How much does it cost to build a website?

I didn’t plan to do a full article on this topic. It started as a simple social media post. I could have made it very easy on myself, and given you the old “how long’s a piece of string” because there are many variables to website building.

But with so many people asking the same question, I wanted to write a thorough and helpful response. By narrowing this down to the small business arena, and working with typical situations and average fees, I have come up with the likely costs for each option.

So, here goes...

Option 1 – do it yourself

You could build your website yourself using a website template company. This option can be low cost if you have the skills and time to plan, write, and design the content for your website. There’s also the added complication of connecting a custom domain name (e.g. yourfabname.com.au) to your website and sorting out your web hosting. You can calculate the true cost of this option by estimating how long this will take you, then doubling that number (no joke, it nearly always takes way longer than you thought) and times it by your hourly rate. All of a sudden, your *free* website has become very expensive!  

Option 2 – merchant template

An option promoted heavily during the pandemic was to use a template from a merchant services provider (like Square) to set-up an online store. The grunt work for this option is done by you, as you need to plan, write, and source imagery to drop into the template website. This option has no or low upfront fees, but you pay a commission for every transaction on your site. If you want to add functionality to your site, like a custom domain name, there’s an ongoing monthly fee (paid yearly) of between $180 and $1020 per year depending on the level of functionality you add. These sites appear to be price-friendly (especially in the set-up phase), but they can end up being very expensive once your product or service takes off and when you want added functionality – not to mention the time spent by you to create your website.

Option 3 – partner with an expert

Work with a marketing expert or web developer to build your website using a content management system (like Squarespace, WordPress, or Shopify) with page templates that are simple to make updates to and can link to your custom domain name. The expert will talk through your needs, recommend a website content management system, and create a website plan for your business. This option usually includes the planning, design, and building of your website, connecting it to your custom domain, and setting up your web hosting. Many providers also offer to write the content, source images, and set-up analytics for your site. For this option, most small businesses spend between $2000 and $6000 in set-up costs and between $100 and $400 per year for the content management system, web hosting, and registration of their branded domain name. The simpler your business needs are, the less this option is likely to cost. 

Option 4 – build a custom website

Work with a web developer to build a fully customised website (not from a page builder template). This option will allow more flexibility in terms of design and functionality but will come at a much higher cost. These websites are usually built with a content management system (like Sitecore, Drupal, or Joomla), allowing you to update the site ongoing. The price of custom websites varies greatly. I’ve seen simple ones done for as low as $10k, but often they are much higher than this.

So which one is right for you? 

There’s no one size fits all option. It’s a matter of looking at your business needs and deciding which option is best for you. What I can say is if you’re a small business owner, without previous experience in building websites, who wants a professional and functional website without costing the earth, I would go with option 3 every time.

Next steps

Want to know more about option 3? Book in a discovery call with me to talk through your business and whether this option is a good fit. 

I want to work with clients that will love their website and the process to create it. So, if I don’t think option 3 is for you or if I’m not the right expert to bring your web dreams to life, I’ll tell you.

Disclaimer: it’s always tricky to provide costs in articles (probably why many avoid this!) The figures I’ve used are current as of 16 November 2020 and should be used as a guide only. Prices change over time and the costs listed do not take into account all the particulars of your situation.

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