Website quotes for UK trades businesses range from £200 to £20,000+. That's not because the work is mysterious, it's because the term "website" can mean very different things depending on what's included. Here's how to read a quote properly.
Typical website costs by business size
The most common mistakes we see
- Paying for a 'cheap' £299 website that's actually just a template the agency reuses.
- Signing a 24-month contract for £150/month without realising the total cost.
- Spending heavily on design but nothing on SEO or lead capture.
- Not owning the domain or hosting, meaning you can't leave when you want to.
- Hidden 'maintenance' or 'support' fees that aren't itemised.
Cheap vs expensive websites, what's actually different
Ongoing costs explained
- Domain, £10–£20 per year. Always register it in your own name.
- Hosting, £10–£40 per month for a fast, secure platform.
- Email, £5/user/month with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
- Support / updates, £30–£150/month if you want changes handled for you.
- Local SEO, £200–£600/month if you want active work, not just hosting.
What kind of return should you expect?
For most local service businesses, a single decent job pays back the entire website. A few examples we've seen across our clients:
- Roofer, £2,200 website, recouped in 6 weeks from one full re-roof enquiry.
- Plumber, £1,800 website, generating 12–18 booked jobs per month from organic search after 4 months.
- Driveway company, £3,200 website, average enquiry value £6,400, 1 job per quarter covers everything.
- Electrician, £1,500 website + £200/month local SEO, ranked top 3 in their town within 5 months.
Frequently asked questions
What's a fair price for a website for a small trades business?+
For a focused, mobile-first website built around the services you offer and the areas you cover, a fair one-off price sits between £1,000 and £3,500. Anything under £500 is usually a template with little SEO value; anything over £8,000 typically only makes sense for larger multi-branch operations.
Should I pay monthly or one-off?+
Both can work. A one-off fee gives you ownership and predictability. A monthly plan can make sense if you want hosting, updates, SEO and support bundled together. The key is knowing exactly what you're paying for each month.
Why do quotes vary so much?+
Cheap quotes usually mean a stock template, no SEO and little support. Expensive quotes usually include design, copy, local SEO, lead tracking and ongoing improvements. The right price depends on what you actually need, not the headline number.
What ongoing costs should I expect?+
Realistic ongoing costs are: domain (~£15/year), hosting (£10–£40/month), email (£5/user/month) and optional support or SEO retainers. We always quote these separately so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
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