Website costs
How much does a small business website cost in the UK?
Two website quotes can look miles apart because they cover different work. Before comparing the price, compare what you will actually receive.
Start with the job, then the price
A five-page service website, an online shop and a membership platform are different projects. The page count alone will not tell you how much work is involved. Copywriting, photography, product data, bookings, payments, migration and revisions can all change the scope.
For a useful quote, describe your main customer, the services you sell and the action you want visitors to take. Then list the content you already have. A clear brief makes it easier to compare like with like.
What makes a website quote higher or lower?
Design is one part of the project. Someone also needs to organise the information, prepare the pages, make them work on phones and test the customer journey. A simple template with ready-to-use copy will involve different work from an original design with new writing and several integrations.
- Content: are you supplying finished words and images, or commissioning them?
- Functionality: is a booking link enough, or does the site need a custom booking process?
- Design: is the layout adapted from an existing system or developed specifically for you?
- Handover: will you receive access, documentation and guidance?
- Support: what happens when something needs changing after launch?
Separate the build from running costs
A one-off build fee does not automatically cover every ongoing expense. Ask about domain renewal, hosting, business email, paid plugins, booking software and any maintenance arrangement. Payment tools may also charge transaction fees. Record who pays each supplier and when the subscription renews.
Use this comparison: first-year cost = build fee + twelve months of required recurring charges + other required setup costs. Keep optional marketing services separate so you can see what is essential for the website to operate.
For illustration only, a £700 build plus £20 a month of required services totals £940 for the first year, before any other agreed charges. A £100 monthly package with no build fee totals £1,200 over twelve months. These are example calculations, not market averages or Phillips Digital quotes. The better option still depends on the work included.
Check ownership and the exit route
Ask whose account holds the domain, who can access the website and whether you can move it later. Some platforms or arrangements make moving more work than others. Get the process in writing, including any transfer costs, minimum term and what stops when a subscription ends.
Our website handover checklist covers the practical questions to ask before launch.
How Phillips Digital structures the choice
Phillips Digital offers a standalone website build from £495, with the final scope agreed before work starts. Ongoing content and management are separate options. You can check the current packages and inclusions and ask for a written breakdown of domain, hosting and third-party costs.
If you prefer a monthly package, compare the total minimum commitment and the ongoing work included. Our article on free website builds and monthly costs explains the questions worth asking.
Five questions to send with your brief
- What exactly is included in this quote?
- Who supplies the copy, images and other content?
- Which costs recur, and which are optional?
- What will I own and have access to at handover?
- What does support cover after launch?
The most useful price is one you can explain. You should know what is being built, what happens afterwards and what the total commitment looks like.