web design prices

What affects web design cost?

Web design pricing is not a single number — it's the sum of choices. Below are the most common factors that change price, with plain-language notes on why each one matters.

• Scope & number of pages — More pages = more content, more templates, more QA. A 5-page brochure site is much cheaper than a 50-page service catalogue.
• Design complexity — Custom layouts, animation, or bespoke illustrations require designer time. Templates are cheaper but can look generic.
• Functionality — Forms, booking systems, e-commerce, integrations (CRMs, payment gateways) all add development time and potential transaction fees.
• Content creation — Who writes your copy and sources images? Including copywriting, photography or video in the quote increases cost but often improves conversion rates.
• SEO & marketing — Basic on-page SEO is usually standard; strategic keyword research, ongoing content, and paid ads management are extra, recurring costs.
• Hosting & platform — Managed platforms can include hosting, backups, and security in one fee. Self-hosted options shift maintenance to you or your developer.
• Support & updates — One-off projects vs. subscriptions. Unlimited updates or a retained support package change the monthly price.
• Agency vs freelancer vs DIY — Agencies typically cost more but provide multiple specialists; freelancers are cheaper but limited in capacity; DIY costs mostly your time.

Tip: ask every provider to break their quote into "one-time" and "ongoing" costs so you can compare apples to apples.

How to compare quotes — a step-by-step process

When you have 2–4 quotes, use this process to evaluate which one gives the best value for your business objectives.

1. Match scope. Ensure each quote covers the same deliverables: pages, features, SEO tasks, and what "done" looks like.
2. Separate one-time vs ongoing. Put setup, design, and development in one column and hosting, support, SEO, and ads in another.
3. Ask for timelines. Price matters less if a provider takes 12 weeks while another launches in 48 hours. Time-to-live affects cashflow.
4. Check included SEO basics. Verify whether title tags, meta descriptions, schema, mobile optimisation, and sitemap submission are included.
5. Clarify update policy. Are updates charged hourly, or are a number of updates included? How fast are changes made?
6. Request references or examples. Look for recent sites in your industry and ask about measurable results (traffic, leads).
7. Confirm ownership & transferability. You should own your domain and content; ask how the handover works if you leave.
8. Calculate 12-month cost of ownership. Add upfront + 12 months of ongoing fees and any expected marketing spend to understand true cost.

Practical tip: create a simple spreadsheet with rows for each item above and score each quote 1–5. The highest total often reveals best value, not lowest price.

5 steps to get the best value (no fluff)

Follow these practical steps to reduce risk and ensure your site delivers business results.

1. Define the outcome first. Instead of "I need a website," define the business outcome: more calls, bookings, or sales. This focuses scope and measurement.
2. Limit the initial scope. Launch with key pages that convert (home, services, contact, price guide). Add other pages later as data justifies them.
3. Ask for included SEO basics. If a quote doesn't include page titles, meta, schema, mobile checks and analytics setup, ask them to add it or explain why not.
4. Prefer predictable ongoing costs. Choose a clear monthly plan for hosting, backups, and updates. Hidden hourly fees are where budgets blow out.
5. Measure and iterate. Use analytics to identify the top-performing pages and invest in improving those first (copy, CTAs, simple ads).

These steps minimise wasted budget and make sure future investment is based on real results.