12 min read

A guide to website pricing in 2023

What you need to know before making a website (Part 2)

How to avoid overpaying for your website. Discover the factors that influence website prices and what you need to know to determine your next steps.

Post by Joshua McSorley

|

September 14, 2023

Here's the deal: Making a website in 2023 is pretty easy. Making one that grows your business... that can be a bit more challenging. As business owners, we are constantly challenged with option overload, limited time, limited resources, and need to prioritize projects that have far reaching impacts. Making it important to identify which choices will bring value to our business in the form of time, money, and information. My goal for this blog is to provide you with enough information to prioritize your next steps.

Determining how much to spend on your website can vary significantly based on various factors such as your objective, target audience, and web design complexity and subsequently the complexity of your code. Drawing on over a decade of experience making websites and some recent research, I break down the obvious and not so obvious variables that effect cost in the sections below.

Behind Every Website: Hidden (and Not-So-Hidden) Costs

🕥 Time. Our most valuable resource. If you want to make a simple landing page, it could take a few hours or maybe a couple of days if it’s your first time. Need an business website or a full-fledged e-commerce site? That requires strategic thinking, copywriting, professional visuals, marketing and more; you could be looking at weeks or even months.

💰 Money. Get your bib, I’ve been cooking this section for a while and dinners ready. In the following sections we’ll breakdown the major factors that influence website prices; if you’re not hungry for the details, skip to the last section for industry-standard price estimates 👇.

Spongebob eating popcorn and watching TV
SpongeBob eating popcorn and watching TV.

Starting From Scratch?

When launching a new website, your initial cost will be strongly influenced by your existing marketing inventory, the technologies you choose, the amount of time you have, and whom you decide to collaborate with. For example, if you have time on your side, you can take the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach and spend next to nothing. On the other hand, you can take the complete opposite route and choose to work with a premium design studio, which might set you back a small fortune (think $60K or more).

Basic expenses every website owner should expect

  • Domain Name: This is your website's address on the internet, like 'joshisthebest.com'. Registering a domain usually costs between $10 and $50 annually. However, prices can fluctuate depending on the domain's popularity and its suffix (like .com, .org, .net, .io).
  • Content Creation: While many website owners produce their own content or collaborate with their web expert, some opt to hire copywriters, photographers, or videographers. Costs can vary considerably based on the quality and type of content. For instance, basic website copywriting services might range from $100 to $500 per page, whereas more intricate and compelling webpage copy can cost between $500 and $2,500 or even more.

Whether DIY or hiring a web designer

  • By using DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow, you can benefit from pre-designed templates, which might cost anywhere from $0 to around $300.
  • Professional web designer prices can range from as low as $100 per page to as much as $30,000, contingent on the project's intricacy and the designer's expertise.

đź’ˇ Pro tip: Costs may depend on how difficult it is to understand what you need. The better prepared you are, the less time web experts will spend learning your requirements, which means more time doing what they do best.

Price list - WTF
Storefront signage teasing about charging more for customers who want to be part of the design process and those who think they are designers.

We no longer need to write code from scratch

If you're not developing the website yourself, web development costs can range based on the expertise, specialization, and tools.

  • Traditional developers primarily focus on coding. Front-end experts, who handle design and user interfaces, typically charge between $30 and $200 per hour, while back-end specialists, responsible for server and database operations, may charge anywhere from $50 to $250 per hour. Full-stack developers, proficient in both areas, could charge between $40 and $300 per hour.
  • Visual development tools have led to a niche of website professionals who customize templates and build custom websites for clients without extensive coding. Experts in platforms like Elementor for WordPress, Webflow (my favorite option), and Squarespace might ask for $20 to $150 per hour. Their fees reflect their proficiency with the tool, design prowess, and delivery speed. The wide range in pricing stems from a combination of technical complexity, tool specialization, regional variations, and the developer's experience.
Animated illustration of visual web development
Animated graphics of visual web development.

