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How Much It Costs To Design A Website
- sam95997
- Sep 24, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 19
Try our website cost calculator now to find out what you can do with your budget.
Introduction
If you're serious about designing a website and ready to crunch some numbers, then you've come to the right place. We've compiled a breakdown of website costs so that you don't stumble upon any hidden surprises - allowing you to set aside an appropriate budget according to your business needs and goals. Let's crack into it!
Logo & Branding Costs
Freelance Logo Designers & Agencies: $3k to $10k
If you don't have a logo and branding guidelines then you'll need to get that sorted first before busting out your website.
Hiring a freelance logo designer in New Zealand will cost around $3k to $4k + GST in most cases and around $5k to $10k + GST for a renowned designers or top tier design agencies.
Packages typically include a brand discovery & research, branding guidelines including colour schemes, fonts and textures, various file formats, multiple logo concepts, and revisions.
The benefit of engaging a professional designer obviously has it's benefits. You'll end up with an multiple logo concepts and also a well thought out branding guidelines document (brand deck) that typically includes core messaging, brand color schemes, fonts, textures, gradients, multiple revisions, and various file formats for all your brand assets. This brand deck will form the starting block of your marketing endeavors and it's crucial you get it bang on from the get-go.
DIY Brand Generators: $0 to $500
If you're operating on a tight budget, it's still possible to design your brand using DIY tools, logo generators, font generators, and design mockups tools. Check out our post on our favourite logo and brand generators here which has everything you need to develop your brand.
Website Design Costs
The market offers options that range between $2k to $100k for full web design and development - but that range doesn't really help anyone now does it? Also, if you're paying $2k for a website it will probably be a one pager (or near equivalent) and will only serve as an online poster using a stock standard template, with in-effective SEO, and completely reliant on external traffic strategies. In most cases, it'll be as useful as a fart in the wind.
Unfortunately, due to spammy cold callers preying on struggling SMEs the temptation to opt into cheap offerings such as these is all too common, and it usually ends up with business owners spending more money to engage professional web design agencies to start again from scratch.
If you put a gun to my head and said I could only choose two options out of expensive / high quality branding, web design or web development, I'd pick branding and web development (reluctantly) ... sorry designers - I still love you.
Website Design Agencies: $4k to $20k
Most SMEs will fork out between $3k to $10k for web design alone if going through a web design agency.
The cost of a web design for medium to large commercial sites or startups looking to scale up quickly, often range between the $7k to $20k mark, excluding web development, SEO, and monthly maintenance.
How Much It Costs To Design A Website Using Freelance Website Designers: $3k to $10k
Freelance web designers who sell packages for web design and development can be an attractive option for those on a tight budget, and while there are some that can do both very well, it's important to do your due diligence and verify that both will be done to a high standard. The majority of freelance web designers that offer web design and development services fail to do the latter to a standard that will get you first page google rankings - which imo is kind of the point.. websites should pull in hot organic leads from search engines.
If you're a typical small business or startup you'll be likely pay a freelance web designer around $3k to $7k for web design excluding website development, SEO, and monthly web maintenance.
Wireframing & Prototyping
Before diving into design and development, you’ll want to create a wireframe – a blueprint for your website that lays out the structure and user flow. This step ensures your site’s design will meet your business goals, whether that’s generating leads or selling products. Depending on your designer or agency, wireframing may be included in the total cost or charged separately, typically adding an extra $1k to $5k.
Templates
Pre-made Templates: $0 to $200 – Templates are a quick way to get a site up and running, but your site may look generic, and customisation is limited.
Custom Website Design: $3k to $20k – A custom design is tailored to your brand and business goals, offering a more unique and professional experience for users.
While templates can be a great option for startups, custom web design allows for a tailored user experience, better conversion rates, and a design that stands out from competitors. If your site is a major part of your brand strategy, investing in custom design is worth considering.
Website Development Costs
The cost of website development can range by quite a bit depending on the level of scale you're after, and the performance required to meet those objectives, which you probably know already, and are utterly sick of hearing. So let's break it down.
If you're after a quick answer to the question 'how much does it cost to design a website' - in most cases, for a SME or startup you'll be looking at $3k to $10k for professional website development services.
Medium to large commercial or informational sites often range between $15k to $65k for web development, excluding design and monthly web maintenance.
Hosting
One of the key factors in your website's performance is hosting, which ensures your site is accessible to visitors 24/7. The cost of hosting varies depending on the platform and the level of service you choose. Here's a general breakdown:
Basic Shared Hosting: $5 to $20/month – Suitable for small businesses and simple sites, though it may lack performance for higher traffic.
VPS (Virtual Private Server): $30 to $100/month – Provides better performance and security for businesses expecting more traffic or needing more control.
Dedicated Hosting: $100 to $500+/month – Ideal for large sites or e-commerce stores needing maximum performance, customisation, and security.
It's essential to choose a reliable host with a good track record, as downtime can cost you leads, traffic, and ultimately revenue. Also, factor in website speed, security, and server distance when making your decision.
Website Platforms
Your choice of website platform will significantly impact both the cost and the functionality of your site. Let’s explore the most common options:
WordPress (with custom development): Free to use, but professional development ranges from $3k to $20k+. Highly flexible, great for SEO, but requires ongoing maintenance and customisation. Ideal for businesses that aim to grow and scale.
