How much does a website cost? It depends, and here's on what.
"How much is a website?" is like asking how much a house costs. The honest answer depends on a few variables, and if you're clear on them before asking for quotes, you'll compare better and spend where it matters.
What drives the price
- Scope. How many pages, how many different page types (ten identical pages aren't the same as ten different ones) and whether there's a blog, a store or special forms.
- Content. Do you already have copy and photos, or do they need to be written and produced? Content is usually what delays a project the most.
- Design. An adapted template, a custom design, or custom design with unique animations and interactions.
- Platform. Framer, WordPress, Shopify, Tiendanube or code: each has different build and maintenance costs.
- Brand. If you don't have an identity yet, it's worth solving it first (or in parallel) so the site isn't built on something temporary.
The costs people forget
- Domain and hosting or the platform's monthly plan.
- Paid apps and plugins (very common in e-commerce).
- Product photos or stock images.
- Maintenance: updates, small changes, new sections.
- Advertising: a beautiful site without traffic doesn't sell; set something aside to promote it.
A simple way to calculate it
- Define the goal: sell, get enquiries, show your work?
- List the must-have pages and features. Everything else goes to a second phase.
- Add the fixed yearly costs (plan, domain, apps).
- Keep 10–15% for surprises and tweaks after launch.
- Think about return: if the site brings you one new client a month, how long until it pays for itself?
How to ask for a useful quote
Share what your business does, who you sell to, two or three sites you like (and why), what content you already have and an investment range. With that, any serious studio can propose real options instead of a random number.
You'll find reference ranges in the studio's capabilities. For a tailored proposal, write to me.
