How much does a professional website cost?
This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to web design.
And the most common answer is likely: “It’s hard to say.” But why not? It’s just a website after all…
As with many things in life, it would be nice to have a simple answer here, but unfortunately, we must disappoint you. In this article, we would like to clarify what costs may arise when creating a website and what general price range they could fall into.
Let’s start with a more tangible question:
“How much does a car cost?”
When buying a car, many factors come into play that determine the price. The general price range is already decided when you choose between a used car, a new car, or even a custom-built one.
It’s similar to whether you just want to redesign your homepage, create a new one based on your corporate design, or have a fully customized website with a bespoke corporate design. The more features you want your new website to have, or the more work it requires, the higher the price will be.
When buying a new car, the customization options are nearly unlimited – upselling is always possible. From the brand, interior features, engine type, to navigation with voice control. If you want more (and can pay for it), you opt for a custom-built model.
Websites work similarly, but it’s still more complicated. While a car will always have a foundation with four tires, no matter what the customer wants, every website is built individually because no company and its requirements are the same. This is also true in the competitive landscape, as everyone is trying to highlight their unique selling proposition (USP).
But of course, there are exceptions, which we will discuss later in the article.
Generally, the costs of a website can be split into two categories:
One-time costs and recurring costs.
Just like a car: I pay for the purchase (one-time) and costs like fuel, tire changes, or taxes (recurring).
One-Time Costs: Website Creation
Depending on the scope, a new, professional website can range from the low four-figure range to the five-figure range (average cost: about €2,000 – €20,000).
Factors influencing the price include:
1. Concept
The concept is the blueprint for your website and is indispensable. If neither the client nor the service provider knows in advance how many square meters and floors the house will have, neither party can understand what they’re getting into, nor can the necessary resources be calculated or a price determined. For example, in our agency, we first assess the scope and effort of the website creation in a free initial consultation, so that we can offer a fair price for both sides. The actual concept is then created after the contract confirmation and can take several days, depending on the scope.
2. Page Scope
Will your new website be a “one-pager” or will it have multiple pages with a category and menu structure? Will there be subpages as well?
The more pages there are, the more needs to be conceptualized, designed, and programmed.
3. Functionality or Technical Requirements
Should the website only provide information, have a contact form, a blog system for publishing content, or even an e-commerce system with integrated inventory management?
The more features you add to your website, the higher the costs will be.
Some web designers may even charge extra for responsive web design, i.e., a mobile-friendly website.
Speaking of functionality: The art behind it is that, no matter how technically complex a website is or how many functionalities it contains, all of that should not be visible to the user. The most complex pages can be very simple for the viewer – user-friendliness is key.
And that’s what makes the often high price of websites so hard to grasp for many people.
Recurring Costs: Website Maintenance and Upkeep
1. Domain
Domain costs are unavoidable and are typically billed monthly or annually. On average, the annual cost is around €10 – €20 net.
2. Hosting
Hosting is also unavoidable and refers to the rental of the server where your website is hosted and where all data is stored. These costs are usually billed monthly or annually. Depending on the requirements, the cost ranges from €50 – €300 net. For high-traffic websites, higher costs may occur as stronger hosting is required.
3. Maintenance & Updates
These optional costs arise if the web designer or agency is hired to maintain the website. This can include updates, backups, or content adjustments. The scope and needs will determine the cost, which can range from €50 to €400 net per month.
4. Plugins, Licenses, or Post-Creation Modifications
Optional. External integrations of functionalities (such as plugins: e.g., a contact form, cookie banner, or online calculator) may involve one-time or recurring costs. There may also be post-creation changes to the website (e.g., a new subpage for a new service in the company). These costs can vary from project to project and are difficult to estimate.
5. Advertising & Marketing
If you decide to generate more traffic to your website through advertising (e.g., via Google Ads or Facebook & Instagram ads), these costs are also considered optional. Whether and how much you spend on advertising is entirely up to you.
Other types of recurring website costs may arise, depending on the specific case. We recommend seeking personal consultation with an expert to better understand what may apply to your situation.
Why Are There Such Huge Price Differences for Professional Websites?
For the same website project, you may find a wide range of prices. Why is that? Mainly because of one factor: Individuality.
There are relatively inexpensive website templates available for purchase, or agencies may create these templates in advance. When creating a new website for a client, one of these templates will be used. This results in less work because, broadly speaking, “only” the text and images need to be replaced, and the website is ready. Of course, this method is by no means wrong, but as a client, you have to accept certain compromises because some things simply cannot be implemented due to the template.
Buying a pre-built house where you only need to organize the interior design is similar – it’s difficult to add a new window or tear down a wall afterward. Either the structure doesn’t allow for it, or it will be very expensive.
Hence: Websites created with templates are little to no customization and are often cheaper compared to fully customized websites, as the overall creation process is easier and faster.
On the other hand, a completely custom website, designed from scratch, can be created to perfectly match the client’s needs, requirements, and goals. It’s not a “mass-produced” house, but a unique creation made just for you by an architect. Every window, every wall is exactly where you want it, and before construction, you can discuss every detail and implement all of your wishes.
The result: A website that is one-of-a-kind and presents your company uniquely. With clever planning, it can even simplify work within the company itself.
In the end, the difference between a DIY homepage, a template-based solution, and a professional website is comparable to the difference between toast, pre-baked rolls, and artisan bakery rolls. They are fundamentally different products.
You should ask yourself the following question: What am I offering my guests for breakfast?