The short answer

For a trade business, a website has one job: turning people who find you on Google into calls, messages and quote requests. A good one is built around that job, with clear buttons, your services, your area and proof that you do good work.

Expect to pay roughly £1,000 to £1,500 for a solid site of up to 10 pages, and £2,000 to £3,000 for a bigger site with area pages, a blog and professionally written copy. Hosting is usually £20 to £60 a month on top, depending on whether edits and backups are included.

What affects the price

The biggest factor is the number of pages. A site with a page for each service and each town you cover takes longer to build and write than a five-page brochure site, but it also gives Google far more reasons to show you.

Copywriting is the next big one. If you write the words yourself, it's cheaper. If the agency writes them, researching what your customers search for, the price goes up, and so does how well the site tends to perform.

Extras like booking systems, customer portals and online shops add cost quickly. Most trades don't need them. A clear quote form and a WhatsApp button do the job for the vast majority.

DIY builders vs freelancers vs agencies

DIY builders like Wix and Squarespace cost a monthly subscription and your time. They're fine for getting something online, but most trades don't have the evenings spare to learn SEO and conversion as well as the software.

Freelancers vary hugely. Some are excellent, some disappear after launch. Check what happens if you need changes in a year's time, and who owns the site and domain.

Agencies usually cost more, but you should get a process, ongoing support and someone accountable for results. The important thing is that they understand trade businesses, not just websites.

What you should get for your money

Whatever you pay, you should come away with a fast, mobile-friendly site that you own outright, including the domain. Every page should make it obvious how to get in touch: call, WhatsApp or a short quote form.

You should also get the basics of SEO built in: a page for each main service, your service area made clear, proper page titles and descriptions, and the site connected to Google Search Console and your Google Business Profile.

Finally, ask how long it takes. A straightforward trade website shouldn't take months once the builder has everything they need from you.

Hidden costs to watch for

The most common catch is ownership. Some companies build your site on their own system and rent it back to you, so if you leave, you lose it. Make sure the site and domain are in your name.

Watch for long contracts tied to hosting, charges for every small text change, and "SEO packages" bolted on with no clear explanation of what's actually being done each month.

Low-cost monthly website deals can look cheap, but over two or three years they often cost more than paying for a site outright, and you still don't own it at the end.

Our prices

Our Business Website is £1,295 for up to 10 pages, built to bring in enquiries. Our Growth Website is £2,195 for up to 20 pages, including area pages, a blog and copywriting. You can pay 50% upfront and 50% at launch, or spread the cost over 12 months.

Hosting is £25 a month, or £59 with care, which includes an hour of edits, backups and monitoring. Both are free with any of our SEO plans. You own the site and domain either way.

Our website prices are all on our pricing page, and you can see what's included in our web design packages.