Hiring a web designer · Updated November 2026
What does a professional website cost, and what changes the price?
Two quotes for “a website” can be far apart because they describe very different projects. This guide explains what actually moves the price, so you can compare quotes fairly and plan with no surprises.
The Six Things That Move the Price
Almost every difference between quotes comes down to these.
1. How many pages
A focused site with five pages and a site with a page for every service and every town you cover are different projects. More pages means more planning, writing and design, and usually more ways to be found on Google.
2. Custom design or a template
A template is faster to set up but looks like other sites and can be harder to change later. A custom design is built around your business and your customers, which takes more time up front.
3. Features
Online booking, quote forms, an online store, a member area or a calculator each add work and testing. Many local businesses only need a strong contact form and click-to-call.
4. Words and photos
Using the content you have is quickest. Having the pages written for you, or arranging real photos of your team and your work, adds time but almost always brings in more calls.
5. Moving an existing site
A redesign has to keep the pages and Google rankings you already earned, with a redirect for every old address. Done carelessly, a new site can lose traffic for months.
6. Connections
Linking the site to scheduling, a CRM, payments or email marketing takes setup and testing so every lead lands where it should.
The Costs That Come After Launch
A website is not a one-time purchase. Plan for these from the start.
Hosting and security
Fast hosting, backups, a firewall and an SSL certificate keep the site online and safe. Cheap hosting often costs more in downtime and slow pages. See managed vs cheap hosting.
Updates and changes
Software needs updating and your business changes. Someone has to make those changes and check that nothing breaks.
Getting found
SEO, your Google Business Profile and, if it makes sense, Google Ads. These are what turn a nice website into a steady source of calls.
We roll hosting, security, updates and changes into one monthly plan so nothing is forgotten. See what website management includes.
How to Compare Quotes Fairly
Ask what is included
Number of pages, who writes the content, whether SEO basics and tracking are set up, and whether hosting and changes are part of it after launch.
Ask who owns it
You should own your domain, your website and your content from day one. See who owns your website: 6 things to check.
Ask what happens after launch
Who do you call when something breaks or needs changing, and how fast do they respond?
Be wary of a price that seems too good
The cheapest quote often leaves out content, SEO, security or support, and those costs show up later. See switching to a cheaper web company? Read this first.
Thinking about Wix or Squarespace instead? Here is an honest comparison of a custom website with Wix and Squarespace.
How We Price a Project
We do not publish one price for every website, because the six things above are different for every business. Instead, you tell us what you need, we ask a few questions, and you get one clear price in writing before anything starts. No surprise fees and no long-term contract. The quickest way to start is our project planner.
Questions We Hear
Why do two website quotes differ so much?
They usually describe different projects. Compare the number of pages, who writes the content, whether the design is custom, what features are included, and what happens after launch.
Is a cheaper website a bad idea?
Not always, but it often leaves out content, SEO, security or support. Those gaps tend to cost more later in lost calls, downtime or a rebuild.
Are there ongoing costs after the site launches?
Yes. Plan for hosting, security, updates and changes, plus SEO or ads if you want more customers. We combine the care into one monthly plan.
How do I get an accurate quote?
Tell us what the site needs to do, how many services and towns you cover, and what content you already have. Our project planner walks you through it, and we send one clear price in writing.
Already Have a Website?
A redesign is not always the answer. Send us your current site and we will review it by hand and tell you plainly what is worth keeping and what is holding it back.
