How Much Does a Business Website Cost in the UK?

Most business owners asking this question have had several quotes that are wildly different, and no reliable way of judging which is fair. This guide explains what actually drives the cost of a business website in the UK, so you can compare quotes on substance rather than the number at the bottom.

What affects the cost of a website

• —Research and planning. Time spent understanding your business, customers and competitors before anything is designed.
• —Design approach. A template adapted with your logo costs less than a design created for your business.
• —Number and type of pages. Ten carefully written service pages take more work than a single long homepage.
• —Content. Who writes the words, sources the photography and checks it is accurate.
• —Functionality. Bookings, galleries, multi-step enquiry forms, integrations and e-commerce all add scope.
• —Search optimisation. Whether SEO (Search Engine Optimisation, the work that helps Google understand and show your pages) is built into the structure or added afterwards.

Template-based versus bespoke design

A template website reuses a pre-built layout. It can be quick and affordable, and for some very small businesses it is a reasonable starting point. The trade-offs are that it can look like many other sites, and the structure is shaped by the template rather than by how your customers search and decide.

A bespoke website is designed around your business. It takes longer and costs more, but the structure, content and enquiry journeys are planned for your situation.

Small business websites versus larger service websites

A small local business may need a handful of well-written pages and a clear way to get in touch. A business offering many services, serving several areas or taking bookings needs more architecture: separate service pages, location content where it is genuinely justified, and different enquiry routes. That planning, writing and testing is a large part of why prices differ.

Content, development and search optimisation

These are often priced together, which makes quotes hard to compare. Ask each provider what is included in each: who writes the content, whether keyword research is part of the project, and whether page titles, descriptions and structure are planned or left at default settings.

Verity's starting prices

Verity's three website packages start at £1,995 (Presence), £3,495 (Growth) and £5,995 (Signature). Full details of what each includes are on our Website Packages page. The content dashboard, which lets your team make everyday updates, is included with Growth and Signature only.

These are starting prices. Final costs depend on the agreed scope, which we confirm in writing before any work begins.

Hosting, support and ongoing costs

A website has running costs after launch: hosting, security certificates, backups, software updates and any ongoing support. Ask every provider what happens after year one, and what larger changes would cost.

Every package includes the first year of hosting. Hosting & Care is £250 per year from year two, as set out on our Website Packages page.

Questions to ask before commissioning a website

• —What research do you carry out before designing?
• —Is the design bespoke or based on a template?
• —Who writes the content, and who checks it is accurate?
• —What search optimisation is included, specifically?
• —Can we update the website ourselves afterwards?
• —What are the ongoing costs after year one?
• —Who owns the domain and the content?
• —How are larger changes quoted?

Our guide to choosing a website design company covers these questions in more detail, and how long it takes to build a business website explains what affects timescales.

Next step

If you would like to compare options against your own objectives, explore our Website Packages or discuss your website project.