cost to build a website
A clear breakdown of what drives price, realistic budgets for small businesses, and how to get the best ROI from SEO and design.
Whether you're DIY-ing, hiring a freelancer, or using a subscription service like Congero, this guide shows what affects price, where to invest, and exact steps to maximise value for every budget.
What actually drives the cost to build a website?
Price is not arbitrary. Understand these factors and you'll be able to budget sensibly and avoid overpriced or underpowered solutions.
Design complexity
Custom visual design, bespoke layouts, and animations add time and cost. Templates are cheaper but require careful selection to avoid looking generic.
Number of pages & content
Each page requires copy, images, SEO metadata, and testing. Content creation (writing, photography, video) is often the biggest hidden cost.
Features & integrations
Booking systems, CRM integration, membership areas, and complex forms require development and testing. Off-the-shelf plugins are cheaper but may need configuration or maintenance.
E-commerce functionality
Online stores need product setup, payments, shipping rules, taxes, and security. Complexity and product count determine cost.
SEO and copywriting
Quality content and on-page SEO (keyword research, meta tags, schema, URL structure) significantly improve results—but they cost time and expertise.
Hosting, security & maintenance
Fast hosting, CDN, SSL, backups, and updates are recurring costs. Cheaper hosting can harm speed and SEO.
Who you hire
Freelancers are cheaper than agencies but may vary in quality and speed. Subscription services (like Congero) bundle design, hosting, updates and SEO for predictable pricing and fast delivery.
Timeline
Faster delivery usually costs more. Urgent builds require extra resources.
Real-world price ranges in 2025
Below are typical ranges and what you can expect at each level.
DIY / Template
Basic site using Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress with a template. You provide content and spend most of the time yourself.
- Low monthly fees
- Limited conversion optimisation
Freelancer / Small agency
Custom design, better SEO setup, some integrations. Good balance of cost and quality for many small businesses.
- Custom branding and layout
- Time-to-launch 1–4 weeks
Custom agency / Complex builds
High-end design, complex integrations, bespoke functionality. Best for businesses with unique technical needs or large e-commerce catalogues.
- Full strategy, UX research, testing
- Longer timelines, higher support levels
Subscription alternative
Modern subscription services (e.g., Congero) offer professional custom design, hosting, SEO basics and unlimited updates for a predictable monthly fee—often live in under 24–60 minutes via a demo workflow.
A practical budgeting framework
Use a simple formula to decide where your budget should go: prioritize A) Conversion-driving pages, B) Content/SEO, and C) Reliable hosting & maintenance.
Core
- Homepage
- Services / Products (3–5)
- Contact & Booking
- Basic SEO setup
Growth
- Conversion-focused copy
- Local SEO & Google Business Profile
- Analytics & conversion tracking
Scale
- E-commerce or booking engines
- Advanced integrations (CRM, email automation)
- Ongoing CRO and content marketing
Sample budgets (what to expect)
Template site, 3 pages, basic SEO meta tags. You'll do most of the content work.
- Template + logo/colours
- Hosting & SSL (basic)
- No custom copywriting
Freelancer or small agency: custom home + services pages, basic SEO, contact forms and analytics.
- Custom design tweaks
- 1 hour SEO & keyword mapping
- 1 month of post-launch support
Agency build: research, full SEO, UX testing, conversion optimisation, multi-channel tracking.
- SEO strategy & content plan
- CRO & A/B testing
- Dedicated project manager
How to prioritise features: Minimum Viable Website (MVP)
If budget is limited, focus on features that directly drive enquiries and revenue.
- Clear value proposition: Headline + one-sentence summary of what you do and who you serve.
- Prominent contact method: Phone, booking button or contact form above the fold.
- Service pages: 3–5 focused pages describing main services with CTAs.
- Local SEO basics: NAP (name, address, phone), Google Business Profile, meta tags.
- Fast hosting & SSL: Speed > trust > conversions.
How SEO increases the value of your website (and where to invest)
SEO isn't a cost—it's an investment. Proper SEO reduces customer acquisition costs and increases qualified leads.
High-impact SEO actions
- Keyword research focused on buyer intent and local modifiers
- Optimised page titles, meta descriptions and headings
- Schema markup for business, services and reviews
- Local citations and Google Business Profile optimisation
Where to allocate budget
- Content & copywriting (30%): Convert visitors—focus on service pages that match buyer intent.
- Technical SEO & hosting (20%): Speed and mobile-first indexing matter.
- Local SEO (10%): Critical for trades and local services.
- Ongoing content (40%): Blogs, case studies, and citations to grow visibility over months.
- Install analytics and conversion tracking (GA4 + Google Search Console).
- Complete on-page SEO for main pages (titles, metas, headings).
- Claim and optimise Google Business Profile.
- Publish one high-value service page or case study targeting a buyer keyword.
Design choices that maximise ROI
Design should guide visitors toward action. Here are practical design choices with measurable impact.
Clear visual hierarchy
Use bold headlines, short paragraphs, and clear CTAs. Users should know what to do within 3 seconds of landing.
Strong above-the-fold CTA
Phone number and book/request buttons should be visible without scrolling—especially on mobile.
Trust signals
Include reviews, certifications, guarantees, and recent project photos prominently to increase conversions.
Mobile-first thinking
Design for phones first: big buttons, short forms, and quick loading images. Over 60% of visitors are mobile for most trades and services.
Ways to save without sacrificing ROI
Smart trade-offs preserve quality while keeping costs down.
Use high-quality templates + small customisations
A premium template plus custom branding and a polished hero section can look bespoke at a fraction of the price.
Prioritise copywriting for top pages
Good copy converts more than flashy visuals. Invest in one great service page rather than ten average ones.
Bundle recurring services
Subscriptions that include updates, hosting, and SEO give predictable costs and eliminate surprise invoices.
Do the images yourself (when appropriate)
Good smartphone photos often beat generic stock images. Spend a little time shooting local photos for authenticity.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for SEO after launch?
Is a subscription service cheaper long-term?
Can I get a usable website for under $1,000?
What’s the quickest way to get a site that converts?
Ready to get an accurate quote and a website that actually grows your business?
Get an instant demo and cost estimate — many businesses are live in under 60 seconds with a professional design and included local SEO.
Congero builds professional, mobile-first websites with local SEO and unlimited updates for a flat monthly fee—fast delivery, predictable pricing, no lock-in contracts.
