How much does a website cost?

Here we discuss the various factors you need to consider when answering the question: “How much does a website cost?”.

It is only sensible that you would like to know the level of investment you’ll be required to make when looking for us to either create a new WordPress website for your business or to enhance your existing one.

Factors Affecting Website Costs

For the sake of argument, let’s say you are looking to have a WordPress website created for your B2B company. Your website may well need some or all of the following:

• A highly polished design to reflect your existing branding.
• A website structure tuned to your visitor needs (as well as SEO).
• Various static pages (such as ‘about‘, ‘contact us‘)
• An online request form
• A blog/news section
• A newsletter signup facility

You may also require training and ongoing support.

At this point you may be thinking ‘ok, surely you’ve got enough to go on there for a price?!’ but:

• Who is creating the content? (the words, pictures, videos etc)
• Who is typing in that content?
• How many pages/sections will need to be designed?
• Do you need a bespoke WordPress theme? Or are you happy to use an off-the-shelf theme (and live with the restrictions)?
• Do you need legal advice for GDPR/privacy policy?
• Are you sure there is no other advanced functionality you need?
• Do you require hosting & support? If so, what type/level?
• ….you get the idea, the list goes on!

Note: If it helps, we have a separate article on the 8 key questions you need to ask yourself here when looking for a quote.

A website company who gives you a price without getting to the bottom of the above is basically putting their finger in the air and guessing; and do you want to work with a company that guesses? Or would you prefer to partner with a sensible, long-established company with a proven track record?

Other factors to consider?

• Is there a pressing deadline?
  E.g. if you need us to work on your project urgently (i.e. with us rearranging our workflow accordingly), then that may come at a premium.
• Are you a not-for-profit organisation?
  If your organisation is focussed around not-for-profit charity/goodwill work which resonates with our values, then we reserve the right to be flexible (in your favour) in terms of pricing; we can’t always do this as, after all, we are a business. Conversely, if you are a business in a highly profitable sector (e.g. investment banking) then we equally reserve our right to be flexible with pricing.

The Investment Graph

Now we’ve described examples of factors that can affect the price we’ll offer you, let’s take a look at what we can generally offer across a range of prices:

Hopefully, the graph above gives a steer in terms of our pricing. However, it is also important to consider the following….

Fixed or Retainer?

A key decision is whether your project will be via a fixed price or on some sort of retainer model. Both have their pros and cons.

With fixed, as the name suggests, we’ll offer you a fixed price. Issues with fixed price projects are:

• Woolly requirements
• Scope creep
• Re-work

Woolly requirements are where your stated website needs have a few grey areas. In such a circumstance we’ll always try to ask qualifying questions first, however, we’ll reserve the right to run a costed workshop with you, to help fully flesh out the possibilities. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to hold us to a fixed price when the end goal is not clear.

Scope Creep is where, during the project, new requirements come to light. As these were not known before, we’ll present you with the additional costings so that you can decide whether you wish to include the new feature. Note: scope creep will not be so much of a factor if we’ve run a requirements workshop with you initially.

Re-work – if you sign off elements of the project and then, later on, change your mind; then this will result in additional costs and potential impact to any agreed deadlines.

Note: some clients elect to proceed on the basis of purely time and labour; in which case, all of the above are less of an issue as, the more time you use, the more you are billed.

Investment

I hope that gives you some clarity in terms of how we go about pricing projects though we would end with this point: if you have a thriving business, full of potential, then a high-quality website can only add value to your business and your bottom line; helping to convert more & more website visitors into paying customers. How much is that worth to your business? Considered in that light, your website is an investment, not an expense.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss the possibility of working together.