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Clever Rabbit, web designer in Oldbury and Birmingham

(How much does a website cost? · 2026 guide)

What a website really costs.

An honest guide to website prices for small businesses in Birmingham and across the UK: what you get at each price, what changes the cost and what you will pay once it is live.

The short answer: a professionally designed small business website in the UK usually costs between £1,500 and £5,000. Template sites can cost a few hundred pounds, while online shops and bespoke builds start higher and can reach five figures at larger agencies.

My prices: starter websites from £1,995, bespoke websites from £3,495 and online shops from £4,995. I am not VAT registered, so that is the full price.

(Prices compared)

What you get at each price.

Type of websiteTypical UK priceWhat you getFrom me
DIY website builderA monthly subscription, plus your own timeYou design and write it yourself from a template. Cheap to start, but the time and the result are down to you.–
Template website£250 to £500A ready-made theme with your words and logo dropped in. Quick, but it looks like thousands of others.–
Small business websiteAround £1,500, often plus VATA handful of pages designed for your business, set up for Google and phones.from £1,995
Bespoke website£3,000 and up, plus VAT at most agenciesCustom design, more pages, animation and features built around how you work.from £3,495
Online shop£5,000 to £12,000 or moreProducts, payments, delivery and stock, designed and tested properly.from £4,995

Typical prices are based on what UK freelancers, studios and agencies published in 2026. Your quote will depend on what you need.

(What changes the price)

Six things that set the cost.

How many pages

A five-page site is a very different job to a forty-page one. Every page needs designing, writing, building and testing.

Selling online

A shop adds products, payments, delivery, stock and a lot of testing. That is why shops cost more than brochure sites.

Custom features

Bookings, quote forms, member areas or links to your other systems all add time, and so cost.

Your words and photos

If your copy and photos are ready, it is quicker. If they need writing or sourcing, that is extra work.

Branding

No logo yet? A brand can be designed alongside the website, from £595 for a logo.

Who builds it

A freelancer, a small studio and a big agency have very different overheads, and their prices show it.

(After launch)

The running costs nobody mentions.

The build is a one-off. Keeping the website online, secure and up to date is ongoing, and it is worth knowing the numbers before you start.

With me, hosting and care starts at £15 a month, paid yearly, with SSL, backups, updates and email included.

  1. Domain nameYour web address, renewed every year. Usually a small yearly fee.
  2. HostingWhere the website lives. Cheap hosting gets you online; good hosting keeps you fast and safe.
  3. Updates & securityWordPress and its plugins need regular, tested updates. Included in my hosting plans.
  4. EmailEmail accounts on your own domain. Included in my hosting plans.
  5. ChangesNew pages or bigger changes later are quoted when you need them. Business plans include 30 minutes of edits a month.

(My prices)

Clear prices, no VAT on top.

Most popular

Starter website

For most small businesses

one-offfrom £1,995

  • Up to five pages, designed for you
  • Fast on phones
  • Set up for Google from day one
  • Enquiry forms wired up and tested
Get a quote

Bespoke website

For bigger sites and custom features

one-offfrom £3,495

  • More pages and custom design
  • Animation and interactive features
  • Built around how you work
  • Everything in Starter
Get a quote

Online shop

For selling online

one-offfrom £4,995

  • WooCommerce shop, no platform fee
  • Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Delivery, stock and order emails
  • Tested with real orders
Get a quote

Fixed quotes after a free chat. Not VAT registered, so the price you see is the price you pay. Hosting from £15 a month on top.

(Before you hire anyone)

Five questions to ask.

Whoever you choose, these answers tell you what you are really paying for.

  1. Is the price fixed?You want a fixed quote in writing, not an hourly rate that keeps growing.
  2. Is VAT on top?Many agencies quote without VAT, which adds 20%. I am not VAT registered, so my prices are the full price.
  3. Who owns the website?You should own your domain, your content and your site outright once it is paid for.
  4. What does it cost each year?Ask about hosting, updates and support up front, so there are no surprises after launch.
  5. Who will actually build it?With me it is me, start to finish. With bigger firms it may be someone you never speak to.

(How it works)

Simple, from first chat to launch.

01 · Free chat

A call, a coffee or a WhatsApp. You tell me what you need and I ask the questions that matter.

02 · Fixed quote

A clear price and timeline in writing before anything starts. No hourly surprises.

03 · Design & build

You see the design early, give feedback, and watch it come together. I keep you posted throughout.

04 · Launch & care

I put it live, check it on every device and look after it afterwards, from £15 a month.

(Questions)

Website costs, answered.

How much does a website cost for a small business in the UK?

Most small business websites built by a professional cost somewhere between £1,500 and £5,000, depending on the number of pages, features and who builds it. Template sites can be a few hundred pounds; online shops and bespoke builds cost more. My starter websites start at £1,995.

How much does a website cost per month?

Once it is built, expect to pay for hosting and care, plus your domain name each year. My hosting starts at £15 a month and includes SSL, backups, updates and email accounts.

Why do website prices vary so much?

Because the job varies so much. A template with your logo on it and a site designed, written and built around your business are different products, and agency overheads differ hugely.

Is a cheap website worth it?

Sometimes, for a brand-new business testing an idea. But a site that looks like everyone else’s, loads slowly or cannot be found on Google often costs more in lost enquiries than it saved.

How do I pay for a website?

Website builds are paid in full, upfront, and the work is booked in once payment clears. In return you get a fixed price in writing first, so the number never moves.

How long does a website take?

A starter site usually takes a few weeks once your words and photos are ready. Bigger sites and shops take longer. You get a timeline with your quote.

(Let’s talk)

Want a fixed price for yours?

Tell me what you need. You’ll hear back from me, Ben, not a sales team. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.