How Much Does A Website Cost?
26 March 2009
As a web design business, we get asked this question daily. Sometimes we do the asking to see where and how other businesses are pricing themselves.
Most of the time, you’ll get the same answer: “How long is a piece of string?”. Anyone who’s been involved in web design knows costs can vary dramatically, depending on the website requirements and it’s very difficult to say off the bat how much a website would cost. It’s like asking: “How much does a car cost?”. The only difference is, most people understand the price difference between a Ferrari and a Toyota – it’s common knowledge.
Websites are less understood. So I’m going to try and show the differences in this article and provide some insight into websites and prices.
Breaking it down
Most websites can be categorised by complexity and function. Below are four categories into which most common websites will fall.
1. Information Website
An informational based website, such as an Accountant’s website serves one basic purpose: to provide customers with information about their business and their contact details. Many of these companies rely on referrals to generate new business, so functionality and marketing isn’t crucial. They need some text, a handful of images and a handy form or two people can fill out.
Cost: Four to Six thousand dollars
Development Time: 6 to 8 weeks
2. Function Driven Website
The next step up involves having some more advanced functionality on the website. For example on an Architect’s website, there might be some nifty flash banners to display images or a gallery to show off projects they’ve done. Other functions such as newsletter signups and mailing lists, instant online quoting forms and user registrations fall under the function driven websites category.
Cost: Eight to ten thousand dollars
Development TIme: 10 to 12 Weeks
3. Online Product or E-Commerce Website
Next up, are websites that require a lot of development work. Examples include online retailers that have hundreds of products, online shopping, user accounts and help and support systems.
Cost: Upwards of twenty thousand
Development Time: Over six months
4. Web Applications
Finally, a website like realestate.com.au or facebook.com that is more like online software where there are tons of custom functions and applications fall into this category.
Cost: Lets just say the piggy bank probably won’t survive this. realestate.com.au cost over a million dollars to develop.
Development Time: Years
So there you have it, a list of website categories and a rough idea of how much they cost. What kind of category does your website fall under?
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Jurgen, on 31 March 2009 said:
nice article… how much a website cost is really depending on so many factors. Funny how some people want to have a e-commerce website for a 1000 dollars. Thanks for sharing!
Frank, on 6 April 2009 said:
Yes you really got the point… there are just too many factors, but most of the customers think you sell a site out of the box … have fun ;)
Nathan, on 17 April 2009 said:
-The homepage should include a summary of what products
your site has to offer. Customers can always delve deeper
into your site for more information.
<a href=“http://www.website-designcompany.com/website_design_company.php”> Website Design Company</a>
Jye, on 22 April 2009 said:
Great article.
It is misunderstood by quite a lot of people as to how much a website does cost.
Each style, functions, amongst many other factors, can greatly increase the price of a website.
sheenshine, on 30 April 2009 said:
Hi,
Just wanted to compliment you guys on the site. Outstading & beautifuly designed!! Love your style.
Also just wanted to say that the prices above seem quite high to me. Possibly the dollar vs. euro changover may be a factor, but an informational site in Ireland would cost on average 2,000 – 3,000 euro. Six thousand dollars seems quite expensive for a basic site no?
Tumek, on 16 May 2009 said:
@ sheenshine
I agree; I live in Australia and $6,000 does seem expensive for a simple, informative site.
I believe that to justify such a high cost the development time must be long or the developers overhead costs must be quite high.
ali, on 17 May 2009 said:
thank you for sharing…
ICanSeeIt, on 9 June 2009 said:
Hi guys,
I just wanted to say how great it is having someone tell it like it is regarding costs. Too many people out there promising websites for $1000 (but they are template and simple and boring, and these people undermine the professional industry). It does cost 4000-6000 for a unique, professionally designed site that stands out from the crowd. Keep it up!
Also, @sheenshine, 3000 Euro = $5300 so similar pricing…
Eliot Ball, on 16 July 2009 said:
Us back-bedroom boys do that 8-10k job for fun!
(PS my website is broken ATM so don’t make fun of me)
Real estate web design, on 16 July 2009 said:
Yes, Web design is costly. But if u search perfectly you can get a website designed properly at affordable price.
driz, on 22 July 2009 said:
Four to Six thousand dollars for a simple information site? Seriously thats incredible if you can get someone to pay that amount for something as simple as that.
Anirban Das, on 27 July 2009 said:
I really admire your view.
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,Search Engine Optimization, Link Building Services.
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Nilesh, on 28 July 2009 said:
Your website design and designs in your portfolio are immensely likeable and creatively beautiful.
It was good precise informative article for people who wants to get an idea of how website development/design works. However, I don’t quite agree that a simple informative site will cost $5K to $6K, it can easily be done in 1/2 the price of that if you give unique design… assuming it is US $.
Targeting this very same segment… we have a product using which we can develop a new website within 1 day excluding designing. Your design can always be integrated with it within a couple of days.
We provide web development solutions at Systematix Technocrates.
www.systematixtechnocrates.com
diseno de volantes, on 2 October 2009 said:
Muy buen blog de diseño! great blog! thanks from Argentina.
Website Design, on 21 October 2009 said:
Websites can vary in price, you can find a company who could do a website for $1000 who would do a worse job than a company who would only charge $1200 to build a website. If you look at our own website design company you can see our websites are middle range prices not too expensive and not that cheap, but the websites are built to a very high standard and pass the website design W3C standards both XHTML and CSS. I think when looking for a website design company I would suggest you get them to do w3c checks, and ask them questions such as ‘are they SEO friendly’ So they rank high in the search engines, if they can provide a search engine optimisation package and if their website design is Web 2.0
Jordan Blinco, on 10 December 2009 said:
Well, that was practical and informative. Thank you Andreas and John for your frank and honest price point analysis of web site design. I am most intrigued by your business and will contact you in a timely manor to discuss potential business opportunities.
Web Design Company, on 29 December 2009 said:
Depending on the size of a Web development project. Web design takes a lot of hard work and dedication.The main purpose is that the website design to appeal to your audience.You shared really informative points.
Madison Patel, on 14 January 2010 said:
Hi,
I have visited your website and I was wondering if it would be possible to get a link to my partner’s website on it?
Your link will be placed in my Web Design Guide website exactly here(homepage):
http://planshabitatservices.com/ pr5
If you agree, then please link to me using these details:
Title: IT Support Birmingham
URL: http://www.managednetworks.co.uk/
Description: UK support, IT management, and hosted desktop services.
Please don’t forget to send me the title of your website after you place my link so I can do the same.
I’ll be waiitng for your kind reply
Regards
Madison Patel
ruby.cooper@planshabitatservices.com
Online Marketing Consultant
This is just a link exchange request, but if you feel uncomfortable receiving these kind of requests, please let me know atstop@nomoremails.com, or just register at www.nomoremails.com so we avoid contacting you again. Thanks for your attention.
Rockreative, on 24 February 2010 said:
Yes, website cost depends upon many factors, It cant be sold like a product which has a fixed price tag but still some types of websites have a fixed amount of effort involved so they are basically very easy to get the cost. So you can imagine a fixed cost for them.
But still every business have its individual needs
Business Insurance, on 3 March 2010 said:
This article really taught me a lot about the bookkeeping for a small business firm.