How Much Does a Business Website Cost in the UK?
Looking to build a website for your business? Costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds. In this guide, we break down the typical costs of a business website and what you actually get for your money.
How much does a business website actually cost?
The answer can vary massively. A simple website might cost a few hundred pounds, while a professionally designed website for an established business can cost several thousand.
The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to spend thousands to get a professional online presence.
In this guide, we’ll break down the typical cost of a business website in the UK, what you’re actually paying for, the ongoing costs you need to consider, and how to work out what your business really needs.
Business Website Costs at a Glance
As a rough guide, you could expect to pay:
| Website option | Typical cost |
| Your Free Site | £18 per month |
| DIY website builder | £20-£350 per month |
| Freelance web designer | £1,000-£3,000+ |
| Small web design agency | £2,000-£5,000+ |
| Bespoke agency website | £5,000-£20,000+ |
| E-commerce website | £2,000-£10,000+ |
| Ongoing hosting | £5-£50 per month |
| Domain name | £10-£40 per year |
| Business email | £5-20 per month |
What Actually Makes a Website Expensive?
A website isn’t just a collection of pages. You’re paying for a combination of design, development, functionality, hosting, maintenance and expertise.
The more complicated the requirements, the more time and expertise are usually needed.
For example, a five-page website for a local electrician is very different from an online shop with hundreds of products and integrated payments.
Some of the biggest factors affecting the price include:
How Much Does a DIY Website Cost?
Building your own website is usually the cheapest option.
Platforms such as Wix, Squarespace and WordPress.com allow you to build a website without hiring a developer.
You might pay anywhere from £0 to £500+ per year, depending on the platform and features you need.
However, the financial cost isn’t the only thing to consider.
You’re also investing your own time.
A business owner might spend:
- 10 hours researching platforms
- 10 hours designing pages
- 5 hours writing content
- Several hours fixing mobile layouts
- Several hours learning SEO and analytics
Suddenly, a “cheap” website can become quite expensive in terms of your time.
How Much Does a Freelance Web Designer Cost?
Hiring a freelancer is often a good middle ground between DIY and an agency.
For a relatively straightforward small business website, you might see prices around £500–£3,000+.
A freelancer may handle:
- Design
- Development
- Mobile optimisation
- Basic SEO
- Content implementation
- Domain setup
- Hosting
The exact price depends heavily on the freelancer and the project.
One advantage is that you can often work directly with the person building your website.
The downside is that ongoing support and maintenance may not always be included.
How Much Does a Web Design Agency Cost?
Agencies generally cost more because you’re paying for a team rather than one individual.
A small business website could cost approximately £3,000–£10,000+, while larger or more bespoke projects can run considerably higher.
You may have access to:
- Designers
- Developers
- Copywriters
- SEO specialists
- Project managers
- Digital marketers
For an established business, this can make sense if the website is an important part of its sales and marketing strategy.
However, a new or small business may not want to commit several thousand pounds before it knows how much value the website will generate.
Don’t Forget the Ongoing Website Costs
The initial website price isn’t necessarily the total cost. There are several ongoing costs you should consider:
1. Website Hosting
Hosting is where your website’s files are stored and made available online.
Typical small business hosting might cost somewhere around £5–£50+ per month, depending on the provider and level of service.
Some website packages include hosting within a monthly subscription.
2. Domain Name
Your domain is your website address, such as: yourbusiness.co.uk
A domain generally needs to be renewed every year.
For many common UK domains, you might expect to pay roughly £9–£30+ per year, although prices vary considerably depending on the extension and registrar.
3. Business Email
A professional email address such as: yourbusiness.co.uk usually looks considerably more professional than using a personal Gmail or Outlook address.
Business email hosting can cost around £3–£10+ per month per mailbox, depending on the provider and features.
4. Website Maintenance
Websites need maintaining.
This can include:
- Software updates
- Security updates
- Backups
- Content changes
- Plugin updates
- Technical fixes
Some hosting packages include basic maintenance, while others charge separately.
How Much Should a Small Business Actually Spend?
You don’t necessarily need the best website money can buy. You need a website that does its job. For many small businesses, that means:
- Looking professional
- Working properly on mobile
- Clearly explaining what you offer
- Showing customers how to contact you
- Building trust
- Appearing on Google
- Making it easy for people to enquire or buy
A £5,000 website isn’t automatically better at doing those things than a £1,000 website.
And a £1,000 website isn’t automatically better than a £300 website.
Price and quality aren’t always directly linked.
What About “Free” Websites?
You’ll see plenty of companies advertising free websites.
It’s important to understand what “free” actually means.
Some genuinely offer free website builders, but you may still need to pay for:
- Hosting
- Your domain
- Premium templates
- Plugins
- Business email
- Support
Others offer a free build but charge a monthly hosting or maintenance fee.
That’s essentially the model we use at Your Free Site.
We build your professional website with no upfront website build cost. You then pay for the ongoing hosting and maintenance.
Your Free Site pricing:
£18/month
Includes:
- Website hosting
- Website maintenance
- SSL
- Security
- Technical support
Or:
£150/year
You can also add:
Domain: from £9/year
Business email: from £5/month
There’s no minimum contract, so you aren’t tied into a long-term agreement.
The Bottom Line
There isn’t one correct price for a business website.
A new local business might be perfectly well served by a simple five-page website, while an established e-commerce company could legitimately spend tens of thousands on its website.
The important thing is to pay for what your business actually needs, rather than assuming a more expensive website will automatically generate more customers.
If you’re a small business that simply needs a professional online presence without a large upfront investment, a monthly website package can be a sensible alternative.
FAQs
How much does a small business website cost in the UK?
A small business website can cost anywhere from a few hundred pounds to several thousand, depending on how it’s built and what’s included. Your Free Site offers professional website design with no upfront build cost, with plans starting from £18 per month.
Can I get a professional website without paying upfront?
Yes. Your Free Site builds your website with no upfront design or development fee. You pay £18 per month for hosting, maintenance and support, or £150 annually.
What’s included with a Your Free Site website?
Your £18/month plan includes your professionally designed website, hosting, SSL, maintenance, security updates and technical support. Domains and business email are available as optional add-ons.
Do I need to buy my own domain for Your Free Site?
No. If you already have a domain, we can connect it to your website. If you don’t have one, we can help you purchase one from £9 per year.