A website costs anything from a few hundred euros for a rented template to several tens of thousands for a fully bespoke build. The gap does not come from the technology: it comes from everything around the site (strategy, content, original design, SEO) and from who builds it.
Here is how to read a quote, what makes the price vary, and the hidden costs of “cheap” solutions.
Market price ranges, honestly
| Option | Ballpark | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Online website builder (subscription) | €10 to €50 a month | Testing a business idea, minimal presence |
| Customised template | €1,000 to €5,000 | Small local business, tight budget |
| Bespoke agency website | €5,000 to €20,000 | A business whose image and visibility bring in revenue |
| Fully bespoke (brand + website + SEO) | €15,000 and above | A brand that wants to dominate its niche |
These ranges are indicative: a real quote follows your goals. Be wary of any quote given without a conversation.
What really makes the price vary
- The number of templates (page types), not the number of pages: ten pages built on three templates cost less than five templates.
- Content: texts and photos supplied by you or produced for you. This is the most underestimated item.
- Features: booking, payment, multiple languages, client area.
- Built-in SEO: structure, speed and markup planned from the mock-up stage, or never.
- What comes after: maintenance, updates, improvements. A site with no follow-up deteriorates within two years.
The hidden costs of “cheap”
A low-cost website gets paid for elsewhere: recognisable templates that make the brand look ordinary, slow pages that drive people away, no way to change anything without paying, non-existent SEO, and unclear ownership (who owns the domain name, the hosting, the files?). The question to ask before any quote: what happens if we part ways? If the answer is vague, the price on the quote is not the real price.
FAQ
Why is there such a gap between agency quotes?
Because they are not pricing the same thing: number of templates, content produced or not, SEO included or not, support after launch. Compare the scope, never just the total.
Is a website a cost or an investment?
A website that generates enquiries should be measured like a salesperson: how many contacts, bookings or quote requests per month. Setting that target before the project changes the conversation with the agency.
Should I pay a monthly subscription or for a one-off project?
A subscription smooths your cash flow but leaves you a tenant. A project makes you the owner of the site and the domain. Maintenance, on the other hand, is legitimately paid monthly in both cases.
BLACKT gives a price after a 15-minute conversation, never before: let’s talk about your project, or see our work first.
If your project is a redesign rather than a new build, the complete guide to website redesign explains what makes the quote vary.
Further reading
- law firm websites: what a firm’s website contains and what it needs to prove.
- website design: our method, from scoping to launch.
