How Much Does A Website Cost?

What Kind of Website Do You Want?

One of the most common questions in website development is "How much does a website cost?" My colleague Dan Geary used to equate this question to asking "How long is a piece of string?" The answer really depends on what you are trying to build.

I prefer to to compare the cost of a website to asking "How much does a car cost?" Well, it depends on what kind of car you need. A used sedan? A new SUV? A Bugatti? The price varies dramatically based on what you need it to do, how you plan to use it and how custom it is.

Thus, you must know what kind of website you are looking for and what your budget is before you ask about the cost of website development.

DIY Websites

A website can cost as little as $50 per month if you use a DIY platform like Wix or SquareSpace. These tools work great for a business that's just starting out and have simple needs. However, many companies reach out to us after realizing that they need more flexibility, performance or strategic support than DIY tools can provide.

There is nothing wrong with starting there, but once you start to grow you'll require more.

Comparing Websites

Before engaging with a developer or an agency, you should be very clear about what problem you need your website to solve:

• What does your website need to do? Is it focused on lead generation, credibility or e-commerce?
• How custom does your website need to be?
• What results would a successful website yield for your business or product?
• Who will manage the content and ongoing maintenance of your website?

Once you have a clear idea, you should shop around for web developers and get a few different estimates. Make sure you give the same requirements to each developer, because changing things could lead to less comparable prices.

A Note on Tech Stacks

Keep in mind that small shops and freelancers generally have a preferred tech stack. This means a Wordpress developer is going to recommend a Wordpress build. That doesn't make it wrong, but recognize that it is influenced by familiarity more than your business needs. 

Additionally, not all website developers utilize platforms in the same way. A Wordpress site can be done very well, but it can also be done on a budget using a drag and drop builder or a template. While this is often convenient and cost efficient, it can lead to performance, security and SEO issues over time.

Just like with cars, a low cost option can work under the correct circumstances. However, if your goal is to expand the website in the future, it may be better to go with a higher quality option.

Website Development Options Offered By Geary Company

At Geary Company we do things a little differently when it comes to website development. We do not have a "preferred" development platform. We begin with your business goals, evaluate your individual needs and then recommend the right tech stack. 

We have curated a number of excellent programmers and continuously test new tools and approaches. If you need a fully custom website, we're ready for the challenge.

Conversely, if you're a small business we can offer HTML websites for as little as $199. These websites are extremely fast, completely secure, SEO friendly and require very little maintenance.

If you're somewhere in between "unlimited website budget" and "small business micro-budget" we also offer interest free financing that will make it easy to pay off your website in smaller portions over time. 

If you're not sure where to start, we offer free consultations and can help you determine what your website actually needs to accomplish before you make an investment in a high cost website development.

Final Thoughts on Website Development Costs

The internet is full of developers that can build you a website. Far fewer will become your partner in determining if you're building the right website for you. Website pricing varies because the goals, complexity and long term needs of your business also vary. 

The companies that win online  aren't the ones that spend the most, or have the best websites... they're the ones who build strategically. We can help you with that.