In short and in plain language
What does a website cost? It depends on your project. This article explains what sets the price.
What matters is the scope, the design, the tech and SEO. SEO means your site is easier to find on Google.
With a fixed price you know the price in advance. This fits when the scope is clear. If it is open, the work is often billed by the hour.
After launch there are running costs, for example for care. Do not save on mobile view, speed and updates.
The first meeting is free. After that you get a clear fixed-price offer.
Hardly any question comes up as reliably in a first meeting as this one: What does a professional website cost? The honest answer is, at first, "It depends" - and that is exactly what frustrates many companies that simply want to plan. The range really is wide: a small business site costs considerably less than a custom SME presence, and a full online shop or portal can be considerably higher again. The price is driven by four understandable factors: scope, design, technology and SEO. This article makes those factors transparent, names our own entry prices, explains the difference between a fixed price and an hourly rate, and shows which ongoing costs follow after launch. As a web agency from the Hildesheim region, we see every day that an honest calculation at the start avoids expensive surprises at the end.
Key takeaways
- Our entry prices as listed on the pricing page: one-pager from EUR 1,490, business website with five to ten pages from EUR 3,900, online shop on Shopware Community Edition from EUR 3,900 depending on scope, each net; portals on request.
- Four levers set the price: scope in pages, languages and features; design between an adapted template and a bespoke concept; technology with CMS and interfaces; plus SEO and content. Missing texts delay projects more often than technical work does.
- A fixed price fits when the scope can be described up front and leaves the effort risk with the provider. Open-ended scope is billed hourly, where an agreed budget cap limits the uncertainty.
- Costs continue after launch: hosting, domain, care and updates. With us, maintenance and managed hosting start at EUR 49 per month net; budget this amount from the start.
- Savings are realistic on self-supplied texts and images, on a proven template instead of bespoke design, and through a staged rollout. Do not cut mobile presentation, loading speed, the SEO foundation, updates or backups: outdated software leaves known gaps open (BSI).
- A well-built website often serves a company for many years; the costliest mistake is building it twice after planning too thinly. Quotes become comparable through a fixed price that itemises every single position.
Why There Is No Fixed Website Price
A website is not an off-the-shelf product but a service tailored precisely to a company. The comparison with a car fits well: a compact car and a sedan are both cars, yet cost a multiple of each other - because size, equipment and ambition differ. The same applies to websites. A five-page brochure site for a trades business involves a different effort than an online shop with several thousand articles and a connection to inventory management.
On top of that, "website" can mean very different things. Some providers quote pure builder sites, where a ready-made template is filled in. Others mean a fully custom web design with its own concept, an editorial system and search engine optimization. Both are called a "website" in everyday language, but the price difference is considerable. Anyone comparing quotes is therefore often comparing apples to oranges. Sensible budgeting begins with describing your own needs clearly.
The third reason lies in the long life cycle. A well-built website often accompanies a company for many years before a larger relaunch becomes necessary. Spread across this usage period, the acquisition costs become significantly relative. An initially cheap solution that can no longer be extended after two years often becomes more expensive over its lifetime than a solidly built site that grows with you. The price on day one is therefore only part of the equation.
Before You Request Quotes
The Four Cost Factors in Detail
Instead of starting with a flat rate, it helps to understand the price from its components. Practically every reputable estimate is made up of the same four levers. Anyone who knows which lever their budget hangs on can prioritize specifically and save in the right place without damaging the result.
Scope
Number of pages, languages and features. A simple image site with five pages is quickly implemented. Booking systems, member areas, form flows or a shop noticeably increase the effort, because each feature has to be conceived, built and tested.
Design
An adapted template is cheaper than a custom design with its own concept, aligned to brand and target group. The closer the visual result is to a bespoke brand presence, the higher the design effort.
Technology
Content management system, performance, accessibility and interfaces to other systems such as inventory management or newsletters. Integrations and custom logic are technically more demanding than a pure presentation page.
SEO and Content
Search engine optimization, clean page structure, loading speed and, above all, the texts. Anyone who wants professional content and a well-thought-out SEO foundation should plan for this item from the start rather than fixing it expensively afterwards.
By far the most frequently underestimated factor is the content. Many projects are delayed not by technology but because texts and images are missing. When the agency writes texts, organizes professional photos or prepares existing content, that is a cost item of its own. Anyone who supplies their own texts saves here - but should plan realistically for the writing, because good content takes time. A well-thought-out search engine optimization, in turn, ensures that the investment in the website is found at all; without visibility, even the most beautiful site stays unused.
Our Entry Prices by Project Type
The following overview lists our own entry prices as shown on the pricing page and shows who each project type suits. Where we do not show a fixed price, we name the price in the quote after the initial consultation. Where exactly your fixed price lies depends on the factors mentioned above: lean implementations stay close to the entry price, custom design with bespoke technology lies above it.
| Project type | With us (net) | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| One-pager (1 page) | from EUR 1,490 fixed price | Freelancers, small businesses, clubs |
| Business website (5-10 pages) | from EUR 3,900 fixed price | Businesses with several services or locations |
| Online shop (Shopware CE) | from EUR 3,900, by scope | Retail, manufacturers, B2B sales |
| Portal / web application | on request | Platforms with logins and workflows |
| Landing page (1 page, campaign) | from EUR 1,490 like a one-pager | Single campaigns, product launches |
For our region this means concretely: a trades business or a practice from Hildesheim, Sarstedt or Alfeld starts with us with a one-pager from 1,490 euros or a business website from 3,900 euros net. Where exactly the fixed price for a solid, custom-designed presence lies depends on the number of pages, range of features and content.
