In the early 2000s, a friend inspired me to build my first website. What started as a hobby turned into my job. When I became a Marketing Manager in the early 2010s, building websites became a hobby again. While I still regularly commission websites and oversee improvements in my role, I enjoy working on them myself too.
Over the years, many people have asked me to help them navigate the process of having a website built. The first question I always get is, “How much does it cost to have a website made?”
So, how much does a website cost?
That is like asking, “How much does a car cost?” Some people buy a brand-new luxury car, while others get a used car for €500 to last them a year. The cost depends on your needs and preferences. It is often easier to define what you want in a car than it is when building a website for the first time. Below are some key points to consider.
1) What CMS (Content Management System) will be used?
Most modern websites are built with a CMS, which allows you to edit and manage content without needing technical knowledge. When requesting a quote, ask which CMS the web developer plans to use.
a) Open Source CMS vs paid CMS
One of the biggest decisions is whether to choose an Open Source CMS or a Paid CMS.
- Open Source CMS platforms are usually free to use.
- Paid CMS platforms operate on a license model, requiring you to pay recurring fees. These costs can add up to thousands of euros per year. If the added value is not significant, this could be an unnecessary expense.
b) Flexibility of the CMS
Having worked with various CMS platforms, I have seen how different they can be. Some allow you to customize everything from within the system, while others require a developer for even minor changes. A flexible CMS can save a lot of money when expanding your site, even if you hire a developer for updates. With a flexible system, a junior front-end developer or content marketer can handle most changes instead of a senior PHP developer, who is more expensive.
c) The new trend: Headless CMS
More companies are opting for a Headless CMS, where the CMS does not control the page layout but only provides content to the front end. This setup can make websites faster and more flexible for developers. It also allows content to be used across multiple platforms, such as websites, apps, and customer portals.
However, Headless CMS setups are often much more expensive. If you only have one website and want to keep costs low, a Headless CMS may not be the best choice.
2) Web design and visual layout
There are countless pre-designed website templates available for Open Source CMS platforms. You can download a template and customize it with your logo and brand colors. While customization is limited, these templates are often free or cost only a few hundred euros.
If you want a fully custom design, you will need to hire a designer and developer to create and implement it. A custom design can significantly improve your brand’s image but will cost at least €2,000 extra.
3) Hosting costs
A website needs to be hosted on a server, which acts as the digital home for your site. Web developers often include hosting fees in their quotes, but it is worth checking whether they have their own servers or work with a third-party provider.
In some cases, you can save money by arranging hosting yourself and giving the developer access. This also reduces risks if the company goes bankrupt, ensuring your website does not go offline unexpectedly.