Webflow: $12 to $36/month for hosting, with professional design and development costs ranging from $4k to $15k. Webflow combines the ease of a visual builder with the flexibility of a developer’s platform, allowing for custom designs without needing deep coding knowledge. It’s perfect for businesses that want full creative control while maintaining excellent site performance and SEO capabilities. Unlike other DIY platforms, Webflow offers more advanced design freedom while still delivering a clean, professional look.
Shopify: $29 to $299/month – Best for e-commerce, with plenty of plugins to customise your store. The initial setup and custom development can add $2k to $10k to your overall budget, but Shopify’s ease of use and reliability make it a top choice for online retailers.
Wix / Squarespace: $12 to $40/month – These platforms are beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, but they offer limited flexibility, scalability, and SEO performance. They’re great for simple, smaller sites, but might not be suitable for fast-growing businesses or those needing custom features.
Website Maintenance
A well-maintained website is crucial for performance, security, and keeping up with search engine updates. Regular updates, backups, and bug fixes help prevent costly issues down the road. Here’s what you might expect to pay:
Basic Maintenance: $100 to $500/month – Ideal for small businesses that need simple updates and backups.
Advanced Maintenance: $500 to $2k/month – For larger sites with more complex functionality, including e-commerce stores and sites with heavy traffic.
Failing to invest in website maintenance can result in downtime, security vulnerabilities, and a drop in search engine rankings.
SEO Costs
A beautiful website is only effective if people can find it. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes into play. SEO ensures that your website ranks well in search engines like Google, driving organic traffic from people actively searching for products or services like yours.
Why SEO is Essential:
Visibility: SEO increases your website’s visibility, helping it rank higher for relevant keywords.
Targeted Traffic: It brings in qualified leads who are more likely to convert because they’re already searching for what you offer.
Long-term ROI: While paid ads can bring traffic instantly, SEO builds long-term momentum, bringing in leads continuously without ongoing ad spend.
SEO Costs Breakdown:
The cost of SEO services varies depending on your goals, the competition in your industry, and the quality of the SEO provider you choose. Here’s what to expect:
Basic On-Page SEO: $1k to $5k (one-time) – Covers essential optimisations like keyword research, meta tags, alt text for images, URL structure, and setting up analytics tools. This is the minimum you need to make your website searchable.
Monthly SEO Services: $500 to $5k+/month – Includes ongoing content creation, technical SEO audits, backlink building, keyword tracking, and continuous optimisation. Investing in monthly SEO is crucial for businesses looking to dominate search engine rankings long-term.
Local SEO: $300 to $2k/month – Focuses on improving your visibility in local search results, particularly important for businesses with physical locations or those targeting a specific geographic area (think "Auckland Web Design" or "Best Cafe in Ponsonby").
SEO Audits & Strategy: $1k to $10k – For businesses that want to dive deep, an SEO audit provides a full analysis of your website’s current performance and offers a roadmap to increase rankings.
Why SEO Is Important:
SEO is the backbone of any successful website, especially when your goal is to attract hot organic leads. By optimizing your site for search engines, you improve your chances of appearing on the first page of results when potential customers search for your services. And with 75% of users never scrolling past the first page, SEO is a crucial investment for driving sustained traffic.
Whether you’re just starting with on-page SEO or investing in a long-term strategy, SEO is key to making sure your website isn’t just a pretty face – it’s a lead-generating machine.
Landing Pages & Costs
Landing pages are standalone web pages designed for specific marketing campaigns, helping convert visitors into leads or customers. While you can create basic landing pages through platforms like Unbounce or Leadpages for around $50 to $200/month, custom-built landing pages often perform better.
DIY Landing Pages: $50 to $200/month (on platforms like Unbounce or Leadpages)
Custom Landing Pages: $1k to $5k – Depending on the complexity and design needs.
A custom landing page can be optimised for SEO, offer better user experience, and increase your conversion rate, making it a worthwhile investment for businesses looking to grow.
Content Creation Costs
Your website is only as strong as the content on it. High-quality content – from blog posts to product descriptions – helps drive traffic through SEO and engages your audience. Here’s what you might expect to pay for professional content creation:
Copywriting Services: $100 to $500 per page – Professional copy that aligns with your brand voice and helps with search engine rankings.
Blog Posts: $100 to $1k per post – Depending on the length, research, and expertise required.
Video Content: $500 to $5k per video – Perfect for landing pages, product showcases, or brand storytelling.
While it's tempting to write your own content, investing in professional copy ensures your brand communicates clearly and effectively with your audience, boosting both SEO and conversion rates.
Conclusion
Designing and developing a website is a significant investment, but when done right, it becomes a powerful tool for driving traffic, leads, and sales. Whether you’re going the DIY route or hiring professionals, the key is to ensure that your branding, design, development, and content all align with your business goals.
Before jumping into any project, take time to map out what’s important to your business and where you see your site in the next five years. Invest smartly in areas that will bring the most value and remember that a website isn’t just an expense – it’s an investment in your business's future.
Try our website cost calculator now to find out what you can do with your budget.
