Ask around and you'll hear very different numbers. A friend paid £600 for a Squarespace site. An agency quoted someone else £8,000.
Both can be fair prices. They're for very different jobs.
A simple site for a local consultant gives people your contact details. A site for a service business competing across the UK has to win enquiries from strangers. That takes more work, so it costs more. Mixing the two up is where expensive mistakes happen.
What UK small businesses pay in 2026
There are three main routes. You can build it yourself, hire a freelancer or use an agency. Each one suits some businesses. The question is which one fits what you need the site to do.
Build it yourself
Wix and Squarespace cost around £200 to £500 for the first year. That includes your domain and hosting. It's a sensible start if you're testing an idea or don't have customers yet.
There are trade-offs. You can only do what the template allows. It's harder to show up on Google. Every hour you spend building the site is an hour away from paid work.
Hire a freelancer
Most small businesses choose a freelancer. In the UK, freelancers charge from around £500 to £5,000 for a small business site.
The range is wide because the work varies. A £1,500 site and a £3,500 site might both be called "a website". The second should include more planning and better copy. It should keep bringing in work long after launch. Always ask what a quote includes.
Use an agency
Regional UK agencies usually quote £3,000 to £8,000 for a small business site. London agencies tend to start higher.
The extra cost pays for a team and an account manager. It also covers the cost of running a bigger business. Some businesses need that. Many small service businesses don't.
What makes a website cost more
Say one developer quotes £800 and another quotes £4,500. They're almost certainly pricing different jobs.
Pages, design and features
Five pages on a template is a small job. Fifteen pages designed from scratch is a big one. A blog makes it bigger again. So does a booking system or a link to your customer database. Each one adds time, and time is what you pay for.
Being found and getting enquiries
This is where cheap sites usually fall short. To be found on Google, a site needs proper setup behind the scenes. It needs to load quickly. It needs clear copy that says what you do and what to do next.
That work costs more at the start. It's also what brings in enquiries without paying for ads. Without it, a site can look fine and do very little.
The £500 template or the £3,500 build
This is the choice most small businesses face. It helps to think about what the site needs to bring in, as well as what it costs.
What a quiet website really costs
Picture a business that spends £500 on a template site. Few people find it. Fewer get in touch. A year or two later, they rebuild it anyway. The real cost is the £500 plus every enquiry they missed in between.
What a well-built site can do
A £3,500 build should come with a clear plan. It should be set up to be found on Google, with copy written to win enquiries. Esther Sims Studio's new site got 60% more clicks from Google in its first month after launch. They didn't pay for any ads.
Where I fit
I'm a freelance Webflow developer based in Derby. You deal with me from the first call to launch. Nobody passes your project down the line.
My new websites start from £3,500. That price includes the planning and design as well as the build. You get a fixed quote before we start. At launch, the site moves into your own Webflow account, so you own it.
Costs to plan for after launch
Most people budget carefully for the build. Then year two arrives. Ongoing costs are easy to plan for once you know what they are.
Domain and hosting
A domain costs £10 to £20 a year. Hosting costs £60 to £720 a year, depending on the platform and plan. The security certificate is usually included. That's what puts the padlock next to your web address.
On Webflow, hosting comes with the site plan. Most small business sites need the CMS plan, which costs around £20 a month when you pay yearly. Security and fast loading are included.
Licences and subscriptions
Some sites rely on paid tools, such as a cookie consent tool or a booking system. Ask your developer which tools your site uses and who pays for them. Ask whose account they sit in, too. On my builds, they move into your name at launch.
Support and updates
Support can mean the odd fix. It can also mean monthly work to bring in more enquiries. Agree what you need before launch, so it's in your budget from day one. My ongoing growth service covers the monthly side.
Deciding what fits now
There's no single right answer. It depends on where your business is and what the site needs to do. It also depends on whether you're ready to spend on it. If you're not sure, I'm happy to talk it through with you.
When DIY makes sense
Wix or Squarespace is a sensible start if you're testing an idea. It also suits you if you don't have customers yet, or aren't ready to spend £3,000. Plan to move on once the business is working. A starter site kept too long starts to cost you work.
Signs you're ready for a proper build
- People recommend you, but your website doesn't live up to it.
- You're losing work to competitors whose sites look more established.
- You feel awkward sending your link to a serious prospect.
- You've added a service or audience your site doesn't cover.
What to budget in 2026
- Testing an idea: £200 to £500 for a DIY site.
- A professional site that brings in enquiries: £1,500 to £5,000 with a good freelancer, or £3,000 to £8,000 with a regional agency.
- Running costs: £70 to £740 a year for a domain and hosting, plus any tools and support.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a small business website cost in the UK?
It depends on what you need it to do. A DIY site on Wix or Squarespace costs £200 to £500 for the first year. A professional site from a freelancer usually costs £1,500 to £5,000. A regional agency will usually quote £3,000 to £8,000. If you want it planned and set up for Google from the start, budget from £3,500.
Is a custom website worth the extra cost?
For most UK service businesses that rely on enquiries, yes. A site set up to be found on Google, with clear copy, usually brings in more enquiries than a template over time.
What will I pay after launch?
Plan for £10 to £20 a year for a domain and £60 to £720 a year for hosting. Add any paid tools your site uses. Then agree a support plan to keep the site secure and up to date.
How much does a Webflow website cost for a small business in the UK?
A custom Webflow site with planning and Google set-up included usually starts from £3,500. Hosting costs around £20 a month on Webflow's CMS plan, paid yearly.
Who owns my website when it's finished?
You should. Ask before you sign. With me, the site moves into your own Webflow account at launch. You pay Webflow directly from then on.
Can I update the site myself?
Yes. You can change text, images and blog posts in Webflow's editor without touching the design. I show you how at handover.
Where to start
Know you need a new site? Book a call and I'll give you a fixed quote.
Not sure yet? A £395 website review tells you what your current site needs first. The fee comes off a new website if you go ahead within 60 days.
