If you've ever asked around about getting a website, you'll have heard wildly different numbers — from a hundred quid to many thousands. It's confusing, and it makes it hard to know what's fair. Here's a straight answer based on what a local business in West Yorkshire actually needs.
Why the prices vary so much
At the cheap end, you've got DIY builders and overseas freelancers churning out templates. At the expensive end, big agencies with big overheads. The price often has more to do with who's building it than what you actually get.
What matters for a local business isn't a flashy site — it's one that loads fast, works on a phone, and turns visitors into enquiries. You don't need to spend thousands to get that.
What you should expect to pay
For a professional, mobile-friendly website with hosting sorted, you should be looking at somewhere from £500 for a straightforward site. If you want it built to rank on Google as well — with proper local SEO — that's closer to £1,000. An online shop with payments and a product catalogue sits higher again, around £1,500.
The key thing is that the scope and price are agreed up front. You should never get a surprise invoice. At WJK Growth we always confirm exactly what you're getting before any work starts.
What's the catch with cheap websites?
A £100 template might look fine, but it's often slow, hard to find on Google, and leaves you to sort hosting and updates yourself. The hidden costs — in lost customers and your own time — usually outweigh the saving.
A website is an asset that should bring you work for years. It's worth getting right. See our website design service for exactly what's included.