The Monthly & Yearly Recurring Fees

Unlike fine wine, websites don't improve with age unless they are actively maintained.

Web Hosting Renewal

This is where your website's files are stored and made available to the world wide web. Premium hosting plans often come with recurring fees, either monthly or annually, with yearly plans typically providing discounts.

  • DIY costs depend on hardware, internet providers, and electricity rates. For tech gurus using open-source software on a raspberry pi, hosting expenses can fall as low as $0.84 per month. With enough ingenuity, you could get this number even lower.
  • Squarespace packages start at $12 monthly for personal websites and go to $39 monthly for business or e-commerce platforms.
  • Wix premium plans begin at $10 monthly for individual sites, and range from $20 to $149 for business and e-commerce sites.
  • Webflow plans vary from $14 to $39 per month for informational websites. E-commerce hosting is priced higher, and they also cater to large enterprises with custom plans.
  • Shopify starts at $39 monthly for the basic plan and ramps up to a whopping $399 monthly for medium to large businesses.

Website Maintenance

Maintenance encompasses routine updates, security patches, and renewing plugins. Often packaged with web hosting renewals and usually separated out if you require custom features. If you are running a basic website, there is a good chance you won't need to think about this. For those working with professional web developers, you'll want to ask about this early on because they will be able to explain their maintenance package; these are offers priced competitively.

Content Updates

Fresh content is essential for blogs, service and product announcements, new pages, marketing, public relations, occasional updates, and more. Prices for professional content creation depend on the project's depth, the creator's expertise, and the target platform. Here's a quick breakdown:

  • Blog Post: Generally, $50 to $300 each, with in-depth SEO-optimized posts costing between $300 to $500.
  • Text-only social post: Prices for items like tweets can be between $10 and $50, depending on the content and creativity required.
  • Graphic-designed social post: An Instagram post might cost anywhere from $15 to $150 or more, especially if custom elements or collaborations are involved.
  • YouTube Video: Basic productions can be from $100 to $1,000+, while professionally edited pieces will run into the thousands.
  • Email Copy: Although it is off the topic of websites, email copy is integral to web strategies. Marketing emails might cost between $100 to $500+, influenced by factors like segmentation, personalization, and A/B testing.
  • White paper: Varies based on the industry, length, and complexity of the subject, as well as the writer’s experience and level of expertise. Writers with specific professional knowledge and experience often charge from $3,500 to $7,000.
  • Domain Renewal: Similar to the initial registration, domain names require annual renewal. Common suffixes like “.com” typically cost around $10 per year, while “.io” is about $40.
  • Payment Processing: If you plan to sell anything on your website, most payment processing providers like Stripe and PayPal have transaction fees. These fees can vary depending on the provider and the type of transaction being processed. For example, some providers may charge a flat fee per transaction, while others may charge a percentage of the transaction amount.

Did you think we were done? Silly goose, we're only halfway. Next, we'll go over common services and features that can add to the cost of your website, some of which can make or break its success.

Cartoon goose honking at you from the bushes
Cartoon goose honking at you from the bushes.

Common Add-on Features & Services Cost

Additional costs might be necessary depending on your website functionality, aesthetics, user experience, marketing strategy, and more. Let's get into these added expenses that businesses should keep in mind:

Training & Education

  • Web Courses: Education marketplaces such as Flux Academy, Domestika, Udemy, Future Learn, and Coursera offer premium courses on web development, SEO, web design, UX design, digital marketing, and more, ensuring you and your team remains current with prevailing trends.
  • Workshops & Webinars: Sector-specific workshops or online sessions are great for learning about new tools and best practices.

Marketing & SEO

  • Paid Advertising: Platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other PPC (Pay-per-click) campaigns can attract targeted traffic, but they come at a price.
  • SEO Tools: Premium offerings such as SEMrush, Semflow, and Ahrefs assist businesses in keyword exploration, backlink analysis, and site health checks.
  • Email Marketing Platforms: Systems like ConvertKit, MailChimp, MailerLite, and HubSpot offer landing page builders (checkout part 1 of this series to learn more about landing page builders) and send out emails to subscribers, usually with pricing tiers determined by subscriber count or emails dispatched.

