What Really Drives the Cost of a Small Business Website in the UK
Updated: Jun 2
How much does a website cost? It is the first question most owners ask and the hardest to answer in one line. Two sites that look similar on the homepage can involve very different amounts of work behind the scenes. These are the factors that genuinely move the price, so you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.
Number and type of pages
A five-page brochure site and a 40-page site with service pages, location pages and a blog are different projects. Every extra page needs planning, writing, design and checking. Ask any agency to list exactly which pages are included in the quote.
Copy and images
Who writes the words and who supplies the photos? Original photography and properly written service pages take time, but they are what make a business look credible. Sites built only from stock images and generic copy tend to look like everyone else's.
Functionality
Features that add cost include:
Online booking or payments
Quote and enquiry forms with email notifications
Member areas or customer portals
More than one language
Connections to a CRM or email platform
Search and tracking set-up
Page titles, meta descriptions, redirects from an old site, analytics and Search Console are easy to leave out and expensive to add later. Check they are part of the build.
Support after launch
Hosting, security, updates and small edits all need an owner. Ask who looks after the site once it is live and how quickly changes are made.
How to compare quotes
Ask each supplier to quote against the same page list
Agree who writes the content and who supplies the images
Confirm exactly which features are included
Compare what support is offered after launch
If you would like a second pair of eyes on this, get in touch with Merx Marketing via the Contact page for a free consultation.
