Common Website Options (And What They Really Cost)

1. DIY Builders (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy)

• Cost: £10–£30/month
  
  
• Good for: hobby sites, testing ideas
  
  
• Pros: quick to launch, low cost
  
  
• Cons: generic templates, limited SEO performance, harder to scale
  
  

 2. Ultra-Cheap £99–£299 Website Deals 

• Cost: £99–£499 one-off
  
  
• Good for: extremely short-term or non-commercial projects
  
  
• Pros: cheap upfront
  
  
• Cons: reused templates, poor support, hidden fees, upsells for basics
  
  These almost always lead to a full rebuild later.
  
  

3. Freelance Designers (like me at White Stag Media)

• Cost: £500–£2,000
  
  
• Good for: small businesses, trades, consultants, local services
  
  
• Pros: personal service, flexible pricing, direct communication
  
  
• Cons: quality varies across freelancers
  
  

This is the sweet spot for most small Manchester businesses.

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4. Small Agencies

• Cost: £2,000–£10,000+
  
  
• Good for: larger sites, complex features, multi-person teams
  
  
• Pros: wider skillset
  
  

Cons: higher overhead → higher prices

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One-Page vs Multi-Page vs E-Commerce

One-Page Websites

• Cost: £300–£700
  
  
• Best for: new startups, simple service offerings
  
  
• Pros: simple, fast to build
  
  
• Cons: not ideal for long-term SEO
  
  

Multi-Page Brochure Websites

• Cost: £500–£1,500
  
  
• Best for: 90% of small businesses
  
  
• Pros: better SEO structure, room for services, more professional
  
  
• Cons: more planning needed (but worth it)
  
  

E-Commerce Sites

• Cost: £1,000–£5,000+
  
  
• Best for: retailers, product brands
  
  
• Pros: sell online, track sales
  
  
• Cons: more setup + ongoing management
  
  

What Should Be Included in the Price?

A fair, transparent web design quote should include:

• A planning session
  
  
• Clean, modern layout
  
  
• Mobile optimisation
  
  
• Basic SEO setup (titles, meta, headings)
  
  
• Contact form setup
  
  
• Responsive testing
  
  
• Launch support
  
  

Extras often include:

copywriting, branding, custom features, advanced SEO, integrations, or professional photography.

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Ongoing Costs: Hosting, Domains & Maintenance

Even after launch, there are small recurring fees:

• Domain: £10–£15 per year
  
  
• Hosting / platform fees: £10–£30 per month
  
  
• Maintenance: depends how hands-off you want to be
  
  

My Website Care Plans start from £29/month, covering hosting, backups, updates, security checks and minor content edits.

How to Choose the Right Budget

Ask yourself:

• How important is your website for generating leads?
  
  
• Do you need branding or copywriting as well?
  
  
• How long should this website last?
  
  
• Do you want the cheapest option or the best long-term value?
  
  

A website that brings in one good client often pays for itself several times over.

Website Pricing FAQ

How quickly can I get a new site?

1–3 weeks depending on size and content readiness.

Can I spread payments?

Yes — I split projects into 2 or 3 stages.

Do you offer redesigns?

Absolutely. Sometimes a refresh performs better than a full rebuild.

Do I need a blog?

Not always, but it helps with Google traffic over time — especially for local SEO.

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Final Thoughts

​​The real cost of a website isn’t just the money — it’s the result.

A cheap website that doesn’t get enquiries is expensive.

A fair-priced website that brings in work is a real investment.

If you want a clean, modern site built around your goals — not a template you’ve seen 100 times — that’s where I can help.

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Let’s chat — no pressure, no jargon.

https://www.whitestagmedia.co.uk/contact