Premium Plugins & Tools

Design Enhancements

When building any website, visuals are crucial in conveying your message and creating an engaging user experience.

  • Premium Themes: While many free themes are available, premium ones like those found on Creative Market, Envato Elements, Elegant Themes, or Webflow Templates grant higher adaptability, support, and advanced features like countdown timers.
  • Stock Photography: A convenient and affordable option for businesses that don't have the budget or resources for a professional photoshoot. However, it's important to choose high-quality and relevant stock images that align with your brand and message. When used effectively, stock photography can enhance your website and help you create a visually appealing online presence.
  • Professional Photoshoot: Unlike the photography you might be use to, marketing photography is specially designed to engage your target audience. Serving as one of the most effective investments to consider when making a website. As an added bonus, your professional marketing photography can be used across all marketing channels, including social media, websites, brochures, and advertising materials, to ensure consistency in your brand.
  • Custom Graphics & Illustrations: To distinguish yourself, you might hire graphic designers or illustrators for custom website visuals instead of using photos.
  • Micro-animations: Small animations are expected to become more popular in 2023. These subtle movements can bring a website to life and give visitors a more interesting experience.
  • Immersive Animations: This trend is characterized by increasingly immersive environments. As younger generations spend more time in the metaverse, this will become increasingly popular for businesses targeting those demographics.

Legal Compliance & Cybersecurity

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, for more information, seek professional legal advice.

According to Forbes, five states in the U.S. will enact new or updated data privacy laws in 2023, in addition to existing national and international regulations like The Privacy Act of 1974, HIPPA, CCPA, and GDPR. For most startups and small businesses, you should take data privacy seriously but also don't worry too much. As long as you're not spamming people, selling user data, and operating your business with good intentions, you should be fine.

  • Data privacy: Websites should adopt a data-centric approach to protect data from breaches, avoid fines, and reputation damage. This means encrypting or anonymizing data and keeping it protected throughout its lifecycle.
  • Accessibility: The WCAG ensures web content is accessible for people with disabilities. These guidelines are widely accepted as a standard for measuring website compliance with the ADA.
  • SSL Certificate: For many startups and service-based businesses, the complimentary SSL certificate provided by your domain or website builder should suffice. For more complex websites, an SSL certificate provides site security, when handling personal data or transactions. Annual costs can range from free to over $200, based on the security level your website requires.

Unexpected Issues

  • Security Breaches: In the event of a hack, you might need to engage professionals for site cleanup. Additionally, solutions like Rapid 7, Sucuri, or Wordfence provide advanced services to protect websites.
  • Slow loading time: When a website takes too long to load, visitors may become frustrated and leave the site before it loads completely. This leads to high bounce rates, which in turn can negatively affect the site's search engine rankings and overall online visibility.
  • Low conversion: It is important to carefully consider the design and content of landing pages in order to maximize their effectiveness. Incorporating persuasive copy, compelling visuals, and clear calls to action will help to increase conversions and improve the user experience.
  • Mobile incompatibility: Mobile optimization can have a significant impact on your website's user experience and search engine rankings, making it vital to invest in mobile-friendly designs.
  • Backup & Restoration: Even though numerous hosting services include backup provisions, specialized tools like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy deliver more frequent and dependable backups. This nice to have if a website goes down or is breached for any reason.

While the fundamental expenses of initiating and sustaining a website are often clear-cut, the additional costs can diverge widely, contingent on your requirements and aspirations.

Ed Helm as Andy from the Office in a GIF saying, “All right. I get it.”
Ed Helm as Andy from the Office in a GIF saying, “All right. I get it.”

