The short version: published UK cost guides quote anything from about £200 to over £10,000 for a small business website, because "website" covers everything from a DIY builder page to a bespoke agency build. At HELYI it's a fixed £400 for one page, £800 for a 5–10 page business site or £1,500 for an online shop, designed and built by Lou in 5–15 working days. No VAT to add.
HELYI website prices
Every one is designed from scratch, not dropped into a template. You also get SEO foundations, Google Analytics and Search Console set up, and 30 days of support after launch.
What changes the price of a website
- Pages: each one has to be planned, laid out and tested, so ten pages is a different job to one.
- Custom or template: designing a site takes longer than pouring content into a ready-made layout.
- Selling online: a shop brings products, payments, shipping and tax settings with it.
- Integrations: booking tools, forms, maps and email sign-ups all need setting up and testing.
- Copy: some quotes include writing the text and some don't, and it's a separate job either way.
- The brief: having your logo, photos and a few sites you like ready at the start is what keeps a job inside its price.
Ongoing costs and what's not included
Hosting and your domain name are ongoing costs, paid monthly or yearly to the provider rather than to whoever builds the site. I'll recommend options and get both set up with you before launch, but the account is yours.
Copywriting, paid ad setup and ongoing SEO content aren't part of a HELYI build. If you're comparing quotes from a few places, check what each one leaves out before you compare the totals.
Should you just use Wix or Squarespace?
Honestly, sometimes yes. If you need something up this week, you're happy writing your own copy, and a template look doesn't bother you, a site builder will do the job for less money upfront.
What it costs instead is time and a subscription. Wix's free plan can't use your own domain and Squarespace has no free plan, so either way you're paying for a subscription for as long as the site is live. And every hour spent writing, picking layouts and fixing what breaks on a phone is yours. Paying a fixed price makes sense when those hours are worth more to you than the build, or when you want the site to look like your business rather than like everyone else on the same theme.
Which size of site do you need?
- Just one service or offer: a one-page website is plenty.
- A few services, case studies or a blog: a 5–10 page small business website, so each has its own page.
- Selling products directly: an online shop.
If you're leaning towards one page, the one-page website cost guide goes into it in more detail.
Once you know which one fits, send me the details and I'll confirm what's included before anything starts.