How Much Does a Website Cost in the UK? A Guide for Small Businesses

Adin Harris
Jul 8
5 min read

For UK small business owners the question “How much does a website cost?” is common. There is no single answer: a simple 5-page site might cost a few hundred pounds, while a custom-built site could be many thousands. For context, one UK source finds a basic five-page small-business website averages around £720 (with a typical range of roughly £400–£1,000). The actual price depends on many factors – including the choice of platform, number of pages, design complexity, and any extra services (e.g. SEO, content writing, e-commerce).

In this guide, we break down those factors and compare options. You’ll learn what drives the cost of a website in the UK (like platform and design), see typical price ranges for DIY builders vs freelancers vs agencies, and understand ongoing costs such as domain registration and hosting fees.

Factors Affecting Website Cost

A website’s features and complexity are major cost drivers. A fully custom-built site (using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc., as shown above) requires more development time than a templated or drag-and-drop site, so it costs more. Key factors include:

Platform and build method: Using a DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, etc.) usually means paying a monthly subscription, whereas a WordPress or fully bespoke site involves a one-off design fee plus separate hosting. Builders’ plans might range from about £2 to £250 per month (depending on features), while a custom solution has a higher upfront cost.
Size and functionality: More pages and advanced features (online shop, booking system, membership login, etc.) take longer to build. As one UK guide notes, “the more pages and functionality your website requires, the longer it will take to build and the more it will cost”.
Design and content: Custom graphic design, animations, or premium templates cost more. Professional copywriting, stock photos or videos are often extra. High-end branding and layouts push up the budget compared to off-the-shelf themes.
SEO and extras: Basic SEO (meta tags, site speed) might be included, but full optimisation (keyword research, link building, etc.) is an additional service. Other add-ons like analytics tools, social media integration or email services also add fees.
Ongoing maintenance: After launch, keeping the site updated and secure has costs. Agencies often offer maintenance plans (routine updates, backups, etc.) for £300+ per month, while freelancers might charge £40–£100 per month for similar services.

Pro Tip: When budgeting, consider both upfront and ongoing costs. A very cheap initial build (like a bare-bones DIY site) might end up costing more later in plugins or fixes, while a slightly higher-quality build can save money on future maintenance.

DIY Website Builders (Wix, Squarespace, etc.)

DIY website builder platforms let you create a site yourself using templates and drag-and-drop tools. They offer low entry costs: many have free plans (with ads and a subdomain) and paid plans starting around £2–£10 per month. More advanced plans (for online stores or advanced features) may cost £20–£250 per month. For example, a basic Wix plan costs about £9–£12 per month on an annual subscription.

However, free or low-cost plans have limitations. They often “show ads” on your site and don’t allow a custom domain, which looks unprofessional. If you want your own domain name (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk) and ad-free pages, you must upgrade to a paid plan. Even with a paid plan, customization is limited by the platform’s templates.

Another DIY route is self-hosted WordPress. WordPress itself is free, but you must pay for web hosting and any premium themes/plugins. Entry-level hosting might be £3–£10 per month, so plan on at least £36+ per year for hosting and domain (plus any paid plugins).

Pro Tip: Try out a free plan or trial to test the builder’s interface. Once your site is ready, budgeting for the paid plan (to use a custom domain and remove ads) will make your business look more professional.

Freelancers vs Digital Agencies

If you prefer experts to build your site, you can hire a freelance web designer or a web design agency. In the UK, freelancers typically charge about £40–£70 per hour (around £180–£550 per day). A straightforward small-business site might end up around £4,000–£6,000 total with a freelancer.

Agencies have higher rates due to their teams and overhead. Typical UK agency rates (from Chameleon Studios) are roughly £25–£50/hr for freelancers, £50–£75/hr for small agencies, and £75–£150+/hr for large agencies. In practice, a basic agency-built site will often start around £5,000 and can go much higher if you need custom features. For example, one estimate showed a 12-week agency project costing £4,200 to £63,000 depending on the team’s rate.

Freelancer: One-person or small team. Pros include lower cost and personal service. Typical small site: £4k–£6k. After-launch support may be limited unless arranged.
Small agency: A handful of experts. Rates ~£50–£75/hr, so expect £5k–£10k+ for a custom site. You get project management and a range of skills.
Large agency: Full-service with many specialists. Rates ~£75–£150+/hr. Even simple sites can be £10k–£20k+. You get extensive support and quality assurance.

Pro Tip: Always get itemized quotes. Check what each price covers (design only, or also content/SEO/support). A cheap quote may exclude important work, leading to extra charges later.

Ongoing Costs: Domains, Hosting, Maintenance

Launching your site isn’t the end of the expenses. You’ll have ongoing fees to keep it online:

Domain name: Around £10–£15 per year on average. (.co.uk domains can be as cheap as £5–£10/year, while .com domains renew around £10–£13/year.)
Web hosting: Typically £5–£15 per month for a basic shared hosting plan (£60–£180/year). Managed or business hosting costs more, but offers better performance and security. Some website builders include hosting in their subscription.
Maintenance/Updates: To keep your site secure and up-to-date, you might pay for a support plan. Freelancers often charge £40–£100 per month for basic maintenance, while agencies might charge £300+ per month. If you handle updates yourself, the cost is your time.
Other fees: SSL security certificate (often free with hosting or ~£50/year), premium plugins or templates (often £10–£50 each), email hosting, analytics tools, etc.

In short, budget for at least a few hundred pounds per year in running costs, even for a modest site.

Summary and Next Steps

In summary, small-business website costs in the UK vary widely:

DIY builders: Often the cheapest upfront (a basic site can be under £100–£200 per year once hosting/domain are included). The trade-off is you do the work yourself and face platform limits.
Freelancer: A custom small site typically £4k–£6k total (a one-off payment). You get professional quality at a mid-range budget.
Agency: A polished, high-end site usually £5k–£10k+ (and often more for complex projects). You pay for expertise, project management and support.
Ongoing: Expect about £100–£200 per year for a domain and basic hosting, plus any maintenance plan fees.

Every business has different needs. A basic template site might be about £400–£1,000, while a fully bespoke agency site is £5,000+. Align your choice with your budget, timeline and the complexity you require.

For more detail on professional options, see our Web Design page. You can also visit our Resources page for guides on website planning and digital marketing.

If you’re ready to move forward, book a free consultation with our team or explore our web design services above. We offer tailored solutions to help UK small businesses succeed online, and we can advise on the best approach for your budget.