Industry Standard Website Price Estimates

If you went through the previous sections, you understand how varied the costs of making a website can be and why. If you didn’t, the next section should still make sense. Okay, let's go over what your total cost might look like:

  • DIY website builders: Think of tools like Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, or Webflow. Starting out, you might spend anywhere from free up to about $200. Every month after that, you'll probably pay between $3 and $60. But remember: the exchange for saving money will cost you more time. And if this is new to you, there's a lot to learn.
  • Freelance web consultants: Prices start to vary a lot here. A simple website can cost you between $800 and $2,500. If you want something more detailed and fancier, the price jumps from $2,500 to $10,000 or even higher. Freelancers are great for smaller jobs. Costs can change a lot based on how experienced the consultant is, how much they want to work on your project, the details of your idea, and even where they live.
  • Web design agencies: Hiring an agency usually means higher prices. A basic website can be $3,000 to $8,000. Bigger, more creative projects can be $8,000 to $30,000 or more. With an agency, you're paying for a full plan, design, building the website, and help after it's done. If you want everything taken care of from start to finish and have a sizable budget, agencies are your best bet.

Conclusion

Whether you choose a DIY approach, freelance, or agencies, determining the cost of creating a website in 2023 is a complex endeavor influenced by many factors. As you embark on your website journey, staying informed and seeking advice from a variety of web experts can help you make the best choices for your specific needs.

Keep in mind, the market is constantly changing and many of the prices may have changed by the time you read this. If you want to know the current price, it's a good idea to get quotes from multiple sources and compare them yourself.

To get an accurate estimate, make sure you know enough about what your website needs to be dangerous. If you're not sure what you need, keep reading, maybe watch some videos on YouTube, and definitely talk with web experts (it's often free). Even if you aren’t ready, web experts can give you advice on next steps based on where you're at and your specific use case.

If you like reading, consider reading my other articles in my series, “What you need to know before making a website”. And if you want to talk with a web expert, message me on LinkedIn, book a free consulting session, or send me an email. Quick links to all the articles can be found below 👇

Related articles

Navigate to
Free Resource

A guide to website pricing in 2023

Joshua McSorley
September 14, 2023
•
12 min read

Here's the deal: Making a website in 2023 is pretty easy. Making one that grows your business... that can be a bit more challenging. As business owners, we are constantly challenged with option overload, limited time, limited resources, and need to prioritize projects that have far reaching impacts. Making it important to identify which choices will bring value to our business in the form of time, money, and information. My goal for this blog is to provide you with enough information to prioritize your next steps.

Determining how much to spend on your website can vary significantly based on various factors such as your objective, target audience, and web design complexity and subsequently the complexity of your code. Drawing on over a decade of experience making websites and some recent research, I break down the obvious and not so obvious variables that effect cost in the sections below.

Behind Every Website: Hidden (and Not-So-Hidden) Costs

🕥 Time. Our most valuable resource. If you want to make a simple landing page, it could take a few hours or maybe a couple of days if it’s your first time. Need an business website or a full-fledged e-commerce site? That requires strategic thinking, copywriting, professional visuals, marketing and more; you could be looking at weeks or even months.

💰 Money. Get your bib, I’ve been cooking this section for a while and dinners ready. In the following sections we’ll breakdown the major factors that influence website prices; if you’re not hungry for the details, skip to the last section for industry-standard price estimates 👇.

Spongebob eating popcorn and watching TV
SpongeBob eating popcorn and watching TV.

Starting From Scratch?

When launching a new website, your initial cost will be strongly influenced by your existing marketing inventory, the technologies you choose, the amount of time you have, and whom you decide to collaborate with. For example, if you have time on your side, you can take the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach and spend next to nothing. On the other hand, you can take the complete opposite route and choose to work with a premium design studio, which might set you back a small fortune (think $60K or more).

