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“How much does a website cost?” has no single answer — much like “how much does a home renovation cost?”. There is a big difference in workload between a brochure site of a few pages and an online store with hundreds of products, payment processing and stock integration. This article covers the main factors that set the price, one-off versus recurring costs, and how to compare quotes.
#The main factors that set the price
| Factor | How it affects the price | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Number and structure of pages | Every unique page template means separate design and development time; pages sharing a template take less work. | How many different page types will there be? |
| Design level | There is a clear difference in effort between adapting a ready-made theme and a design made for your brand. | Is the design original or template-based? |
| Content management | The number and flexibility of fields editable from the panel affect development time. | Which content will we update ourselves? |
| Integrations | Connecting to external systems such as payments, shipping, ERP, CRM, SMS or maps needs extra development and testing. | Which systems does the site need to talk to? |
| Custom features | Bookings, user accounts, price calculators or multi-step forms increase scope. | Is this feature essential in the first version? |
| Number of languages | Each language means translation, separate URLs and hreflang markup. | How many languages, and who translates? |
| Content production | Copywriting, photography or image preparation may or may not be included in the quote. | Who provides the content? |
| Hosting and maintenance | Server type, backups, security updates and support scope determine the yearly cost. | Who looks after what after launch? |
#One-off and recurring costs
The most common mistake when comparing quotes is looking only at the development fee. The cost of a website falls into two groups:
One-off costs
- Analysis and scoping
- Interface design
- Development, integrations and testing
- Content entry and, if needed, migration from the old site
- Launch and technical SEO set-up
Yearly or monthly costs
- Domain renewal
- Hosting / server fees
- Business email (usually per user)
- Maintenance and support: security updates, backups, small changes
- Paid plugins, licences or usage-based services such as SMS
#How to compare quotes
Ask three companies for the same job and you may see very different figures. The difference is usually down to each company understanding the scope differently. To compare fairly:
- Send every company the same written brief: page list, required features, number of languages and example sites you like.
- Ask in writing what is not included as well (copywriting, photography, translation, plugin licences).
- Ask who will own the source code, the domain and the hosting account.
- Clarify how many revisions are included and how out-of-scope requests are priced.
- Compare the post-launch support period, response times and maintenance scope.
- Check whether technical SEO (speed, meta tags, structured data, sitemap) is included.
For a more detailed list, see our article on the questions to ask before building a website.
#What if the budget is limited?
With a limited budget it is healthier to split the scope into phases than to cut quality. The first version launches with the core pages that explain your business and a contact or quote form; the blog, a second language, a customer portal or integrations follow in later phases. This requires a foundation built to grow from the start. On the hosting side, too, you can start with a solution that fits your traffic rather than a server bigger than you need; see shared hosting vs VPS for the differences.
#How Averis Soft sets prices
We don't have a fixed price list, because the price depends on page count, integrations, custom features, design and hosting/maintenance needs. We reply to quote requests within 24 hours; for larger projects we confirm scope and price after a short call. Hosting, domain and email appear as separate yearly line items in the quote; technical SEO is standard in every project and the source code is handed over to you. You can read about our approach on the pricing page, see our corporate website service or request a quote directly.
Frequently asked questions
Why do website prices vary so much?
Because each quote may be pricing a different scope: a ready-made theme or original design, whether copywriting is included, integrations and post-launch support all directly affect the total. Send every company the same written brief so you can compare.
What are the yearly costs of a website?
Domain renewal, hosting or server, business email and optional maintenance/support are recurring costs. Ask for each of them to be listed separately in the quote.
Does using a ready-made template lower the cost?
It can lower the initial cost, but a template's speed, flexibility and plugin dependency can add costs in the long run. If your needs are standard a template may be enough; if you need a structure specific to your brand, a custom design is a better fit.
What do I need to get a quote from Averis Soft?
A short description is enough: your business, the pages or features you want and any example sites. Quote requests get a reply within 24 hours; for larger projects scope is clarified in a short call.