The Average Cost of Website Design for Small Business in the UK
Introduction:
These days it’s crucial for most small businesses in the UK to have a strong online presence. Having a website is one thing but it needs to be well designed because in this day an age it serves as a virtual storefront, attracting potential customers and enhancing credibility. That said, understanding the average cost of website design is essential for small businesses with limited budgets. Let's have a closer look at the key factors that determine the cost of website design for small businesses in the UK.
Website Design:
The foundational aspect of website design is simply a basic website with a few essential pages. This includes elements such as a homepage, about us page, contact information, and a few service/product pages. On average, small businesses can expect to invest between £500 to £1,500 for a straightforward, no-frills website. These types of websites are ideal for solo businesses like counsellors, coaches, plumbers, accountants, yoga teachers, photographers, painters and decorators and so on.
Customization and Branding:
Customization plays a vital role in establishing a unique brand identity. Small businesses need a website that showcases their unique image and brand rather than a generic website that is unrelated to the personality and style of their business. Added elements like custom graphics, colour schemes and tailored branding elements can increase the cost. Expect to allocate an additional £200 to £500 for personalised branding. I tend to try and get as much of this done before the project begins. I will ask you to send me some websites you like the look of and the colours you tend to like to give me a steer. I also have a website questionnaire which gives me an idea of your brand personality and the sections you are likely to want to include. If you already have a logo we can base the colours of the website around that. I will go and design a homepage for your approval and once we agree on the colours and feel of the website I can build out the rest of the website.
Content Management (CMS):
Choosing the right content management system such as Squarespace, Shopify or Wix is crucial for websites to function easily and be easy to maintain going forward when content needs to be added or deleted. Small businesses might spend between £500 to £1,000 factoring in the cost of integration, setup (by a third party), and initial content input. One of the reasons I particularly like using Squarespace to design websites is that it is very easy for clients to maintain after the project is finished, the content management system is very user friendly. I also supply a helpful instruction video as part of my service following the completion of the website design. This saves you having to pay out more money for on going maintenance and updates once the project is finished.
E-commerce Capability:
Not every business is looking to sell products from their website. For businesses that are looking to sell products online, e-commerce capability is a necessity. The cost of adding e-commerce integration to your website tends to vary depending on how many products you want to sell, with prices ranging from £1,000 to £5,000+, depending on the scale and complexity of the online store. A store selling thousands of products with multiple variations is going to pay a lot more than a simple store with only a few product lines. Each e- commerce website design project is priced according to the size and scale of the store and the amount of time it will take to input all the information, images and functionality.
Mobile Responsiveness:
With a reported 65% of internet users accessing websites via mobile devices, ensuring mobile responsiveness is non-negotiable. Website designers may charge an additional £200 to £500 to optimize a site for seamless mobile viewing. It is more important than ever to make sure your website looks just as good on mobile as it does on desktop and that it is easy to use on mobile. I don’t charge any extra for this, it is already part of my website design package.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
This is the big one! To increase visibility on search engines like Google, small businesses should invest in basic SEO services. This can add an extra £500 to £1,000 to the overall cost but is crucial for attracting organic traffic. It is also a very good idea to purchase SEO services as a monthly service after the initial website is built so that you can target your customers keywords and get ranked higher in the search engine results. It’s very easy nowadays to get lost in a sea of websites. That’s why it is imperative to have a website that is fully SEO optimised but also an ongoing SEO strategy to make sure you are attracting new visitors to your website and moving up in the ranks. Basic SEO optimisation is included free in my website packages and then ongoing SEO services start a just £400 per month. You can also read more about what those services entail and about the basics of SEO in my recent blog post here.
Ongoing Maintenance and Updates:
Every websites needs to be updated regularly with news, blogs, new products and images to make sure it is performing well but also to keep it fresh. Small businesses should budget around £600 or more annually for routine maintenance, updates, and security checks. The beauty of having a Squarespace website designed by me is that you can easily maintain it yourself once it is completed because the dashboard is so user friendly. I realise that some business owners want to just get on with running their business and leave the updates to somebody else and I completely understand that. That is why I provide website maintenance services for £25 an hour. Normally clients spend around £50 a month (2 hours) for image, content or news updates and around £200 a month (2 hours per week) for weekly blog services. Other services include auditing the website each month which includes making sure all the links work, checking website load speed, optimising image sizes and indexing pages on Google console. You can find more information and the costs for all of these services here.
Conclusion:
As you can see, getting an understanding of the average cost of website design for small businesses in the UK is essential for making informed decisions. Whilst costs can vary based on specific requirements, allocating a budget that considers customization, functionality and ongoing maintenance is key to building a powerful presence online. Investing in a well-designed and SEO friendly website can pay off in the long run by attracting visitors and establishing credibility for your business online. Here at Kaiō, I am all about small business and I try and make the cost as affordable as possible with website design packages starting at just £500 up to £2,000 and beyond. Why not book a free, no obligation discovery call? I would love to hear about your website design plans.
