Tattoo Artist BooksIf you want to get a website built, the first thing to know is that the price depends less on the number of pages and more on what the site has to do. A simple business website that says "here is what we do and how to reach us" is a very different job from a site with bookings, logins or payments. That is why nobody can honestly quote one number for "website design cost" without a scope, but once you know the factors that drive a quote, you can compare offers properly.
Decide what the website is for
Before asking anyone for a quote, write one sentence: "This site should make [who] do [what]." Call you, fill in a form, book an appointment, buy a product, download your app. That sentence decides the page structure, the design and the technology. A site without a goal looks nice and brings in nothing.
If the job is to inform, a plain marketing site is enough. If visitors need to log in, pay or see their own data, you are really talking about a web application, which is a different budget. We cover that split in website or mobile app.
What a business website should include
- Home page: what you do, who it is for and the first step (call, message, book) visible without scrolling.
- Service or product pages: one page per service gives search engines one more way to find you.
- About page: real people, a real address, real photos. This page builds trust faster than any slogan.
- Contact: phone, WhatsApp or email, a map and opening hours.
- A blog or guide section: answers to the questions customers already ask. Over time it is the cheapest source of traffic.
- Legal pages: privacy policy, cookie notice, imprint where required.
Website design cost factors
Any figure we printed here would be out of date or wrong for your case, so instead, here is what moves a quote up or down:
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Pages and content | Who writes the copy and shoots the photos makes a big difference |
| Design | Adapting a template versus a custom design are very different amounts of work |
| Features | Forms, bookings, accounts, payments, several languages, an admin area |
| Infrastructure | Domain, hosting, SSL and backups, usually recurring yearly costs |
| Search readiness | Page titles, speed, mobile layout, structured data |
| Maintenance | Updates, security and small changes: included or billed separately? |
A good quote lists each of these in writing, including what is not included. If you receive a one-line offer such as "website: X", ask what is behind it.
Template or custom build?
A template-based site (WordPress, Wix and similar) is fast and economical, and for many small businesses it is enough. The trade-off is that thousands of sites share the look, and a feature you want later may hit the template's limits. A custom design and build makes sense when you want to stand out or when the site needs real business logic, such as accounts or subscriptions. A simple rule: if your need today is information, use a template; if your product itself is digital, build custom.
What to prepare before you ask for quotes
- The goal of the site in one sentence and the main action visitors should take.
- A list of pages, and who will write the text for each.
- Three sites you like and three you dislike.
- Existing brand material: logo, colours, photos.
- The domain: if you own one, where it is registered. If not, decide to register it in your own name.
- Who will update the site afterwards: you or the agency.
With these six points ready, offers become comparable.
The parts people forget: ownership and legal basics
The domain and hosting account should be in your name. If the relationship with the developer ends, you must still be able to reach your site. Ask in writing whether you will receive the files and the admin login. If the site collects personal data (a contact form, accounts, analytics), you need a privacy notice and a cookie consent approach that fits the rules where your visitors are, for example GDPR in the EU. The details depend on your case, so ask a lawyer. HTTPS and a properly working mobile layout are baseline expectations.
After launch: speed, mobile and search
Most visitors arrive on a phone. Compress images, remove unneeded plugins and give each service page a clear title and opening paragraph with the phrase a customer would actually search for. Add the site to Google Search Console to see which queries bring people in. And test the basics yourself: send a message through the contact form, tap the phone number, open the WhatsApp link. Forms that send to an unread mailbox are surprisingly common on new sites.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a website built?
A small marketing site is often ready within a few weeks. What usually delays it is content (text and photos) arriving late. Accounts or payments extend the timeline.
How much does a business website cost?
We do not quote a number, because it swings with scope, design approach and maintenance. Collect at least three written quotes and compare them line by line using the table above.
Do I need a website if I have social media?
Social media is good for discovery, but you do not control the rules of those platforms. A website is the one place you own and that search engines send people to, so use both.
Can I update the site myself?
Yes, but ask for it up front. With an admin panel you can change text and photos without coding.
At OdenaVerse we build the marketing site, accounts and database, and when needed the iOS and Android app, with one team, and anything not included is spelled out in the written offer. We started by writing software for our own business, so we begin with the question "what should this page do". If you want to talk it through, email us, and have a look at I want to build an app and the Tattoo Artist Books page to see what we build for ourselves.