Website design costs can run anywhere between a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. So, how much should I pay for my new website? The answer is, it all depends on what your project will entail. Most web design costs take into consideration several factors.
How much should I pay for my new website?
Let me begin by saying, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking for a cheap $250 website, your site will more than likely look like you paid $250 for it. It’s important to remember, you pay for experience. You want to put your best foot forward. Your website is the front porch of your business. It’s open 24/7 and is often the first introduction a potential customer to your company. Because of this, think about your website as an investment. You can start small if you need to, but never sacrifice quality for a cheap price tag.
How large will your website be?
Size matters in the whole scheme of things. The larger your website, the higher the cost will go. If you have a 5 page lead generation website, you’ll pay less than if you had a 50 product e-commerce website. If you want to keep your costs low, start small. A few pages and a contact form. This will keeps costs down, but grow the website as your business grows. You’ll want more content out there to help you build a strong web presence.
What type of website do you want?
E-commerce and membership websites cost more than lead generation websites. Expect to see higher costs the more detailed the website will be. Often times, a design firm will have a base price and increase the price as you change the type of site. Again, to keep costs low, you may want to start with a small lead generation website that simply outlines your services or products and offers a way for potential customers to contact you.
What features do you want on your website?
Another way to drive up costs is to add additional features to your website. Features like enhanced forms, social media interaction, or even engaging features like video could increase the cost of your package. Work closely with your web designer to identify those features that will add the most value to your website visitors. You don’t need all the newest bells and whistles. Keep costs low by only selecting those features that are most necessary.
When do you want your website to launch?
Giving your web design company time to create and build your website will keep your costs low. If you need your website up and running ASAP, you’re going to have to pay a premium for that. I’ve been asked to build a website in just a few days. That type of rush job, often requires a hefty fee. If you know you’ll need your site by a specific day and time, be sure to start the process early, so you aren’t charged a fee for a rush job.
Do you already have website content, like images, logo, text, etc.?
Needing your design company to find images, design a logo and write your text will increase the overall cost of your new website. I would suggest, to keep costs low, having this information ready for your developer when they begin designing your website. You may be able to use some of the lower priced options for your logo and website content, such as Fiverr. It’s a great website for these type of one-off projects.
What level of support will you need post launch?
This is another area many companies forget about. You’re going to need some support after the launch of your website. Someone will need to assist you in maintaining your site. Take this additional cost into consideration when budgeting for your new website. This is usually billed as a monthly fee and could run anywhere between $50 and $200 per month. Again, this is an investment. It is a task that you can take off your plate, allowing you to focus on running your business.
So, how much should I pay for my new website? I would suggest budgeting between $4,000 and $10,000 for a quality, aesthetically pleasing, engaging lead generating website. As I mentioned at the start of this post, there are companies out there that will only charge you a couple hundred bucks for a website, but I would suggest being leery of these types of companies. Remember, you want quality. You want your first interaction with a potential customer to be a positive experience. Building a website is an investment.
