"How much does a website cost?" is a bit like asking how much a car costs — the honest answer is: it depends entirely on what you're building. A five-page brochure site and a custom booking platform with a client dashboard are both technically "a website," but they're not remotely the same project.
The three things that actually drive the price
Most of the cost variation comes down to three factors: how much custom functionality you need, how much content needs to be created (copy, photography, product listings), and how polished the design needs to be. A template-based site with stock content is cheap because none of those three things require much custom work. A fully custom site with unique functionality is expensive because all three do.
- A simple brochure or portfolio site: lower cost, faster turnaround, works well if your needs are straightforward.
- A WordPress business site with a blog and some custom design: mid-range, and usually the sweet spot for small businesses.
- A custom-coded site with specific functionality (booking, calculators, integrations): higher investment, but justified when off-the-shelf tools genuinely can't do the job.
- An ecommerce store: priced by product count, payment/shipping complexity, and whether it's WooCommerce or fully custom.
Why the cheapest quote is often the most expensive one
A suspiciously low quote usually means one of a few things: a heavily recycled template with your logo swapped in, no real SEO structure, or a developer who disappears after launch when something breaks. The real cost of a cheap website shows up six months later — in lost search rankings, a redesign you end up paying for anyway, or hours spent trying to reach someone for support.
What actually determines good value
The right question isn't "what's the cheapest option" — it's "what does this business actually need to convert visitors into customers." A well-built site that loads fast, ranks in search, and is easy to update yourself pays for itself. A cheap site that needs to be rebuilt in a year doesn't.
If you're trying to figure out what your specific project should cost, the fastest way to get a real answer is a short conversation about what you're actually trying to accomplish — not a generic price list. Reach out and I'll give you an honest estimate, including whether a template, WordPress, or a fully custom build is the right fit for your budget and goals.