It is the first question almost every small business asks us, and the honest answer is: it depends on what the website needs to do. Two sites can look similar on the surface and still be very different amounts of work underneath. Here is what actually decides the price, so you can compare quotes properly.
1. How many pages you need
A simple business website usually has five pages or fewer: home, about, services, a page of your work and contact. Every extra page needs its own layout, words and photos. A site with separate pages for each service, location or product line takes more time to plan, write and design.
2. What the website has to do
A site that shows information is simpler than one that takes action. Features that add cost include:
- Online bookings or appointments
- Payments, including M-Pesa or card checkout
- A shop with products, stock and delivery options
- Member logins or downloadable resources
- Several languages, such as English and Swahili
3. Who writes the words and takes the photos
Content is the part most people underestimate. If you already have clear text and good photos, the project moves faster. If you need help writing about your services or a photo shoot of your team, products or premises, that is extra work, but it is often what makes the biggest difference to how professional the site looks.
4. Custom design or a ready-made theme
Ready-made themes are cheaper up front, but your site may look like hundreds of others. A custom design built around your brand costs more, and it helps customers recognise and trust you.
5. Domain, hosting and ongoing care
Beyond the build, budget for the yearly costs: your domain name, hosting and, ideally, someone to keep WordPress and its plugins updated and backed up. Ask every web designer what happens after launch and who you call when something breaks.
How to get a quote you can compare
Before you ask for quotes, write down:
- What you want the website to achieve, such as more enquiries, bookings or sales
- The pages you think you need
- Any features from the list above
- Whether you have your text, photos and logo ready
- Your deadline
Send the same brief to everyone you ask. That way you compare like with like, not a five-page site with a fifteen-page one.
One last tip
Whoever builds your site, make sure the domain name is registered in your business name and you keep the login details. Many businesses lose their website because someone else controlled the domain.
Planning a website for your business? See how we build websites or send us your brief and we will reply with a fixed quote.
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