pro, a user-friendly website is your ticket to seizing opportunities and staying ahead of the game. Find the best website developer in the UK and partner with them to create your website. You can now finally experience the satisfaction of getting customers and expanding your reach beyond your local market. So, why wait? Let’s build a website that works for you and propels you towards success.