Basic expenses every website owner should expect

  • Domain Name: This is your website's address on the internet, like 'joshisthebest.com'. Registering a domain usually costs between $10 and $50 annually. However, prices can fluctuate depending on the domain's popularity and its suffix (like .com, .org, .net, .io).
  • Content Creation: While many website owners produce their own content or collaborate with their web expert, some opt to hire copywriters, photographers, or videographers. Costs can vary considerably based on the quality and type of content. For instance, basic website copywriting services might range from $100 to $500 per page, whereas more intricate and compelling webpage copy can cost between $500 and $2,500 or even more.

Whether DIY or hiring a web designer

  • By using DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow, you can benefit from pre-designed templates, which might cost anywhere from $0 to around $300.
  • Professional web designer prices can range from as low as $100 per page to as much as $30,000, contingent on the project's intricacy and the designer's expertise.

đź’ˇ Pro tip: Costs may depend on how difficult it is to understand what you need. The better prepared you are, the less time web experts will spend learning your requirements, which means more time doing what they do best.

Price list - WTF
Storefront signage teasing about charging more for customers who want to be part of the design process and those who think they are designers.

We no longer need to write code from scratch

If you're not developing the website yourself, web development costs can range based on the expertise, specialization, and tools.

  • Traditional developers primarily focus on coding. Front-end experts, who handle design and user interfaces, typically charge between $30 and $200 per hour, while back-end specialists, responsible for server and database operations, may charge anywhere from $50 to $250 per hour. Full-stack developers, proficient in both areas, could charge between $40 and $300 per hour.
  • Visual development tools have led to a niche of website professionals who customize templates and build custom websites for clients without extensive coding. Experts in platforms like Elementor for WordPress, Webflow (my favorite option), and Squarespace might ask for $20 to $150 per hour. Their fees reflect their proficiency with the tool, design prowess, and delivery speed. The wide range in pricing stems from a combination of technical complexity, tool specialization, regional variations, and the developer's experience.
Animated illustration of visual web development
Animated graphics of visual web development.

The Monthly & Yearly Recurring Fees

Unlike fine wine, websites don't improve with age unless they are actively maintained.

Web Hosting Renewal

This is where your website's files are stored and made available to the world wide web. Premium hosting plans often come with recurring fees, either monthly or annually, with yearly plans typically providing discounts.

  • DIY costs depend on hardware, internet providers, and electricity rates. For tech gurus using open-source software on a raspberry pi, hosting expenses can fall as low as $0.84 per month. With enough ingenuity, you could get this number even lower.
  • Squarespace packages start at $12 monthly for personal websites and go to $39 monthly for business or e-commerce platforms.
  • Wix premium plans begin at $10 monthly for individual sites, and range from $20 to $149 for business and e-commerce sites.
  • Webflow plans vary from $14 to $39 per month for informational websites. E-commerce hosting is priced higher, and they also cater to large enterprises with custom plans.
  • Shopify starts at $39 monthly for the basic plan and ramps up to a whopping $399 monthly for medium to large businesses.

Website Maintenance

Maintenance encompasses routine updates, security patches, and renewing plugins. Often packaged with web hosting renewals and usually separated out if you require custom features. If you are running a basic website, there is a good chance you won't need to think about this. For those working with professional web developers, you'll want to ask about this early on because they will be able to explain their maintenance package; these are offers priced competitively.

Content Updates

Fresh content is essential for blogs, service and product announcements, new pages, marketing, public relations, occasional updates, and more. Prices for professional content creation depend on the project's depth, the creator's expertise, and the target platform. Here's a quick breakdown:

