What does it cost to have a website built in 2026? An honest price overview for SMEs

Let us be honest: everyone wants to hear a concrete amount. But a website with a fixed price tag does not really exist, just as a house does not have a fixed price. It depends on the size, the wishes and the amount of custom work.

What we can do is give you insight into the ranges and into what pushes the price up or down. With that knowledge you can assess a quote better and you know what you are paying for.

Important: all amounts in this article are indications. For a price that fits your situation, a conversation or quote is always needed.

Which factors determine the price of a website?

The price of a website is determined by a number of things. The most important are:

• the number of pages and the size
• the amount of custom work in design and functionality
• whether texts and photos have to be supplied
• special features (such as a quote module, integrations or multiple languages)
• whether it is a regular website or a webshop
• the wishes around visibility in Google

The more custom work and features, the higher the investment. A compact website with a few pages sits at the lower end, an extensive business website or webshop at the upper end.

A good comparison is again that of a house. A move-in-ready apartment costs less than a detached house with its own design and an attached conservatory. Neither is wrong, they just suit different wishes and budgets. With a website it works exactly the same way: the price follows from what you ask of it, not from a fixed rate that applies to everyone.

Realistic ranges as an indication

To give you a feel, below is a rough indication of what business owners invest in practice. Again: these are guide amounts, not a quote.

• a simple, professional website (a few pages): from a few hundred up to around a thousand euros
• a more extensive business website with custom work: roughly several thousand euros
• a webshop or website with a lot of custom work: from several thousand euros and up

The spread is large, and that makes sense. A website is an investment that moves with what it has to deliver. A site that structurally brings in customers deserves a different approach than a simple online business card.

Where exactly does your money go?

A quote of a few thousand euros sounds like a lot to some business owners. It helps to know where that money is. A website is mainly human work: the time of people who think, design, build and test.

Roughly, your investment goes to:

• working out the structure and the customer journey
• the design that suits your business
• building the pages and features
• processing texts and images
• testing on all devices
• the technical basis for speed, security and visibility

So you are not paying for a ready-made product off the shelf, but for craftsmanship tailored to your situation. That explains why the prices vary and why the cheapest option often gives up something somewhere.

One-off costs versus recurring costs

A common misconception is that a website is a one-off expense. In practice there are two types of costs.

One-off:

• the design and build of the website
• possibly texts and photography

Recurring (per month or year):

• domain name and hosting
• maintenance and updates
• possibly ongoing SEO or content work

The maintenance in particular is often forgotten. A website is not a painting you hang up and forget. It needs updates, security and the occasional improvement to keep working well.

Hourly rate versus fixed price

Web agencies calculate in different ways. Sometimes you hear an hourly rate, sometimes a fixed project price.

An hourly rate gives flexibility, but less certainty in advance. A fixed price gives clarity, but requires a sharply defined assignment.

For most business owners a fixed price per project works more pleasantly. You know in advance where you stand. Do make sure it is clear what is included in that price and what counts as extra work. A good quote makes that distinction explicit.

With an hourly rate, always ask for an estimate of the total number of hours. A low hourly rate says little if many hours are needed. The other way around, a higher hourly rate with an efficient approach can actually turn out cheaper.

Website per month: buying or renting?

A model that comes up more and more often is the website on a subscription: you pay a fixed amount per month instead of a large amount at once. That sounds attractive, and for some business owners it is.

But do watch the agreements underneath. Important questions are:

• do you own your website after a while, or are you renting it?
• what happens if you stop the subscription?
• are maintenance and updates included in the monthly amount?
• can you switch to another party if you want to?

A subscription spreads the costs and can be handy for a small budget. But always work out what you pay over the longer term. Sometimes buying is cheaper, sometimes renting. The most important thing is that you know what you get and that you are not locked in without realising it.

Why the cheapest option is rarely the most economical

A website can be very cheap, but cheap is not the same as economical. A low price often comes at the expense of something: the quality, the visibility, the speed or the maintenance.

A website that no one finds or that scares off visitors ultimately costs you more than it delivers. So the question is not only what a website costs, but what it delivers.

So look beyond the price:

• is the website made properly findable?
• is it fast and does it work well on mobile?
• does it help visitors to get in touch or buy?
• can you manage it yourself or are you dependent?

A slightly higher investment that pays for itself is more economical than a cheap website that stays still.

What does a webshop cost in comparison?

A webshop is usually a larger investment than a regular website. There is more involved: products, payment methods, shipping, stock and often integrations with other software.

Where a simple website sits at the lower end of the range, a serious webshop usually starts higher. The recurring costs are often higher too, because a webshop requires more maintenance and attention.

It pays to think carefully in advance about what exactly your webshop needs to do, so you do not pay for features you do not use.

Hidden costs to watch out for

A sharp price in advance does not say everything. Watch out for costs that can pop up later:

• extra work that was not clearly agreed
• costs for texts or photos you thought you would supply yourself
• ongoing licences for themes or plug-ins
• maintenance that is invoiced separately
• costs to adjust or expand something later

A reliable partner is transparent about this. Always ask what is and is not included in the price, and roughly what a change later will cost.

How long does it take and what does that mean for the costs?

Time and money are connected. More custom work and more pages mean more work and therefore a higher investment. Want to know what the planning looks like? Then read our article on how long it takes to have a website built.

Good to know: you have influence on the costs yourself. By supplying content complete, giving targeted feedback and making sharp choices, you avoid extra hours and keep the project within budget.

How do you get a fair price for your situation?

The only way to really know what your website costs is a conversation in which your wishes become clear. A good quote translates your goals into a concrete proposal with a clear price.

Prepare by thinking about:

• what the website has to deliver
• which pages you need
• whether you supply texts and photos yourself
• whether you want to be able to expand later
• your rough budget

With that information we can make a suitable proposal without surprises afterwards.

Conclusion: look at value, not just price

What it costs to have a website built depends on your wishes, the size and the amount of custom work. The ranges in this article give an indication, but your real price follows from a conversation.

The most important advice: do not only look at the price, but at what the website delivers. A good website is an investment that pays for itself in enquiries, sales and trust.

Want to know what a website costs for your business? Tell us your wishes and we will make an honest, transparent estimate.

Want to know what a website will cost for your business? We are happy to make an honest and transparent proposal without surprises. See our website service or see the options for a webshop and request a no-obligation quote.

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to have a website built in 2026?

The price depends on the size and the custom work. A simple professional website starts relatively low, while an extensive business website or webshop requires a larger investment. All amounts are indications; a quote gives the price for your situation.

Why do the prices differ so much?

A website is custom work. The number of pages, the amount of custom work, special features and whether texts and photos have to be supplied together determine the price. That is why quotes vary considerably.

Are there also monthly costs?

Yes. In addition to the one-off build costs, there are recurring costs for domain name, hosting and maintenance. Maintenance keeps your website secure, up to date and working well, and is often forgotten in the budget.

Is a cheap website a good idea?

Cheap is not the same as economical. A low price often comes at the expense of visibility, speed or maintenance. So look at what a website delivers, not only at what it costs.

What does a webshop cost compared to a website?

A webshop is usually a larger investment than a regular website, because there is more involved such as products, payment methods and shipping. The recurring costs are often higher too.

How do I get a price that fits my situation?

The best way is a conversation or quote in which your wishes become clear. With information about your goals, desired pages and budget, we can make a suitable proposal without surprises afterwards.