How Much Should A New Website Cost?
29 Sep 10
"How much will my new web site cost?" is one of the most common questions any web developer or designer gets asked, and rightly so. But I wonder how many businesses really feel like asking "How much SHOULD my new web site cost?". We've all heard the stories of companies offering small businesses a new website for 'only' $500, only to find once they have signed a contract, that in fact to put together a website that will actually get results for their business will cost more like $4,000.
Understandably businesses often opt for a 'cheap' website and get a few pages up and running but then realise they have to pay for any add-ons such as a blog, email templates and setting up emails. Not to mention the additional fees the website provider can charge for each and every little change the business wishes to make to their site because they don't have a content management system or access to do it themselves.
How to get a New Website that
Works for Your Small Business
When you approach a web developer/designer, be sure you know what
you are getting into. Don't be afraid to go in with a brief
and armed with a list of questions.
There are some key questions the web developer/designer should be
asking, in order to quote based on YOUR needs and depending on
whether your website will work with their existing software or if
you need a completely customised solution. Typically, a
company worth it's salt should be asking you the following types
of questions:
- What is the purpose of your project?
- Are you wanting to re-design/develop your old site?
- Would you like to sell your product/service online?
- Do you want the site to assist with converting leads into sales?
- Do you want the site to generate new leads?
- What items would you like to include (eg enquiry forms, google maps with directions, a link to facebook etc)
- What design style would you like (do you have a company logo and/or colour scheme)?
- How much assistance do you need with writing the copy?
- How much priority do you place on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?
It is safe to say you get what you pay for when it comes to websites. If you pay only $500 for the set-up of a small website, be wary of high hosting fees and maintenance charges along the way. If you invest a little more (around the $2,000 - 4,000 mark) to begin with, it is more likely you will have a content management system that you can access (enabling you to make changes to the website yourself) and as a small business with a limited budget, this is probably what you are after. For a completely customised solution, $7,000 plus would be common.
To read more tips about how much a website should really cost, view our table on what makes our websites different which clearly demonstrates the differences between a full business website which gets results and a generic 3-pager.
