cost of website
A practical breakdown of what drives website prices and how small businesses can budget for design, SEO and ads.
Whether you're launching a local trades site or scaling an online store, this guide explains the real costs — upfront and ongoing — and gives clear, sample budgets you can adapt to your business.
Typical pro subscription /mo
Time to launch with pro services
Traditional agency upfront cost
Hosting, SEO & ads are monthly expenses
What Actually Drives the Cost of a Website?
Multiple factors influence price. Understanding each lets you control costs without sacrificing results.
Design Complexity
Custom designs, unique layouts, animations and branded visuals increase time and cost. Template-based or AI-generated designs cut expense substantially.
Tip: Start with a strong template and invest selectively in a custom homepage or hero if budget is tight.
Features & Integrations
Contact forms, booking systems, payment gateways, CRM integrations, membership areas, and custom APIs add development hours. E-commerce shops (product management, cart, shipping, taxes) are the most expensive feature set.
Estimate: simple brochure site = low; e-commerce or complex integrations = 3–10x cost.
Mobile Optimization & Performance
Responsive layouts, image optimisation, caching and performance tuning are essential for SEO and conversions. Quick sites require development and hosting choices that support speed.
Poor performance costs you in lost leads even if initial build is cheap.
Content & Photography
Writing pages, producing service descriptions, taking photos or buying stock images — these are real costs. Many agencies charge per page or per hour for copy and media work.
DIY copy saves money but professional copy will convert better.
Hosting, Domain & Security
Reliable hosting, SSL, backups, and monitoring are ongoing costs. Cheap shared hosting may save money initially but can mean slow pages and downtime.
Choose hosting tuned for your CMS and traffic expectations.
SEO & Marketing
On-page SEO, local optimisation, technical fixes, content strategy and link-building are monthly activities. DIY SEO helps but professional SEO delivers faster, measurable results.
Budget for ongoing SEO if you want sustained organic traffic.
Advertising Spend (PPC, Social)
Ads are separate from site build. Effective campaigns require landing pages, tracking, and ad budgets — typically charged monthly.
Start small, measure cost-per-lead, then scale proven channels.
Upfront vs Ongoing Costs — What to Expect
Budgeting means separating one-time setup costs from recurring monthly/annual expenses. Here's a simple breakdown.
Common Upfront Costs
- Design & development (custom pages, templates)
- Content creation (copywriting, photos)
- Initial SEO setup and site structure
- Advanced integrations (booking, payments)
Common Ongoing Costs
- Hosting & domain ($5–50+/mo)
- Maintenance & security ($0–200+/mo)
- SEO and content ($300–2,000+/mo for agency work)
- Paid ads (commonly $500–5,000+/mo depending on goals)
How to prioritise
If budget is limited: launch a conversion-focused homepage and service pages first, include contact & tracking, then add features (shop, blog, integrations) as revenue permits. This reduces upfront cost and speeds ROI.
How Much Should You Budget for SEO?
SEO is an investment, not a one-off expense. The right budget depends on competition, location and goals.
Tip: Track cost-per-lead from organic traffic. If SEO spend produces leads cheaper than ads, increase investment.
How Much Should You Spend on Ads?
Ads (Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram) are measurable and scalable. Budget should be based on target cost-per-lead (CPL).
Start Small & Measure
- Initial test budget: $300–1,000 over 2–4 weeks
- Track CPL and conversion rate
- Optimize landing pages and audiences
Typical Monthly Ranges
- Local trades: $500–2,000/mo
- E-commerce growth: $2,000–10,000+/mo
- Brand/awareness: $1,000–5,000+/mo
Remember: ad spend is not a build cost but ongoing marketing. Budget it like payroll — a monthly investment tied to growth.
Sample Budgets — Quick Reference
Three realistic example budgets you can adapt.
Local Service (plumber, electrician)
- Website: managed subscription — $49/mo
- One-off content & photos: $300–600
- Local SEO (initial): $300–800
- Ads test budget: $500/mo
Professional Services (lawyer, consultant)
- Custom homepage + service pages: $800–2,000
- Managed website: $49–150/mo
- SEO retainer: $700–1,500/mo
- Ads: $1,000+/mo (optional)
Small E-commerce (10–50 products)
- Shop setup & payments: $1,500–6,000
- Hosting & security: $30–200/mo
- Product photography & descriptions: $500–2,000
- Ads: $2,000+/mo to scale
Practical Ways to Reduce Website Costs Without Sacrificing Results
Use a Managed Subscription
All-in-one subscriptions (design + hosting + updates) often outperform custom builds on cost and speed. Congero, for example, offers launch and unlimited updates for a flat monthly fee so you avoid large upfront design bills.
Prioritise Features
Build a high-converting core (homepage, services, contact) first. Add non-essential features later when revenue allows.
Do Some Content Yourself
Supply business descriptions, testimonials and photos to reduce agency hours. Use a professional to polish the final copy.
Start SEO Locally
Local optimisation (Google Business Profile, local keywords, citations) yields fast wins and costs much less than national SEO campaigns.
Quick Method to Build Your Budget
Use this simple formula to estimate Year 1 cost:
Use the formula, then compare to the expected revenue from new leads. If the cost-per-acquired-customer is lower than your lifetime value (LTV), the spend is justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a basic business website cost?
Are monthly subscriptions better than custom builds?
How much should I spend on ads to start?
Can I reduce costs by doing stuff myself?
What hidden costs should I watch for?
Need a predictable, low-cost website plan?
Congero builds mobile-optimised websites fast, includes hosting, domain, local SEO and unlimited updates for a fixed monthly price — ideal for small businesses that want to budget effectively.
No lock-in contracts. Launch in under 24 hours. Clear monthly pricing you can plan for.
