How much does a website cost?

Why quotes differ so widely

Two quotes for “a website” can differ many times over, and both can be fair. One is an adapted template with your text. The other includes research, copy, custom design, SEO structure and migrating the old site. So compare the scope, not the price.

The seven big cost drivers

1. Number of page types

Page count does not drive the price so much as the number of different templates. Twenty service pages with the same layout are less work than five completely different ones.

2. Copy

The most underestimated item. Supply it yourself and you save money, but projects often get stuck exactly there. Good copy also decides SEO and enquiries.

3. Design

A template is cheap, but you look like others. Custom design costs more and is worth it if you have to stand out. For many businesses a well-adapted system is entirely enough.

4. Features

Booking, member areas, configurators, links to CRM or stock systems: each integration costs build and maintenance effort. For every feature, ask whether it earns money or just sounds nice.

5. Online shop

Payments, shipping, tax, legal texts, product data: a shop is a different project from a website. The number of products and variants and the quality of your data set the effort.

6. Languages

Each language means translation, separate addresses, hreflang and ideally its own keywords. That is much more than a language switcher.

7. Relaunch

Existing sites need redirects and a check of their rankings. That costs money first but protects what you have built. More in Relaunch without losing rankings.

What gets added over time

• Domain and hosting
• Licences for plugins or systems
• Updates, backups and security monitoring
• Content and small changes
• For shops: payment provider transaction fees

Always ask about the cost over the first three years, not just the launch price. A cheap site with no maintenance can get more expensive later if it is hacked or needs rebuilding.

How to compare quotes

1. Who owns the domain, code and content at the end?
2. Are copy, images and legal texts included?
3. What exactly is in the SEO part? “SEO-friendly” alone says nothing.
4. How many rounds of revisions are included?
5. What happens after launch, and what does a change cost?
6. Can you change provider without starting over?
7. Are there real references you can click on?

How to save sensibly

Start smaller. A clear site with a home page, your main services, references and contact details often beats the big project that never gets finished. Do not save on speed, mobile display or legal compliance.

At tob-apps you get a fixed price after the first conversation, so you know where you stand before work begins. More under Web design.

Related articles

• Web designWebsites and online shops that load fast, are easy to understand and are built for search engines from day one, in English, German and Spanish.
• Core Web Vitals explainedWhat LCP, INP and CLS mean, the thresholds that apply, how to measure them, and which fixes achieve the most on normal business websites.
• Website relaunch without losing rankingsHow to move your website without losing visibility: URL inventory, redirects, pre-launch tests and follow-up checks in Search Console.