In the UK, a small business website costs anything from £9 a month if you build it yourself on Wix, to £500 to £3,000 from a freelancer, to £2,000 to £8,000 or more from an agency. On top of the build, expect £50 to £300 a month in ongoing costs for hosting, maintenance and updates if someone else looks after it. The cheapest option is rarely the cheapest in the long run: what matters is whether the site brings you enquiries, and whether you own it.
Key takeaways
- DIY builders start at £9 a month on Wix and £14.40 a month on Squarespace, paid yearly, but you do all the work.
- A freelancer usually charges £500 to £1,500 for a 3 to 5 page site.
- Agency builds for small businesses typically run £2,000 to £8,000, and more in London.
- Ongoing costs, from hosting and domain to maintenance and SEO, often matter more than the build price.
- Always check that the domain and website are in your name, so you keep them if you leave.
Website costs in the UK at a glance
| Option | Typical cost | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | £9 to £35 a month on standard plans | Very tight budgets, simple one-page sites | Your time, template look, transaction fees, hard to move later |
| Freelance web designer | £500 to £3,000 one-off | Brochure sites of 3 to 10 pages | Ongoing support, who owns the site, what happens if they disappear |
| Small agency or studio | £2,000 to £8,000 one-off | Businesses that want design, copy and SEO done properly | Long contracts, paying extra for every change |
| Online shop | £3,000 to £10,000 from a freelancer, more from an agency | Selling products online | Platform fees, payment fees, product set-up time |
Ranges from ExpertSure's 2026 UK website cost guide and Startups.co.uk, plus Wix and Squarespace UK pricing pages, checked 1 November 2026.
DIY website builders: what they really cost
Website builders are the cheapest way to get online. These are the published UK prices for the two best-known builders, on yearly plans:
| Builder | Plan | Price per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Light | £9 + VAT | No online payments |
| Core | £16 + VAT | Payments, basic shop, bookings | |
| Business | £25 + VAT | Standard shop and bookings | |
| Squarespace | Basic | £14.40 incl. VAT | 2% fee on online store sales |
| Core | £20.40 incl. VAT | Full business features | |
| Plus | £34.80 incl. VAT | More selling features |
Yearly plans paid upfront, checked on 1 November 2026. Monthly billing costs more.
The subscription is only part of the cost. You're also paying with your own time: choosing a template, writing every page, sourcing photos, setting up SEO and keeping it all updated. For a busy tradesperson or salon owner, that can easily be several days you could have spent earning. Templates can also look like everyone else's, and moving a builder site somewhere else later usually means starting again.
Freelancer or agency: what you'll pay
If you'd rather have someone build it for you, these are typical UK prices according to ExpertSure's 2026 guide:
- Freelancer, 3 to 5 page site: £500 to £1,500
- Freelancer, 5 to 10 page site: £1,500 to £3,000
- Small or boutique agency, 5 to 10 pages: £2,000 to £5,000
- Agency for a small to medium business: £2,000 to £8,000
- London full-service agency: £8,000 to £30,000 or more
- Freelance day rates: roughly £200 to £550 a day, depending on experience
The price usually reflects how much is done for you. A cheap build might be a template with your logo dropped in. A higher price should include proper page structure, copywriting, local SEO, fast loading on phones, and a clear way for customers to call, message or book.
The question isn't "how cheap can I get a website?" It's "how many enquiries will it bring in, and will I still own it in three years?"
How much does a website cost per month?
Once it's built, a website keeps costing money. These are typical UK monthly costs:
| Cost | Typical UK price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | About £6 to £15 a year | Your web address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk. Renewals are often higher than the first year |
| Hosting | £5 to £30 a month | Keeping the site online, fast and secure. Builders include it in the plan |
| Maintenance | £50 to £150 a month (freelancer), £100 to £500 (agency) | Updates, backups, security, small changes |
| SEO | £150 to £1,200+ a month | Work to help you show up on Google, from your Google Business Profile to local pages |
Domain price checked on Namecheap for a new .co.uk on 1 November 2026. Other ranges from ExpertSure and Startups.co.uk.