  • Blog Post: Generally, $50 to $300 each, with in-depth SEO-optimized posts costing between $300 to $500.
  • Text-only social post: Prices for items like tweets can be between $10 and $50, depending on the content and creativity required.
  • Graphic-designed social post: An Instagram post might cost anywhere from $15 to $150 or more, especially if custom elements or collaborations are involved.
  • YouTube Video: Basic productions can be from $100 to $1,000+, while professionally edited pieces will run into the thousands.
  • Email Copy: Although it is off the topic of websites, email copy is integral to web strategies. Marketing emails might cost between $100 to $500+, influenced by factors like segmentation, personalization, and A/B testing.
  • White paper: Varies based on the industry, length, and complexity of the subject, as well as the writer’s experience and level of expertise. Writers with specific professional knowledge and experience often charge from $3,500 to $7,000.
  • Domain Renewal: Similar to the initial registration, domain names require annual renewal. Common suffixes like “.com” typically cost around $10 per year, while “.io” is about $40.
  • Payment Processing: If you plan to sell anything on your website, most payment processing providers like Stripe and PayPal have transaction fees. These fees can vary depending on the provider and the type of transaction being processed. For example, some providers may charge a flat fee per transaction, while others may charge a percentage of the transaction amount.

Did you think we were done? Silly goose, we're only halfway. Next, we'll go over common services and features that can add to the cost of your website, some of which can make or break its success.

Cartoon goose honking at you from the bushes
Cartoon goose honking at you from the bushes.

Common Add-on Features & Services Cost

Additional costs might be necessary depending on your website functionality, aesthetics, user experience, marketing strategy, and more. Let's get into these added expenses that businesses should keep in mind:

Training & Education

  • Web Courses: Education marketplaces such as Flux Academy, Domestika, Udemy, Future Learn, and Coursera offer premium courses on web development, SEO, web design, UX design, digital marketing, and more, ensuring you and your team remains current with prevailing trends.
  • Workshops & Webinars: Sector-specific workshops or online sessions are great for learning about new tools and best practices.

Marketing & SEO

  • Paid Advertising: Platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other PPC (Pay-per-click) campaigns can attract targeted traffic, but they come at a price.
  • SEO Tools: Premium offerings such as SEMrush, Semflow, and Ahrefs assist businesses in keyword exploration, backlink analysis, and site health checks.
  • Email Marketing Platforms: Systems like ConvertKit, MailChimp, MailerLite, and HubSpot offer landing page builders (checkout part 1 of this series to learn more about landing page builders) and send out emails to subscribers, usually with pricing tiers determined by subscriber count or emails dispatched.

Premium Plugins & Tools

Design Enhancements

When building any website, visuals are crucial in conveying your message and creating an engaging user experience.

  • Premium Themes: While many free themes are available, premium ones like those found on Creative Market, Envato Elements, Elegant Themes, or Webflow Templates grant higher adaptability, support, and advanced features like countdown timers.
  • Stock Photography: A convenient and affordable option for businesses that don't have the budget or resources for a professional photoshoot. However, it's important to choose high-quality and relevant stock images that align with your brand and message. When used effectively, stock photography can enhance your website and help you create a visually appealing online presence.
  • Professional Photoshoot: Unlike the photography you might be use to, marketing photography is specially designed to engage your target audience. Serving as one of the most effective investments to consider when making a website. As an added bonus, your professional marketing photography can be used across all marketing channels, including social media, websites, brochures, and advertising materials, to ensure consistency in your brand.
  • Custom Graphics & Illustrations: To distinguish yourself, you might hire graphic designers or illustrators for custom website visuals instead of using photos.
  • Micro-animations: Small animations are expected to become more popular in 2023. These subtle movements can bring a website to life and give visitors a more interesting experience.
  • Immersive Animations: This trend is characterized by increasingly immersive environments. As younger generations spend more time in the metaverse, this will become increasingly popular for businesses targeting those demographics.

Legal Compliance & Cybersecurity

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, for more information, seek professional legal advice.

According to Forbes, five states in the U.S. will enact new or updated data privacy laws in 2023, in addition to existing national and international regulations like The Privacy Act of 1974, HIPPA, CCPA, and GDPR. For most startups and small businesses, you should take data privacy seriously but also don't worry too much. As long as you're not spamming people, selling user data, and operating your business with good intentions, you should be fine.

