Guide
How much does a website cost?
The short answer: it depends on which route you take and six factors: scope, design, features, integrations, content and care after launch. A DIY builder and a large custom build are worlds apart in price, because they are worlds apart in what you get. This guide explains what drives the difference, so you can judge a quote and know what to ask.
Four routes, four kinds of cost
Website builder (DIY)
Lowest outlay, mostly a subscription. You pay with your own time, and design and features are limited to the platform.
Freelancer
Flexible and often good value for a small site. Continuity, strategy and tracking depend on one person.
Template agency
A proven template adapted to your brand. Faster and predictable, with less room to differentiate.
Custom studio
Strategy, custom design, content, tracking and integrations. Higher investment, built around what the site must deliver.
The six cost factors
Scope
Number of unique pages and templates.
Design
Template, adapted template or fully custom design.
Features
Forms, configurators, logins, multiple languages.
Integrations
CRM, accounting, payments or other systems.
Content and imagery
Supplied by you, or written and photographed by the agency.
Care after launch
Hosting, updates, security and further development.
Why two quotes can differ so much
Two quotes for 'a website' can describe very different things: a template with your logo, or a custom design with strategy, content, tracking and integrations. Don't just compare totals; compare what each one includes and what you will still pay afterwards.
First-year cost versus ongoing cost
The build is a one-off. Domain, hosting, licences, maintenance and further development recur every year. Over a few years those recurring costs often matter as much as the build, so ask for both before you sign.
Three example scopes (without prices)
A small company site with a handful of pages and one contact form mainly costs design and copy. A lead-generating business site adds service pages, proof, tracking and an enquiry route connected to follow-up. A complex site adds multiple languages, logins or integrations with other systems, and needs more analysis and testing. Each step up adds work, not just pages.
Ask for a specified scope
A good proposal lists the number of unique pages and templates, the features, the integrations, who creates the content, what happens after launch and what is not included. Without that, the price is hard to judge.
Hidden costs to ask about
Copywriting and photography, premium plugins or licences, migration of an old site with redirects, cookie consent and tracking, accessibility, and changes after launch. None of these are unusual; they just need to be in the quote or agreed separately.
How FOR3 prices
FOR3 works as a custom studio. The project fee is based on scope and set out in the proposal, so you know the price before you commit. Hosting & Care and the Growth Programme are optional and listed separately. We don't publish a price list, because a figure without a scope is misleading.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't you give a figure?
Because a figure without a scope is misleading. After an introductory call you receive a proposal with scope and price, before you commit.
Is a cheap website a bad choice?
Not necessarily. It depends on what the site needs to achieve. A builder or template can be enough if you don't expect many enquiries through it.
What costs come after launch?
Domain, hosting, licences, maintenance and further development. Ask for these in the first quote, even if they're billed separately.
What does a redesign cost?
The same factors apply, plus the migration: redirects, tracking and protecting search visibility. See our guide on redesigning without losing search visibility.
How do I compare quotes?
Put them side by side on the six factors above, plus what's included after launch. A lower total that excludes content, tracking or migration is not the cheaper option.
Discuss your project
Tell us briefly about your project. We'll reply with questions or a proposal for a call.