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How much DO websites cost these days?
With businesses struggling to launch and stay afloat, I hear this question more often than ever before. The honest answer to the question is … it depends. It depends on what you need and how much time you have.
What do you need?
Know ahead of time what you need. Do you need:
- eCommerce site
- Membership portal to communicate with your tribe and for them to communicate with each other
- Exquisitely designed site with all the bells and whistles
- Sleek and clean site that’s easy to maintain and update
- Gallery for your work
- Mobile site
- Static “online brochure” site
How much time do you have?
For many of us, time is our most precious commodity. So why do we undervalue it? QUICK – how much is an hour of your time is worth? Not what you CHARGE – what it’s WORTH to you. Having the answer to that question handy will serve you well as you venture into this or any other business transaction!
How much of the project are you planning to do yourself? For the preparation phase, ask yourself, are you going to:
- Write the copy?
- Construct the wireframe?
- Do the design and layout?
Once the heavy lifting and building begins are you going to:
- Hire a pro?
- Use a friend or hobbyist (your nephew who took a web design class in night school)?
- Build the site yourself from scratch or with web development apps?
Average website development times
- Professional web developer – 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on the complexity of your site and what you have ready to go when the build begins (content, assets, etc.)
- Hobbyists – 1 to 12 months, depending on motivation, distractions and day jobs.
- Site owners (who take on the job themselves) – 2 weeks of dedicated time (not working on other projects) to 6 months (if multitasking).
The nitty gritty
There are myriad types of websites and a bazillion variations on each theme, but generally speaking, here’s what you can expect to pay in these broad categories:
- A simple static site will start around $1,000
- A custom-designed website will likely set you back $2,000-$4,000
- An interactive site can range from $1,500 – $4,000
- Ultimate customization (likely to include custom apps) will get you to 5 digits
- Pre-built site solutions are subscription-based and range $5-100/month
Ultimately, what you’re paying for is knowledge, expertise and a working relationship. What you’ve always heard is still true. You get what you pay for.
When is it safe to go in the water?
Right away! There’s no time to lose but you’ll want to do a little homework before you dive into the deep end. Here are a few simple tasks that can save you time, money and a TON of frustration!
- Identify features you need, your site goals and primary audience (ALL critical whether you DIY or outsource)
- List the skills you possess that could prove useful (design, copywriting, photography, programming, etc.)
- Gather your site assets
A few final thoughts
An important question that you might forget to ask is, “How much will it cost you NOT having a website?” Consider the lost street cred when your potential customers go looking online to qualify you and only find your competition. What about additional design and printing costs for brochures or postcard updates that can be changed FREE online? And let’s talk about lost sales! Your website is part of your sales team, attracting new customers and selling your products and services 24/7.
If you would like to find tips and tricks for finding the web development team that’s perfect for you, check out some of our other articles like “The 9 Most Common Mistakes When Hiring a Website Developer and How to Avoid Them”
What was the biggest speed bump for you – time or money? What was YOUR experience like? Leave a Comment