What does it cost to have a website built?
Having a website built rarely has a fixed price: the cost depends on the size, how much of the design is bespoke, the functionality you need, the CMS, SEO, and the ongoing costs of hosting and maintenance. A simple brochure site is a fraction of the price of an extensive site with custom features and integrations. Below you'll find which factors determine the price, the difference between one-off and recurring costs, and what to look out for to avoid surprises.
Which factors determine the price?
A website's price is driven by a handful of factors. The more of these that need to be bespoke, the higher the investment:
- Size — the number of pages and the amount of content. A one-pager is cheaper than a site with dozens of pages, a blog and a knowledge base.
- Design — an off-the-shelf template is more affordable than a unique design fully tailored to your brand.
- Functionality — a contact form is standard; a webshop, member portal, booking system or integrations with other software add complexity.
- CMS — a standard WordPress site differs in price from a custom solution.
- SEO & findability — the techniques, structure and content needed to be found require extra attention.
- Security — a secure setup, updates and protection take time but prevent costly incidents.
Template or custom?
The biggest difference in price usually comes from the choice between a template and a custom build. With a well-chosen template you go live quickly and affordably — ideal for startups and smaller companies. A custom build costs more but gives you a design and functionality that fit your brand and processes exactly, and that scale more easily. At Secrotec we start with your goal: do you mainly want to be online professionally and fast, or should the site play an active role in your sales and operations? That question largely determines the budget.
WordPress versus a custom CMS
WordPress is popular because it is flexible, easy to maintain and relatively affordable — you can edit content yourself and there is a vast range of extensions. For most business websites this is an excellent, cost-efficient choice. A fully custom CMS or web application makes sense if you have unusual processes, complex integrations or strict requirements a standard system can't handle. That gives maximum control, but at a higher price and longer lead time. The right choice depends on what the site needs to do — now and a few years from now.
One-off versus recurring costs
With a website you face two kinds of cost. The one-off investment is the design and build. On top of that come recurring costs: hosting, a domain name, SSL, and above all maintenance — software updates, security patches, backups and small changes. A website is not a one-off product but a living system: without maintenance it ages, gets slower and becomes more vulnerable to hacks. Always factor recurring costs into your budget. Read more about website maintenance and what it involves.
Indicative price brackets
Exact figures can't be given without knowing your wishes, but broadly there are three brackets. A simple website (template, limited pages, standard functionality) sits at the lower end of the market. A professional custom site with a unique design, more pages and SEO sits in the mid-range. An extensive site or web application with integrations, a webshop or a member portal requires the largest investment. Always request a quote based on your concrete requirements so you compare like with like.
What should you watch out for?
A low price isn't always cheap. Check what is and isn't in the quote: are hosting, maintenance, training and any licences included? Will the site be delivered responsive, secure and findable? Do you own the code and content, and can you switch to another provider? Ask for examples, the lead time and who maintains the site after launch. An honest web builder explains the choices and costs transparently so you can make a well-considered decision. Want to spar? See how we build websites or request a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers to the most common questions.
A simple website based on a template, with a limited number of pages and standard functionality, sits at the lower end of the market. The exact price depends on how much content you supply yourself, whether the design must be unique and which features you need. A reliable price requires a short intake in which we go through your wishes. Request a free quote for a well-founded, tailored indication.
Because 'a website' can mean anything, from a one-pager with a template to an extensive platform with custom features and integrations. The difference lies in size, design (template versus custom), functionality, CMS, SEO and security. Comparing two quotes only works if they deliver the same thing. Always look at the contents of a quote, not just the final figure.
Yes. Besides the one-off build cost, you pay ongoing for hosting, a domain name and ideally maintenance: software updates, security patches, backups and small changes. These costs are modest but essential — without maintenance your site ages and becomes more vulnerable. Always factor recurring costs into your budget.
Usually yes. WordPress is flexible, easy to maintain and relatively affordable, and suitable for most business websites. Custom is more expensive and mainly worthwhile for unusual processes, complex integrations or strict requirements a standard system can't handle. The right choice depends on what your site must do now and in the future.
Yes, provided the site is set up well for it. A solidly built website can grow with you: extra pages, new features or a webshop can be added later. Discuss your growth plans up front so the foundation takes them into account. That prevents having to start over later and saves costs in the long run.
A rough picture of your goal, the number of pages, the desired design, the functionality you need and whether you supply content yourself. With that information we produce a clear quote covering both one-off and recurring costs, so you know exactly where you stand. The more concrete your wishes, the sharper the price.
Curious what your website would cost?
Tell us briefly what you need and you'll get a clear, well-founded price indication — with no surprises afterwards.
