Think You Need to Spend £10k on a Website? Here’s the Truth
I have worked with websites for nearly 15 years. I have never charged £10,000 for a site. But I have worked for and alongside companies that have.
Most of the time, the higher quote had nothing to do with the technical quality of the site. It was about sales, positioning, and perception.
Myth 1: Expensive means better
A high price is not a guarantee of performance. In most cases, expensive quotes come from agencies that bundle in layers of account management, strategy meetings, admin, and other overheads that don’t improve your site’s ability to generate leads or sales.
I have seen websites sold at £10k+ that delivered little more than a templated design, generic content, and a long wait time.
The cost reflected the agency’s internal structure, not the value delivered to the business.
What does a website actually cost?
Most small business websites need:
- A domain name (£10–£20 per year)
- Hosting (£5–£20 per month)
- A theme or builder plugin (optional, £50–£100 one-off)
- Basic SEO setup (can be handled during build)
- Pages for core services, contact, and about
You can build a solid, fast, conversion-focused website for well under £2,000. You can get results with less, depending on your needs and the experience of your designer.
What I did with my own site
My own website, West Midlands Design & Print, was built in about a month alongside client work.
The only costs were domain, hosting, and a few tools I already use in my daily workflow. I used my own knowledge, experience, and judgment to create it.
No unnecessary meetings, no padded process.
In good conscience, I couldn’t charge £10,000 for what I know can be done efficiently and honestly.
What actually matters on your site
- A clear message and call to action
- Fast load speed
- Mobile optimisation
- Simple navigation
- Trust signals like reviews or case studies
- Basic SEO structure
You do not need 20 pages of fluff, animated sliders, or complex booking systems unless your business requires them.
If your site’s main goal is to get someone to contact you,
book a call, or buy a product, that should guide the design.
Do your research before saying yes
Before accepting a high quote, ask exactly what you’re getting. Will it directly improve performance? Will it reduce admin time or increase conversions?
Or is it just making the agency feel justified in charging more?
If you are based in the West Midlands and want honest advice about your next website, get in touch.
No pressure. No jargon. Just a practical conversation about what you actually need.
Or learn more about our web design services and how we help small businesses build websites that work.