How much does a website cost for a tradesperson?

A tradesperson does not need the same website as a national chain. For most trades the goal is simple: be found locally, inspire trust and receive enquiries. The price rises as you add pages, features or copywriting.

These are the items that weigh most on a quote:

• The number of pages: one well-built page is not the same amount of work as ten service pages.
• Features: a contact form is simple; a detailed quote request form, online booking or online sales take more.
• The copy: if you supply it, the price goes down; if the agency writes it after talking with you, that is extra time.
• Photos: your own job photos beat stock images, but they sometimes need sorting and retouching.
• Design: an adapted template costs less than a fully custom design.

A website has two types of cost. The first is paid once: the build (mock-up, pages, copy, going live). The second comes back every month or every year: it is what keeps the site online, secure and up to date.

The monthly fee usually covers hosting (the server your site lives on), technical updates, backups and sometimes small changes. The domain name (your address, such as mybusiness.com) is also renewed every year. Always ask exactly what the monthly fee includes.

Two quotes cannot be compared on the total alone. Put them side by side and check each point. A cheaper quote that includes neither the copy nor the monthly fee can end up costing more.

• The number of pages and their content, in black and white.
• Who writes the copy and who supplies the photos.
• The monthly fee and what it covers (hosting, backups, updates, small changes).
• The time to go live.
• The number of rounds of corrections included.
• How the site looks on a phone, tested before delivery.
• What happens if you end the contract: do you get your site and your domain back?

The most common trap is the “all-inclusive” subscription where the site never belongs to you. You pay every month, sometimes for several years with a minimum term, and the day you want to leave, the site stays with the provider. You then have to start again from scratch.

Another sensitive point is the domain name. It must be registered in your name, not the agency’s. Otherwise, changing provider can cost you your address, your emails and your visibility.

• A long commitment with no clear way out.
• A domain registered in the provider’s name.
• No access to your site (no administrator login).
• Promises of “first place on Google”: nobody can seriously guarantee that.
• A very low price with no detail of what is included.

The clearer your request, the easier the quotes are to compare. Before contacting an agency, write down what you do, the area you cover, the enquiries you want to receive and a few websites you like. Gather your job photos and your logo if you have one.

If you already have a website, check it for free with our diagnostic: in a few seconds it tells you whether it displays properly on a phone and whether it is secure. You will know whether you need a redesign or just a few fixes. And if you would like to talk it over, the first 30-minute call is free.