Not all website packages are created equal. Some focus on design hand-offs, others on ongoing updates or local search. Choosing the wrong package can cost you thousands and leave you without leads. This guide helps you look beyond price and evaluate real business value: uptime, local SEO, update policy, and support speed.
Prioritise packages that focus on conversions — local SEO, fast pages and clear contact CTAs usually produce the most enquiries.
How easy is it to change content when prices or services change? Unlimited, fast updates are worth more than a cheaper one-off build.
Make sure you own your content and can export or move your site if you decide to change providers.
Use this checklist to score each package you review — assign higher weight to items that matter most for your business (e.g., local SEO for trades).
For trades and local services, rank local SEO, update speed and conversion-focused design higher than fancy animations or multi-language setups you likely won't need right away.
An apples-to-apples look at what you actually get and how much value each package delivers for a small service business in 2025.
Note: Actual offerings vary by vendor. The important comparison is the value delivered — how many leads you generate, how quickly you can update and whether local customers can find you. For many trades, a fully-managed, update-friendly package with local SEO (like Congero) delivers the best ROI.
Compare setup fees, hidden update charges, hourly developer rates, and the cost of missed leads when your site is slow or not optimised for local search.
Agencies often charge $1,000–$10,000 for a custom site. If you need frequent changes, those fees add up quickly.
If updates are charged hourly ($80–$150/hr), small changes become expensive. Unlimited update packages avoid this ongoing surprise cost.
A slow or poorly optimised site can lose customers. For trades, even one lost lead a month can exceed a cheap monthly subscription.
Ask: how many extra leads would a better site bring? Multiply expected new jobs by average job value to estimate additional monthly revenue. Often, $49/month (Congero) yields ROI within weeks for local service businesses.
Congero is built for busy trades and local service businesses that need a professional, lead-generating website without the hassle. For a flat $49/month you get domain (or bring your own), hosting, SSL, automatic local SEO, unlimited updates via simple text messages, and monthly analytics — all without lock-in.
A simple three-step process to score options and make a confident decision.
Use the earlier checklist. Give each item 1–5 points based on how well a package delivers.
Weight local SEO and updates higher if you're a trade business.
Include hidden fees: per-update charges, export fees, and expected extras like premium plugins or CRM integrations.
Use your average job value and expected increase in leads to see how long it takes to cover monthly cost. Packages that pay for themselves quickly are the winners.
Short answers to common concerns when comparing website packages.
Not always. Cheaper packages can be fine for brochure sites with little maintenance. But if you need frequent updates, local SEO and measurable lead generation, cheap can become expensive.
Extremely important. Most customers search "service near me" on mobile. Packages that include local schema, accurate NAP, and Google Business integration provide measurable advantage.
It usually means you can request edits and content changes without extra cost. Confirm expected turnaround times — some providers queue requests while others action them within minutes.
If done carefully—preserving URLs, meta tags, and implementing 301 redirects—migration should not hurt SEO. Ask potential vendors about migration and export options before committing.
Congero helps plumbers, electricians, cleaners and other small business owners get a professional website without the hassle. Instant launch, unlimited updates and clear analytics let you focus on customers, not code.
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