Why are the prices so different?
The short answer is that "a website" can mean very different things. A three-page site for a local tradesperson is a completely different project from an e-commerce store with hundreds of products, custom integrations and a full content management system. Even for similarly scoped sites, the method of building makes a significant difference to price.
At one end you have template-based tools like Wix, Squarespace and WordPress page builders. These are quicker to build because the designer or developer works within a pre-made framework. At the other end you have hand-coded, custom-built websites where every line of code is written specifically for your business. Custom work takes longer but produces a faster, cleaner and more reliable result.
Agencies also carry more overhead than independent freelancers. An agency build may involve account managers, project managers and multiple rounds of sign-off, all of which adds to the bill. A freelancer or small studio typically charges less for a comparable site because their costs are lower.
What affects the small business website cost most?
A few factors have the biggest impact on what you will pay for a business website in the UK:
- Number of pages. A three-page site (home, about, contact) is much less work than a ten-page site with individual service pages, a gallery and a blog.
- Features. A simple contact form costs very little to add. A booking system, live chat, product catalogue or members area can add significant development time and cost.
- Content. Some designers include help with copywriting and imagery. Others charge separately, or expect you to provide everything. Always check what is in the quote.
- SEO setup. Basic on-page SEO (title tags, meta descriptions, structured markup) should be included in any professional build. Ongoing SEO is usually priced separately.
- Custom design. A bespoke design built around your brand takes longer than applying a template with your logo and colours dropped in.
One-off cost versus ongoing costs
The build price is not the only figure to think about. Once your site is live, you will also have:
- Domain name: typically £10 to £20 per year, depending on the extension.
- Hosting: from around £5 per month on budget shared hosting, up to £20 or more for better performance and reliability.
- Maintenance: WordPress sites need regular updates to plugins, themes and the core software, otherwise they become a security risk. A hand-coded site has none of these dependencies, which keeps ongoing costs low.
- Care plan or support: if you want someone to handle updates and changes for you, most developers offer a monthly retainer for this.
It is worth factoring these ongoing costs in when comparing quotes. A cheaper build on a platform that charges £40 per month to host may cost more over two years than a slightly pricier upfront build with low running costs.
What does a very cheap website actually get you?
A low-cost website often means a template with minimal customisation, slow loading times (because DIY builders load a lot of code that your site does not need), and limited support once the site is live. For some businesses, that is a perfectly reasonable starting point. For others, a slow or generic-looking site can put potential customers off rather than draw them in.
Google also factors page speed into its rankings, so a sluggish site can cost you visibility in search results as well as conversions once visitors arrive. Speed is not just a nice-to-have, it affects whether you get found in the first place.
What should you realistically budget?
As a rough guide (these are general ranges based on typical market pricing, not fixed rules):
At Goodside Web, I build hand-coded sites for small businesses across Surrey and Hampshire starting from £199 for a three-page starter site, up to £599 for a ten-page build with full SEO. There are no hidden costs, and you pay 50% upfront and 50% once you are happy with the result. It is a straightforward way to get a fast, professional site without an agency price tag.
The question worth asking yourself
Rather than "what is the cheapest option?", the better question is "what will give me the best return?" A well-built website that loads quickly, looks professional and shows up in Google search results is a genuine asset to a small business. A cheap one that puts people off, or that never gets found, is just a cost.
Think about how many new customers your website would need to bring in to pay for itself. For most local businesses in Surrey and Hampshire, the answer is not many. Even a modest increase in enquiries can justify the investment many times over.
If you are still weighing up whether a website is worth it for your business at all, I have written separately about that question. If you have already decided yes, the conversation is simply about what to pay and who to trust with the build.
If you are unsure what your business actually needs, or you would just like an honest second opinion on a quote you have received, feel free to get in touch. I am always happy to give advice even if it leads you somewhere other than Goodside Web.