All in, most small businesses that have someone look after their site spend somewhere between £50 and £300 a month. That's why it's worth comparing the full yearly cost, not just the build price.
Hidden website costs to watch for
- The domain isn't in your name. If your designer registered it, you may not be able to take it with you. Always ask.
- You don't own the website. Some monthly deals mean the site disappears the day you stop paying.
- Renewal prices. Domains and builder plans are often cheaper in year one.
- Transaction fees. Online shops and bookings can carry platform fees on every sale.
- Paying again for every change. Check what updates are included before you sign.
- A rebuild in two years. A cheap site with no SEO often brings no enquiries, so you end up paying twice.
What a small business website actually needs
You don't need a huge site. For most local businesses, a website that wins enquiries has:
- Clear pages for each service and the areas you cover, so Google knows what you do and where.
- Fast loading on phones, because most customers will find you on mobile.
- Obvious ways to get in touch: call, WhatsApp and a simple form on every page.
- Online booking if you take appointments. See our guide to choosing a salon booking system.
- A connected Google Business Profile and reviews, so you show up on Google Maps.
- Proof: photos of your work, reviews and prices or price guides.
7 questions to ask before you pay for a website
- Is the domain registered in my name?
- Do I own the website if I stop paying?
- What's the total cost for the first year, including hosting and maintenance?
- Is local SEO included, or is it extra?
- Will it load fast on a phone? Ask to see a past project on your own phone.
- How do I make changes, and what do changes cost?
- Can I see it working before I pay in full?
How we price websites at SAL Digital
We build websites for UK small businesses, from trades and salons to accountants and takeaways. Here's how it works:
- A free 15-minute call to understand your business and what you need.
- An agreed price before we start, so there are no surprises.
- We build it and show you it working. You only pay when you're happy with it.
- One-off or monthly, your choice. Pay once for the build, or monthly with your Google Business Profile, local SEO and reviews looked after for you.
- It stays yours. Your domain and Google profile are in your name from day one, and if you ever leave, you keep the website.
Get a fixed price for your website
Tell us about your business and we'll give you a clear price for a website that brings in enquiries. You only pay once you've seen it working.
Sources
- Wix UK plans and Squarespace UK pricing, checked 1 November 2026.
- ExpertSure, How much does a website cost UK 2026 (updated 25 October 2026).
- Startups.co.uk, How much does a website cost? (updated 23 March 2026).
- New .co.uk domain price checked on Namecheap, 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website cost for a small business in the UK?
Most UK small businesses pay £500 to £3,000 for a freelancer-built site or £2,000 to £8,000 for an agency build. Building it yourself on Wix or Squarespace starts at around £9 to £15 a month on a yearly plan, but you do all the work.
How much does a website cost per month in the UK?
If someone looks after it for you, expect around £50 to £300 a month for hosting, maintenance and updates. A DIY builder plan costs about £9 to £35 a month. SEO is usually extra, from around £150 a month.
How much does a basic website cost in the UK?
A basic 3 to 5 page website from a freelancer usually costs £500 to £1,500. A one-page site on a website builder can cost less than £15 a month, plus your time.
Is Wix or Squarespace cheaper in the UK?
On yearly plans, Wix starts at £9 a month plus VAT and Squarespace at £14.40 a month including VAT. Which works out cheaper depends on the features you need, such as payments, bookings or an online shop.
How much does a .co.uk domain cost?
A new .co.uk domain costs from around £6 for the first year at registrars like Namecheap. Renewals are often higher, so check the yearly renewal price before you buy.
Should I pay monthly or one-off for a website?
One-off suits you if you'll manage updates yourself. Monthly suits you if you want hosting, updates, your Google profile and local SEO looked after. Either way, make sure the domain and website stay in your name.
Do I own my website if I pay monthly?
It depends on the provider. With some monthly deals the site disappears when you stop paying. At SAL Digital, your domain and Google Business Profile are in your name from day one, and you keep the website if you leave.
Syed Latief
Syed founded SAL Digital to help UK small businesses get found on Google and stop losing enquiries. He holds an MBA, is a CPD-certified digital marketer and a certified systems administrator, holds a cyber security essentials certification, and builds and tests every automation SAL Digital sells.