"How much does a website cost?" is one of the most searched questions in small business circles, and one of the most frustrating to get a straight answer to. The honest response is: it depends — but that's not helpful on its own. So here's an actual breakdown of what you get at different price points in 2026, and how to figure out what your business actually needs.
The full price range (and why it's so wide)
A website in the UK in 2026 can cost anywhere from £0 (a free Wix or Squarespace plan) to £50,000+ (a full agency build with custom functionality and ongoing retainer). That range isn't because some people are being ripped off — it's because "website" covers an enormous spectrum of what's being built.
Here's a rough guide to the tiers:
DIY platforms — Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com
Free tiers exist but come with platform branding and limited features. Paid plans run £10–30/month. You're building it yourself using templates. Fine for a very early-stage business testing an idea, but most businesses outgrow this quickly. The main cost is your time.
Budget freelancer or template-based build
A freelancer working quickly with a template, or a more polished DIY build. You'll get something functional but it's unlikely to be custom-designed to your brand. Good for simple, low-stakes sites where you mainly need a digital presence rather than a conversion tool.
Mid-range freelancer — custom design, proper build
This is where you start getting a genuinely custom site — designed around your brand, built with your client journey in mind, SEO-optimised from the ground up, integrated with your tools. A good freelancer at this range will treat it as a business asset, not just a design exercise. This is where most established small businesses should be investing.
Agency or senior freelancer — complex builds
E-commerce with custom functionality, membership platforms, complex integrations, large content sites. You're paying for project management overhead, multiple team members, and a longer build process. Worth it if the scope genuinely requires it — often overkill for a small service business.
Wix vs custom — which is right for you?
This is the question I get asked most often, and the answer is genuinely: it depends on your priorities.
Wix (or Squarespace) makes sense if:
- You want to update your own content regularly without relying on a developer
- Your site is primarily informational — services, contact, about
- Budget is a key constraint
- You don't need complex custom functionality
Custom HTML/CSS or Webflow makes sense if:
- Performance and load speed matter (custom sites are consistently faster)
- You want full design control with no platform constraints
- You need complex integrations or bespoke functionality
- You want to own the code completely, with no ongoing platform fees
"The right platform is the one that fits how you actually work — not the one that sounds most impressive."
What you're actually paying for
When you pay a professional for a website, you're not just paying for the design. You're paying for:
- Discovery — understanding your business, clients and goals before a pixel is moved
- Strategy — a site structure and client journey designed to convert, not just inform
- Copywriting — words that do the job, not filler text
- SEO foundations — page structure, meta data, headings, and speed optimisation built in from day one
- Integrations — connecting your booking system, CRM, email list, and payment tools
- Handover — documentation, training, and a site you can actually manage
A £500 website gives you a design. A £2,500 website gives you a business asset.
Hidden costs to watch out for
Whatever you spend on the build, budget for these ongoing costs:
- Domain name — ~£10–15/year
- Hosting — free on Netlify for static sites, £5–30/month for WordPress/managed hosting
- Platform fees — Wix from ~£12/month, Squarespace from ~£13/month
- Email — Google Workspace from £5.20/user/month for professional email
- Updates and maintenance — either your time, or a developer's
One thing most people miss: a cheap website that doesn't convert costs more than an expensive one that does. If your site gets 500 visitors a month and converts 0.5% of them instead of 2%, that's 7–8 lost enquiries every month. At even a modest project value, that adds up fast.
What I charge (and what you get)
To be transparent about my own pricing: I build websites from £1,500 for a clean, custom site on Wix or Squarespace, through to £4,000+ for fully custom HTML/CSS builds or complex Webflow projects. My Foundation Package at £2,650 combines a full website with core automations — the most popular starting point for small businesses who want a proper digital setup, not just a new front page.
If you're not sure what you need, the Digital Health Check (£197) is designed to answer exactly that question — a thorough audit of your current site and digital setup, with a clear action plan at the end.
Not sure what your business needs?
A Digital Health Check is the fastest way to find out. £197, 5 working days, no jargon — just a clear picture of where you stand and what to do next.
Book a Health Check