“How much does a website cost?” is one of the most common questions we receive from businesses. It’s also one of the hardest to answer without context, because “website” covers everything from a basic online business card to a platform serving thousands of users with complex business logic.
This guide gives real price ranges, explains what factors push costs up or down, and helps you request a quote without nasty surprises.
What determines the cost of a website?
Before talking numbers, it helps to understand the variables that drive cost:
- Number of pages and design complexity. A 5-page site with a standard design is very different from a 30-page multilingual site with animations and a content management system.
- Features and functionality. Contact forms, online bookings, private client areas, CRM integration, payment gateways, interactive calculators — each feature adds development hours.
- Integrations with external systems. Connecting your website to your ERP, invoicing software, CRM or a third-party API requires backend work that’s not always visible but always has a cost.
- Who builds it. A junior freelancer, a design agency, a specialist software company, or a platform like Squarespace have very different cost profiles.
- Whether you need content. Copy, photography, translations and initial SEO have their own cost, and many quotes don’t include them.
Price ranges by project type
Starter Plan — from €350
A landing page or corporate site with up to 5 pages, mobile-first responsive design, contact form and basic on-page SEO. Includes DevOps and deployment.
Who it suits: freelancers, small local businesses, companies that need a professional online presence without complex features.
Pro Plan — from €1,500
Custom web application with REST API, admin dashboard, database and up to 2 integrations with external systems. Includes 3 months of maintenance and biweekly sprint deliveries.
Who it suits: businesses that need more than an informational site — a real business tool with its own logic, user management or integrations.
Business Plan — from €4,500
Full platform, ERP, advanced online store or mobile app with cloud architecture, Docker and CI/CD. Unlimited modules and integrations, 6 months of maintenance included.
Who it suits: businesses with complex processes that need a robust, scalable solution: from B2B e-commerce to internal management systems.
Enterprise Plan — custom quote
Large-scale or mission-critical projects: dedicated teams, microservices, custom SLA, 24/7 support and integration with existing systems.
Who it suits: organisations with advanced technical requirements, high volume or specific compliance needs.
Template vs custom development: the real trade-off
The most common decision that affects cost is this: do you use a template (WordPress, Webflow, Squarespace) or build custom?
A template is cheaper upfront. But it has a hidden cost: when your business grows and needs something the template can’t do, you have two options — compromise or rebuild. Third-party plugins, compatibility updates and annual licences also add up over time.
Custom development requires more initial investment but has no technical limits: the website does exactly what you need, without depending on a plugin provider’s update schedule or paying per-transaction fees.
Practical rule: if your business has unique processes, needs integrations with other systems, or the website is a critical sales channel, custom development is more cost-effective in the medium term. If you need basic presence and your requirements are standard, a well-executed template solution is perfectly valid.
Recurring costs you need to factor in
The development price is just the upfront cost. A website also has ongoing expenses worth knowing in advance:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Hosting (server) | €10 – €200/month depending on traffic |
| Domain (.com, .co.uk, etc.) | €10 – €20/year |
| Technical maintenance (Pro Plan) | €499/month |
| Technical maintenance (Business Plan) | €1,199/month |
| Content updates | Varies by agreement |
The Pro and Business plans include maintenance for 3 and 6 months respectively from launch.
Questions to ask before signing a quote
A good provider answers these without hesitation:
- Does the price include hosting and domain for the first year? Many quotes don’t.
- Who owns the source code? You should be able to take it with you if you change provider.
- Can I update content myself? Or will you need to request every change?
- What happens if I need changes a month after launch? Is that extra cost or covered?
- What technical support is included and for how long?
Red flags in a web development quote
- Unitemised pricing. “Corporate website: €1,500” with no breakdown of what’s included.
- No discovery meeting before quoting. It’s impossible to quote accurately without understanding the business.
- No mention of domain or code ownership. A serious potential problem down the line.
- Very low price with no explanation. Usually hides a cheap template, no real customisation and no SEO.
How much should your business invest?
There’s no universal answer, but a useful benchmark: your website should cost between 0.5% and 2% of what you expect it to generate in the first year.
If you expect to close €100,000 worth of contracts through your website annually, the Pro or Business Plan makes sense. If you just need basic presence so existing clients can find you, the Starter Plan from €350 is enough.
What’s never a good investment: spending as little as possible on something that will be the first point of contact with your customers — and then having it not convert or undermine trust.
If you’re unsure what type of website your business needs or want a detailed no-obligation quote, tell us about your project and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours.