Why website quotes are all over the map
If you’ve collected a few quotes, you’ve probably seen numbers that make no sense next to each other. That’s usually because you’re not comparing the same thing. One quote is a template with your logo dropped in. Another includes planning, writing, setup for search, and someone to call when something breaks. Both are called “a website.”
So before comparing prices, compare what’s actually in the box. Here’s what to ask every designer, including me:
- Is the design custom, or a purchased template with my colors swapped in?
- Who writes the page content? Me, you, or nobody?
- Is hosting included, and for how long? What does it cost after that?
- Who installs updates, runs backups, and fixes things when they break?
- Do I own the site and the domain if we part ways?
- How many pages, and what happens if I need one more later?
A quote that looks cheap often gets that way by leaving several of those answers blank.
The three pieces every website needs
A domain name
Your address online, like yourbusiness.com. It’s a yearly renewal paid to a registrar. Make sure it’s registered in your name, not your designer’s. If you’re not sure where yours lives, here’s how to find your domain registrar.
Hosting
The server your site lives on. Cheap shared hosting and managed hosting are very different animals. Managed hosting usually includes updates, backups, security, and speed tuning. With bargain hosting, those jobs land on you. More on that in how to choose web hosting.
Design and build
This is where most of the money goes and where quotes differ the most. It covers planning the pages, designing them, building them to work on phones, writing or editing content, and setting up the basics Google needs to understand the site.
The hidden costs of going cheap
DIY builders and bargain templates can be a fine starting point for some businesses. Just go in knowing where the costs hide:
- Your time. Building, writing, fixing, and updating a site takes hours you’d otherwise spend on paying work. Put an honest hourly value on that.
- Add-ons. Many builders charge extra for things you’ll want anyway, like a custom domain, removing their branding, or better forms.
- Lock-in. Some platforms make it hard to move your site elsewhere. If you outgrow it, you may be starting over.
- No one to call. When a form stops sending leads or the site goes down on a Friday, a help center article isn’t the same as a person who knows your site.
- Looking generic. If your site looks like a thousand others, it’s harder for customers to tell why they should pick you.
What we charge, and what’s included
I can only speak with certainty to our own pricing, so here it is, plain and simple:
- $2,999 for a custom WordPress website, typically 5 to 7 pages
- 12 months of managed WordPress hosting included
- Content updates handled for you. Send the change, we make it.
- SSL certificate, mobile-friendly design, and SEO basics set up from day one
- $65 a month for hosting and maintenance starting in year two
- Four to six weeks for most builds
You own your website. No long contracts, no surprise “discovery phase” invoices. The full breakdown is on our pricing page.
Budgeting for year two and beyond
A website isn’t a one-and-done purchase. WordPress, plugins, and servers all need regular updates, and backups only help if someone checks them. Budget for ongoing care the same way you budget for your truck’s oil changes. Our website maintenance checklist covers what that care should include, whether you do it yourself or hand it off.
Where to start
Start with the problem you want the website to solve. More calls? Fewer “what do you charge?” calls from people who aren’t a fit? A place to send people from your truck wrap or mailers? That answer tells you which pages you need and which features you can skip.
If you’d like a straight answer on what your site would take, call us at (720) 780-9998. Most projects happen over phone and email, so it’s easy to get started wherever you are.