  • Data privacy: Websites should adopt a data-centric approach to protect data from breaches, avoid fines, and reputation damage. This means encrypting or anonymizing data and keeping it protected throughout its lifecycle.
  • Accessibility: The WCAG ensures web content is accessible for people with disabilities. These guidelines are widely accepted as a standard for measuring website compliance with the ADA.
  • SSL Certificate: For many startups and service-based businesses, the complimentary SSL certificate provided by your domain or website builder should suffice. For more complex websites, an SSL certificate provides site security, when handling personal data or transactions. Annual costs can range from free to over $200, based on the security level your website requires.

Unexpected Issues

  • Security Breaches: In the event of a hack, you might need to engage professionals for site cleanup. Additionally, solutions like Rapid 7, Sucuri, or Wordfence provide advanced services to protect websites.
  • Slow loading time: When a website takes too long to load, visitors may become frustrated and leave the site before it loads completely. This leads to high bounce rates, which in turn can negatively affect the site's search engine rankings and overall online visibility.
  • Low conversion: It is important to carefully consider the design and content of landing pages in order to maximize their effectiveness. Incorporating persuasive copy, compelling visuals, and clear calls to action will help to increase conversions and improve the user experience.
  • Mobile incompatibility: Mobile optimization can have a significant impact on your website's user experience and search engine rankings, making it vital to invest in mobile-friendly designs.
  • Backup & Restoration: Even though numerous hosting services include backup provisions, specialized tools like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy deliver more frequent and dependable backups. This nice to have if a website goes down or is breached for any reason.

While the fundamental expenses of initiating and sustaining a website are often clear-cut, the additional costs can diverge widely, contingent on your requirements and aspirations.

Ed Helm as Andy from the Office in a GIF saying, “All right. I get it.”
Ed Helm as Andy from the Office in a GIF saying, “All right. I get it.”

Industry Standard Website Price Estimates

If you went through the previous sections, you understand how varied the costs of making a website can be and why. If you didn’t, the next section should still make sense. Okay, let's go over what your total cost might look like:

  • DIY website builders: Think of tools like Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, or Webflow. Starting out, you might spend anywhere from free up to about $200. Every month after that, you'll probably pay between $3 and $60. But remember: the exchange for saving money will cost you more time. And if this is new to you, there's a lot to learn.
  • Freelance web consultants: Prices start to vary a lot here. A simple website can cost you between $800 and $2,500. If you want something more detailed and fancier, the price jumps from $2,500 to $10,000 or even higher. Freelancers are great for smaller jobs. Costs can change a lot based on how experienced the consultant is, how much they want to work on your project, the details of your idea, and even where they live.
  • Web design agencies: Hiring an agency usually means higher prices. A basic website can be $3,000 to $8,000. Bigger, more creative projects can be $8,000 to $30,000 or more. With an agency, you're paying for a full plan, design, building the website, and help after it's done. If you want everything taken care of from start to finish and have a sizable budget, agencies are your best bet.

Conclusion

Whether you choose a DIY approach, freelance, or agencies, determining the cost of creating a website in 2023 is a complex endeavor influenced by many factors. As you embark on your website journey, staying informed and seeking advice from a variety of web experts can help you make the best choices for your specific needs.

Keep in mind, the market is constantly changing and many of the prices may have changed by the time you read this. If you want to know the current price, it's a good idea to get quotes from multiple sources and compare them yourself.

To get an accurate estimate, make sure you know enough about what your website needs to be dangerous. If you're not sure what you need, keep reading, maybe watch some videos on YouTube, and definitely talk with web experts (it's often free). Even if you aren’t ready, web experts can give you advice on next steps based on where you're at and your specific use case.

If you like reading, consider reading my other articles in my series, “What you need to know before making a website”. And if you want to talk with a web expert, message me on LinkedIn, book a free consulting session, or send me an email. Quick links to all the articles can be found below 👇

Related articles

Joshua McSorley
September 14, 2023
•
12 min read