Honest Answer: How Much Does a Website Cost Small Business? (2026 Guide)
If you’re researching website cost for small business owners in Shropshire, you’ve probably noticed a frustrating trend: nobody puts their prices online
You usually have to fill out a contact form, wait three days for a reply, and sit through a sales pitch just to find out if the price is £500 or £5,000.
I believe business should be simpler than that. You wouldn’t hire a plasterer or an electrician without a rough idea of the day rate or job price, and web design shouldn’t be any different.
In this guide, I’m going to break down exactly what you’re paying for, the difference between a “cheap” site and a “proper” site, and exactly what I charge here at Ben Builds Websites.
Part 1: The Basics (The "Rent & Rates")
Before we talk about the build cost, there are two ongoing costs every website owner in the world pays. Think of these like the rent and rates for your digital shop.
Your Domain Name (Website Address)
This is your www.(businessname).com
This is the ‘address’ where your website is going to live, and how people will find you online. Prices can differ depending on how ‘in demand’ your domain is. For example .com domains can be a little bit more expensive than .co.uk domains. Once we purchase your domain, that’s it, nobody else can have it! It’s yours.
Cost: Between £10 and £40 per year.
I handle the purchase and set up of the domain for you, so you own it 100%. It renews yearly or bi-yearly depending on how we set it up.
Hosting and Maintenence
Think of this like your websites 'plot of land'
Your website files need to live on a secure, fast server so people can access them 24/7. My hosting is premium, so it includes things like an SSL Certificate for free, which other web design companies charge a lot for, this can usually be £100-£150 upfront. I dont do that.
Cost: £30 per month
This covers daily backups, security updates to keep hackers out, and keeping the software running smooth. It means if something breaks, you call me, and I fix it. No call centres, no waiting on hold!
Part 2: Website Cost for Small Business Breakdown
This is the one-off fee to actually design, build, and launch the site. This is the larger part of the website cost to small business.
The "Standard Agency" Problem
Likely to rub a few people up the wrong way here but, most agencies will try and justify charging you £3,000+ just to open their laptop. You’re paying for their office rent, their project managers, and their overheads, which drives up the website cost for small business clients unnecessarily!
On the flip side, you have the “bedroom developer” often a tech whizz who is probably pretty decent at coding web stuff, but they speak in code, won’t answer the phone when needed and often has zero sales skills or business acumen. Sorry not sorry, but I like to do things a touch differently!
Doing It The BenBuildsWebsites Way
I operate differently. I’ve worked in the trade; I know how local businesses operate. I’m not hiding behind a phone! I’m on hand for marketing, branding advice, logo design, web design, SEO, Google Business Optimisation and more. Everything you need for your business to be found online, I can make happen for you. I’d like to develop a relaxed, professional relationship where you can come to me for sound advice and quality service. See me as an add on to your business who always has the best result in mind for you, and not the biggest number I can stick on my invoice.
I Offer The Whole Package
I Come Out To See You
Media and Content
Text Writing
Web Design That Works
My Pricing Structure
The Starter Point
FROM £525.
This gets you a professional, fast, mobile-friendly site that puts you on the map. Ideal for a smaller service business or if you don’t need too many pages. Comes with basic SEO set up for google.
The Sweet Spot
FROM £950 to £1350.
Most of my clients spend between £950 and £1,350. This usually includes more pages, a portfolio of your past work, specific service breakdowns, and advanced SEO setup.
Higher End
Bespoke Pricing.
For advanced sites requiring 8+ pages, service locations, portfolios, multiple contact forms, a much more advanced SEO set up, ongoing SEO (google Ranking) help. This is a fully customizable web design package put together to give you everything you need.
Add On's
Additional services so you only pay for what you need!
- Logo Design
- On-site photography package (from £250 location dependant.)
- Google Business Profile Optimisation
- Social Media Content Creation
- Monthly SEO Booster
How You Pay (Flexible Terms)
Cash flow is king in small business. I don’t expect the full lump sum upfront. My payment terms are designed to be fair:
Small Deposit: A small percentage to book your slot and get the ball rolling.
Midway Payment: 50% of the balance once the design is approved and the website build is halfway there.
Final Balance: You only pay the rest just before we flick the switch and go live.
Summary
Ultimately, the website cost for a small business isn’t an expense; it’s an investment in an employee that works 24/7.
If you’re tired of “mystery pricing” or wasting time on the phone to agencies to only find out you’ll need a bank loan (or to rob one) for a website and want a straight-talking web design partner who will actually answer the phone and help, let’s have a chat.
Get in Touch
Interested in working together?
Getting in touch with BenBuildsWebsites is easy peasy. Simply fill out the form below and i’ll get it in my inbox, nice and hot!
Much Wenlock, Shropshire