COST GUIDE • 2025

website cost

What you should really expect to pay for a business website in 2025 — honest price ranges, ongoing fees, and how to cut costs without sacrificing results.

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$0–$2,500

DIY & basic templates (small informational sites)

$2,500–$12,000

Small business with custom design, basic integrations

$12,000+

Complex platforms, custom development & integrations

COST BREAKDOWN

What does "website cost" actually include?

Many price quotes mix one-off design fees, monthly platform costs, and extra charges for updates or SEO. Understand each piece so you can compare apples with apples.

Design & Build

Wireframes, custom templates, graphics and front-end work. Costs depend on complexity and whether a designer or AI builds it.

Template customisation vs custom design
Number of unique page templates
Mobile responsiveness & accessibility

Hosting & Domains

Ongoing hosting, email, SSL certificates and domain registration. Expect monthly or yearly fees here.

Shared vs managed hosting
Email hosting and DNS management
Domain transfer or registration costs

Maintenance & Add-ons

Updates, security patches, backups, new content and integrations (bookings, payments, CRMs).

Monthly maintenance retainers
Third-party plugin subscriptions
Local SEO & analytics

TYPICAL QUOTES

Real examples — what businesses pay in 2025

Sample quotes to help you estimate your own project.

Local Plumber (Single-location)

Template build & branding: $1,200
Hosting & domain (annual): $120
Local SEO setup: $350
Ongoing updates (monthly): $80–$200

Typical first-year cost: $1,750–$2,000

Use case: service pages, gallery, contact & booking link

Hair Salon (Multi-location)

Custom design + booking integration: $6,000
Managed hosting & email (annual): $600
Ongoing support & bookings: $300+/month

Typical first-year cost: $9,000+

Use case: booking system, calendars, product pages

Trades Business via Congero

AI-built, mobile-first site: Instant
All-inclusive flat fee: $49/month
Unlimited updates, hosting, SSL, analytics

First-year cost (Congero): ≈ $588

Best for busy trades wanting fast, low-cost, high-impact online presence

WATCH OUT

Hidden fees that inflate website cost

Quotes that look low upfront often hide recurring charges — always ask about these items.

Per-edit fees: Some agencies charge for each small change —  ask about unlimited updates.
Third-party subscriptions: Booking tools, payment gateways and advanced forms can add monthly fees.
SEO & content: Ongoing SEO work often billed separately from the site build.
Migration & export: Some providers charge to move your site away — look for no-lock-in terms.

SAVE SMART

Practical ways to lower your website cost

You don't need to overspend to get a professional, lead-generating website.

Use proven templates

Templates reduce design hours. Choose a well-designed template and customise brand colours and images.

Do the initial copy yourself

Provide clear service descriptions and prices — it saves content writing fees and speeds launch.

Choose a flat monthly plan

Flat-rate services like Congero ($49/month) bundle updates, hosting and SEO to prevent surprise bills.

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VALUE

How to judge if a website is worth the cost

A website should be judged by the leads and revenue it produces, not only the build price.

Key performance indicators

Monthly leads & contact form submissions
Average job value & conversion rate
Search rankings for local keywords
Time saved managing updates

Example ROI

If a $1,200 site generates 2 extra jobs/month with an average value of $750, that’s $1,500/month — payback in under one month.

Tip: Track leads by source (Google, Facebook, Direct) to see real ROI per channel.

Website cost negotiation checklist

Ask these questions before you sign any quote.

What is the total first-year cost and what is recurring?
Are updates included or billed per-edit?
Who owns the site content and can I export it?
What SEO work is included and is reporting provided?
Are there extra fees for integrations (booking, payments)?
Is there a no-lock-in policy or cancellation fees?

GET A CLEAR QUOTE NOW

CONGERO

Flat predictable pricing that removes surprises

Congero offers a single $49/month plan that includes domain, hosting, unlimited updates and built-in local SEO — ideal for trades and local services.

Instant AI site creation — live in ~60 seconds
Unlimited text-in updates (no per-edit fees)
Domain registration, managed hosting & SSL
Local SEO, schema and monthly analytics
No lock-in subscription — cancel anytime

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about website cost

Quick answers to common cost concerns.

Cheap sites are usually template-based, with minimal customisation, limited SEO, and often hidden recurring costs. They can work for simple brochure needs but don't always perform for lead generation.

One-off builds can be valuable, but subscriptions often include hosting, security, updates and analytics. For many small businesses, predictable subscriptions reduce long-term headaches and unexpected bills.

List the pages and features you need (booking, eCommerce, galleries), decide if you want custom design, and get quotes that separate one-off and recurring fees. Or try a quick Congero demo to see a working site instantly.

Always confirm export and ownership terms before signing. Congero provides export options and has a no-lock-in policy so you retain control of your content.

Ready to see the real cost for your business?

Try Congero's free 60-second demo and get a live, SEO-ready website plus a clear pricing outcome — no surprises.

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