One of the first questions business owners ask is: "How much does a website cost?" The honest answer is that it depends — but that's not a cop-out. Let's break down what different budgets actually get you in the UK in 2026.
Free / DIY Builders (Wix, Squarespace, etc.)
These platforms are free to start but charge £12–£30/month once you remove their branding and connect a custom domain. They're fine for absolute beginners with no budget, but come with limited SEO control, shared infrastructure, and designs that look identical to thousands of other businesses.
£250 – £500: Starter Landing Page
A single-page professional site built on a proper framework. Ideal for freelancers, new businesses, or event promotions. Should include mobile-responsive design, a contact form, and basic on-page SEO. At this price point, look for someone building custom — not someone installing a £20 theme and charging you for it.
£650 – £1,500: Business Website
The most common range for a proper small business website: 4–6 pages, mobile-first design, Google Analytics, SEO foundations, and custom branding. The variation comes down to page count, design complexity, and added features like booking systems or live chat.
£950+: Custom Web Applications
Anything with user accounts, payment processing, API integrations, or database-driven content falls here. The price scales with features and logic complexity — from £950 for a modest custom build up to several thousand for enterprise-grade systems.
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Websites
A £99 website from a freelance marketplace sounds attractive until it breaks six months later, ranks nowhere on Google, and needs a complete rebuild. The upfront saving usually costs more in lost business and rework than a proper build would have from the start.
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