If you are a small business owner in Lancashire trying to budget for a new website, the first thing you will notice is that prices are all over the place. One designer quotes £500, another quotes £5,000, and both say they are building you a 'professional website'. It is confusing, and the confusion makes it easy to pick the wrong option.
This guide is a straight answer to the question we hear most often: "How much does a small business website actually cost?" I will not give you a magic price list, because honest pricing depends on what you need. But I will explain what moves the number up or down, the difference between a template and a bespoke build, and the questions that save you from expensive surprises.
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Why website prices vary so much
A website is not a single product. It is a bundle of decisions — design, code, content, features, speed, SEO and support. When one designer quotes £500 and another quotes £5,000, they are usually not quoting for the same bundle.
Think of it like buying a car. A small runaround and a family SUV both have four wheels and an engine, but they are built for different jobs. The same is true for websites. A one-page site to show you exist is a very different build from a booking site that takes payments, sends reminders and syncs with your calendar.
Geography also plays a part. A London agency has higher overheads and usually charges more than a Lancashire-based designer for the same quality of work. That is one of the advantages of working locally — you get experienced hands without the city price tag.
Template vs bespoke websites
This is the biggest divide in website pricing, and it is worth understanding properly.
Template websites
You buy a pre-made design on a platform like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify or WordPress, then swap in your logo and text. The upfront cost is low, and you can get online fast. The trade-off is flexibility and originality. You are working inside someone else's structure, and dozens — sometimes hundreds — of other businesses are using the same design.
Templates are a good fit for side projects, hobby businesses or a quick proof of concept. They become limiting when the site has to compete in a local market, convert visitors into enquiries, or handle anything custom.
Bespoke websites
A bespoke site is designed and built around your business from a blank page. The structure, content, layout, colours, typography and functionality are all chosen for your audience and your goals. It costs more because it takes more time, skill and decision-making.
For a small business that relies on its website for leads, bookings or sales, bespoke is usually the better long-term investment. You own the result, you can differentiate from competitors, and the site can grow with you. If you are considering a business website in Lancashire, you can see what a bespoke build typically covers on our business websites page.
What affects the cost of a small business website
Here are the main things that move a quote up or down. The more of these you need, the more time and expertise the build will take.
Number of pages
A five-page brochure site is very different from a 40-page catalogue with filtering, search and enquiry forms. Every page adds design, content and testing time.
Custom design or template
A template gets you live quickly and cheaply, but looks like hundreds of other sites. A bespoke design is drawn from scratch around your brand, your customers and your goals.
Functionality
Booking systems, online payments, customer logins, stock control, quote calculators and integrations with your CRM or email tool all add complexity — and cost.
Content production
Are you writing the words and supplying photos, or do you need a copywriter and photographer? Good content often takes more time than the design itself.
SEO and local optimisation
Clean code, fast loading, structured data and local SEO pages take skill, but they are what make a site visible in Google for terms like 'web design Blackburn' or 'plumber Preston'.
Revisions and project management
Some quotes include two rounds of revisions; others include unlimited. A designer who asks better questions up front usually saves you money later.
The best way to get an accurate quote is to have a clear brief. A good designer will ask about your customers, your competitors, the pages you need, and what a successful website looks like in six months. That conversation protects both sides from scope creep and unexpected invoices.
Ongoing costs to budget for
The website itself is only part of the total cost. A site that sits on the internet needs a few ongoing things to keep it alive, secure and useful. Here is what most Lancashire small businesses should expect.
Domain name
Typically £10–£20 a year for a .co.uk or .com. Premium names can cost more.
Hosting
Shared hosting is cheaper; managed or cloud hosting is faster and more reliable. For a business site, budget hosting often costs more in lost enquiries than it saves.
SSL certificate
Most good hosts include this free now. It keeps customer data secure and is expected by Google.
Maintenance and updates
Security patches, software updates, backups and occasional content changes. Some designers include a care plan; others charge hourly.
Professional email through Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 is usually £5–£7 per user per month.
Do not be tempted to skip professional hosting to save a few pounds a month. Slow loading, downtime and poor security are expensive problems — they cost you enquiries and damage trust with Google.
Common mistakes when budgeting for a website
Mistakes that cost you later
- •Choosing purely on price. The cheapest quote often skips the research, SEO and testing that make a site actually work.
- •Comparing a £500 template site with a £5,000 bespoke build. They are not the same product.
- •Forgetting ongoing costs. A website is not a one-off purchase; it needs hosting, updates and care.
- •Not owning your domain. If the designer registers it in their name, you are locked in forever.
- •Hidden page builders and plugins. Some platforms charge more as you grow, or make it hard to move elsewhere.
- •Skipping the brief. A good designer will ask what success looks like — if they don't, the price is a guess.
The most expensive mistake is building something that does not do the job. A cheap site that does not bring in enquiries is not cheap — it is a wasted investment. If you want to see the kind of results a well-built site can deliver, have a look at our portfolio.
What to ask a web designer before you choose
A good designer will not mind these questions. In fact, they will probably welcome them. Asking the right things up front separates a professional from someone who is just selling you a template.
- 1Can I see examples of sites you've built for businesses like mine?
- 2Will I own the website, domain and hosting when it's finished?
- 3Is this a bespoke design or a customised template?
- 4What happens if I need changes after launch?
- 5How do you handle SEO, speed and mobile performance?
- 6What is included in the quote, and what would cost extra?
- 7Who writes the content and supplies the images?
- 8What does your support look like six months after launch?
If a designer cannot answer these clearly, or the quote feels vague, that is a red flag. The best working relationships are built on clarity, not pressure.
Honest quotes for Lancashire businesses
We are based in Oswaldtwistle and work with small businesses across Lancashire — Blackburn, Accrington, Preston, Darwen, Blackpool and the surrounding towns. Every quote is built around what you actually need, with no hidden costs and no hard sell.
Request a free quoteFrequently asked questions
How much does a small business website cost in the UK in 2026?
It depends on what you need. A simple brochure site built from a template can start from a few hundred pounds. A bespoke, multi-page site with local SEO and a content management system typically runs into the low thousands. Add eCommerce, booking or custom features and the investment increases because of the extra design, build and testing work.
Is a bespoke website worth it for a small Lancashire business?
If your site is central to how you win customers, yes. A bespoke site is built around your brand, your services and the towns you serve. That usually means better search visibility, more trust from visitors, and a site that grows with you rather than fighting against its limits.
Why do some web designers charge so much more than others?
Experience, process and scope. A designer who researches your competitors, writes original copy, tests every page and optimises for local SEO will charge more than one who installs a template and sends you the login. You are paying for outcomes, not just hours.
What are the hidden costs of a cheap website?
Slow hosting, poor mobile performance, missing SEO, plugin subscriptions, and the time you spend fixing things yourself. The biggest hidden cost is opportunity: a site that doesn't rank or convert is a site that loses enquiries every month.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A simple brochure site can take a few weeks. A bespoke site with custom content, multiple pages and features like booking or eCommerce usually takes six to twelve weeks. The biggest delays are almost always content — photos, text and feedback.
Do I need to pay monthly after the website is built?
Yes, for hosting, domain renewal and email at minimum. Many businesses also pay for a care plan that covers updates, backups and security monitoring. Think of it like car maintenance — small, regular cost vs a big repair bill later.