For an online shop, the range widens because requirements diverge more strongly. A manageable shop based on Shopware Community Edition with standard payment methods and a clear product range starts at the lower end. As soon as interfaces to inventory management, B2B features, multiple languages or custom configurators are added, the effort rises - we support such projects through our online shop services. It is important to clarify from the start which features are truly needed at launch and which can follow in a second expansion stage.
Beware of Extreme Low Prices
Fixed Price or Hourly Rate - Which Makes More Sense?
There are essentially two billing models, and both have their place. The fixed price sets a binding amount for a clearly defined scope of services. This provides planning certainty and is the preferred model for most classic website projects - especially when the scope can be described well in advance. The prerequisite is a clean concept, because a fixed price can only be as good as the requirements it rests on.
Billing by hourly or daily rate makes sense when the scope is not yet fully defined at the start of the project - for example with complex portals, ongoing development or agile projects. Typical hourly rates for web development and design differ considerably depending on specialization, region and experience. The advantage lies in flexibility, the disadvantage in less cost certainty, which is why an agreed budget cap is helpful here.
| Criterion | Fixed price | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cost certainty | High - the amount is set | Lower - depends on effort |
| Prerequisite | Clearly defined concept | Trust and ongoing coordination |
| Flexibility for changes | Handled via change requests | Flexible at any time |
| Suitable for | Classic websites, shops with clear scope | Portals, ongoing development |
| Risk | Lies with the provider | Shared jointly |
In practice, many projects combine both: the actual build of the website runs as a fixed price, while later maintenance and development after launch is billed via a monthly hour budget or a care plan. This combination connects planning certainty during the build with flexibility in ongoing operation. Which model fits your project can be assessed quickly in the initial consultation.
Ongoing Costs: Hosting, Domain and Maintenance
A website is not finished at launch - it has to be operated, kept current and secured. These ongoing costs are easily forgotten in budgeting, but they are manageable once you know them. The most important items are hosting, domain, maintenance and software updates. Anyone who plans for them from the start avoids nasty surprises and unprotected gaps.
- Hosting: A manageable monthly amount for a small site, more with higher traffic or shops with performance requirements. We rely on hosting in German data centers.
- Domain: A .de domain costs a small annual amount. Multiple domains or special extensions increase the amount accordingly.
- Maintenance and updates: Many agencies bundle regular software updates, backups and small content changes into a care plan; with us, maintenance and managed hosting start at 49 euros per month net.
- SSL certificate: Usually included in hosting today - an encrypted call via https is standard and important for visitor trust.
- Content maintenance: New texts, images, campaigns or blog articles - either self-managed via the CMS or as a service.
Maintenance in particular is not an optional luxury. Outdated software is one of the biggest security risks on the web; a significant share of successful attacks on websites exploits known, long-closed gaps in unpatched systems (BSI). A maintained system protects not only the data but also the reputation - a hacked site or one infected with malware costs a multiple of the ongoing maintenance in an emergency. Our maintenance and update service keeps the site technically current and secure.
A Rule of Thumb for the Total Budget
Where to Save Sensibly - and Where Not To
Budget is almost always a topic for SMEs, and that is legitimate. There are indeed places where you can save without a loss of quality. Anyone who supplies their own texts and images saves a relevant item. A proven, professionally adapted template instead of a completely custom design can be perfectly sufficient for many companies. And a staggered build-out - first the core site, then further features later - spreads the investment over time.
In other places, saving is risky. Cutting corners on the mobile presentation is no longer an option today: a large share of visitors arrive on mobile devices, and a site has to work flawlessly on a smartphone. Stinginess also backfires with loading speed and basic search engine optimization, because a slow or undiscoverable site misses its purpose. And since the German Accessibility Strengthening Act, accessibility is no longer a nice-to-have for many providers but a legal requirement.
- Saving possible: supply your own texts and images instead of commissioning creation
- Saving possible: a proven template instead of a fully custom design
- Saving possible: a staggered build-out in several stages instead of everything at launch
- Do not save: mobile presentation and loading speed
- Do not save: a basic SEO structure and a clean technical foundation
- Do not save: ongoing maintenance, backups and security updates
Experience shows that the most expensive mistake is building twice: a site built too cheaply that no longer meets requirements after a short time and has to be completely redone. This double investment is avoided through an honest needs analysis at the start. That is exactly what the free initial consultation is for - it costs nothing and creates clarity before any budget is committed.
How Your Individual Quote Comes About
Instead of starting with a flat rate, we follow the same transparent path for every project. It begins with the free initial consultation, in which we understand your goals, target group and wishes. From this we derive the necessary scope and translate it into a clear fixed-price quote that lists every item separately. This way you see exactly what you are paying for and can set priorities if the budget is tight.
- Initial consultation (free): Clarify goals, target group, rough scope and budget framework - personally, from the Hildesheim region.
- Concept and quote: We define the page structure, features and design direction and present a fixed-price quote with individual items.
- Implementation: Design, build in the CMS, content, technical foundations and SEO - with interim versions for coordination.
- Testing and launch: Checks on mobile devices, loading speed, accessibility and function, then publication.
- Operation: Hosting, maintenance and optional further development - so the site stays current and secure in the long term.
The fact that we come from the region is more than a detail. In-person appointments on site, short distances and contacts you know make a web project far more pleasant than an anonymous online builder. Whether for Hildesheim itself or the surrounding towns - you can find an overview of our regions and services on our website, and we show examples of our work in our references.
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