PLANNING GUIDE · WEBSITE DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
What a business website costs
Two projects with ten pages can differ in price by a factor of five. What you are comparing is scope, not page count. Here is what moves the estimate before you request a quote.
Discuss your website scopeJiangmen, China. Working globally.
There is no single price for a website
A website price is the sum of decisions: how many distinct page layouts you need, who writes the content, how many languages you publish, what the site must connect to, and how many review rounds are included.
Page count alone tells you very little. Ten pages built from three templates need less design work than six pages that each require their own layout and interaction. The same is true of content: approved copy and images can remove weeks from a schedule.
Six factors that change the estimate
Templates rather than pages. Reusable layouts reduce design and build time. Each unique layout adds a design decision, a responsive state and a review.
Content readiness. Approved copy, images and legal pages supplied early keep the build moving. Writing, translating or sourcing photography is normally a separate scope.
Languages. Each additional language multiplies content, review and quality checking, even when the layout is shared.
Editing tools. A site your team updates needs an admin interface, permissions and a walkthrough. A site you change twice a year may not.
Integrations. Forms, CRM, payment, booking or analytics connections each carry setup, testing and failure behaviour.
Review rounds. Two consolidated feedback rounds per milestone is a common basis. Unlimited rounds turn a fixed estimate into an open one.
How to get a quote you can compare
Send a page list, one primary visitor action, the tools the site must connect to and your deadline. Ask every supplier the same questions so the numbers mean the same thing.
Ask what is excluded, how many revision rounds are included, what happens to ownership and licences at handover, and which third-party fees continue after launch.
What usually belongs in a second phase
A first release rarely needs a blog, advanced search, member accounts or a custom dashboard. Ship the pages that explain the offer and collect enquiries, then add depth once you can see how visitors behave.
Splitting the work this way keeps the first estimate smaller and makes later decisions easier to justify.
Questions we are asked
How long does a small business website take?
A focused service website commonly runs two to four weeks from approved scope, received content and access, and the agreed initial payment. Larger projects need their own schedule.
Is a template cheaper than a custom build?
It can be, but compare total cost: subscriptions, plugin updates, layout limits and the work needed to fit your content. A template that forces compromises often costs more over two or three years.
What if the scope changes mid-project?
Changes affecting scope, cost or timing should be confirmed in writing before implementation, so both sides can see the effect on the schedule.
What happens next?
- Review the goals, users and essential features.
- Confirm the deliverables, USD estimate and key milestones.
- Agree responsibilities and acceptance checks before work begins.