Key takeaways
- The main price drivers: number and complexity of pages, custom design or a ready-made template, special features (store, booking, user accounts) and content entry.
- A template site is cheaper and faster to launch; a custom site gives you more control over speed, SEO, security and future development.
- Beyond the build, budget for yearly server, domain, support and usage-based services such as SMS and payment gateway fees.
- Put domain ownership, server access and source-code handover in the contract.
What is the cost of a website made of?
- Requirements analysis and page structure (sitemap)
- User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design: template or custom
- Development of the public site and the admin panel
- Special features: store and payment gateway, online booking, multiple languages, membership and dashboards
- Initial content entry, images and copy
- Technical SEO and speed optimisation
- Server, domain, SSL certificate and deployment
- Training, bug-fix warranty and support after delivery
Ready-made template or custom design?
| Ready-made template (e.g. WordPress) | Custom design and development | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Time to launch | Short | Longer |
| Look and brand identity | Limited to what the template allows | Fully matched to the brand |
| Speed and technical SEO | Depends on the theme and plugins; often heavy | Can be optimised end to end |
| Security | Depends on keeping plugins updated | Smaller attack surface; needs a technical team |
| Future development | Limited to available plugins | Any feature can be added |
A worked example: Shahin Group website design plans
To give you a clearer picture of how scope changes the price, here are the four custom website design plans Shahin Group offers. Every plan includes one year of server and one domain, and the final price is fixed in the contract after a discovery call. Current starting prices are listed on the website design page.
| Plan | Best for | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Freelancers and personal brands (up to 5 pages) | 10 to 14 working days |
| Business Pro | Companies, clinics and service firms (up to 12 pages plus a blog) | 18 to 25 working days |
| E-commerce | Online stores with a payment gateway and order admin | 30 to 40 working days |
| Custom platform | Marketplaces, booking systems and SaaS products | From 3 months |
Yearly costs after launch
- Renewing the server or hosting to match your traffic
- Renewing the domain
- Technical support, updates and backups
- Usage-based services: SMS provider, payment gateway fees, business email
- Content production and SEO so the site is found on Google
A site that gets no fresh content or SEO work after launch rarely earns meaningful traffic from Google. Plan a content budget from the start.
Website design contract checklist
- An exact list of pages, features and the number of design revision rounds
- The delivery schedule for each stage and how staged payments work
- The domain registered in the business owner's name, not the designer's
- Full access to the admin panel, server and source code (or the terms for handing it over)
- The length of the bug-fix warranty and the cost of support afterwards
- Who is responsible for security, backups and data recovery
Frequently asked questions
How much does website design cost?
It depends on the type of site. A compact portfolio site sits at the low end, a corporate site with a blog and a multi-user admin panel in the middle, and an online store or custom platform at the top. Ask for a written scope before comparing any two quotes.
Why do website design quotes differ so much?
Because design quality, custom or template build, features, SEO, speed and after-delivery support are not the same from one proposal to the next.
How long does it take to design a website?
A simple site takes about two weeks, a corporate site about a month and an online store one to two months; custom platforms take several months.
Are there other costs after the website is built?
Yes: yearly server and domain renewal, support, and usage-based costs such as SMS and payment gateway fees.
Is a WordPress site or a custom site better?
WordPress suits a fast start on a small budget; a custom site gives more flexibility for speed, security, SEO and special features.
What should I prepare before asking for a quote?
A short description of your business, the goal of the site, the pages and features you need, two or three sites you like and whatever content and brand assets you already have.
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