How Much Does it Cost to design a website in 2024?
Contributor Phil Robinson. Partner, Founder + CE
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the question of how much it costs to design and build a website in 2024 is a crucial consideration. Whether that’s for businesses seeking to establish or enhance their online presence. Let’s unravel the intricacies of website costs and explore the nuances that can impact your budget.
Understanding the Basics: Website Cost in 2024
We get asked all the time how much does a website cost? As well as How much does an App Cost? In short, the cost of a website is not a one-size-fits-all affair. It varies based on numerous factors such as complexity, customisation and of course budget!.
Here’s a rough breakdown to give you a ballpark figure of website cost in 2024:
- Traditional Basic Brochure Websites: $1,000 to $8,000
- Complex Websites with Advanced Features: $10,000 to $50,000 +
- E-commerce Websites: $10,000 to over $100,000
- Growth-Driven Websites – the gift that keeps on giving. From $7,500 upfront and from $1800 per month ongoing (for a 12 month contract)
These figures provide a starting point, but let’s delve deeper into the main areas of costs when it comes to creating a business website.
The pricing of a website hinges on four primary factors:
- Complexity:
The more intricate the website, the higher the cost. Websites with advanced features like e-commerce, custom integrations, and database management typically incur greater expenses compared to simple brochure sites. - Customisation:
The inclusion of customisation can elevate the website cost. Websites seeking unique designs, custom graphics, or advanced programming like thrid party integrations, will incur higher expenses than those utilising pre-design templates. - Content:
The quantity and nature of content required for the website can influence costs. Websites demanding a substantial amount of high-quality content creation, such as product descriptions, blog posts, photography and video, will undoubtedly incur higher expenses.
Who provides the content for a website? - Maintenance, Support and Continuous Improvements:
When evaluating the overall cost of a website, it’s essential to consider long-term requirements, including ongoing maintenance and support. Factors to ponder include the complexity of maintenance tasks and any annual costs that must be budgeted for.
Embracing Growth-Driven Web Design: The Way of NOW
It’s crucial to dispel the notion that a website is a one-and-done project. The truth is, a website is a dynamic entity that should evolve alongside your business. Enter growth-driven web design – not just the way of the future, but the way of NOW!
So it’s out with the old and in with the new. Growth-driven web design is a paradigm shift. It recognizes that a website is never truly finished. Instead, it adapts and grows based on real-time data, user feedback, and evolving business needs.
This approach ensures that your website is not just a static online presence but a living, breathing asset that contributes to your business success.
What are the key factors influencing the cost of website design?
Creating a website is a nuanced process, and the associated costs can vary depending on the website type and its features. This blog section delves into the factors that impact the cost of designing a website itself.
Before engaging a designer for your business website, it’s crucial to have a well-defined understanding of its purpose and required features. These considerations play a significant role in determining the overall cost.
Numerous factors contribute to the cost of designing a website:
- Type: The cost varies based on whether you opt for a brochure, e-commerce site, or an integrated CMS site.
- Size: A website with a higher number of pages requires more design time to ensure precision.
- Features & Functionality: Increased complexity in site features demands more experience and development time to guarantee seamless functionality.
- Design & User Interface: A unique design and user interface necessitate additional time for both the design and development phases.
Deciding on the right approach for creating your website
Whether to hire a web design agency, a freelance designer, or tackle it yourself—is a crucial decision impacting your online presence and business growth. A well-crafted business website serves as a key platform to showcase products and services and drive success.
DIY Website Building: The Cost Factor
Opting for a pre-built theme might seem cost-effective, with free or averagely priced templates ranging from $50 upwards. However, the hidden costs of hosting, security, domain, and the substantial time investment required to make the website functional must be considered. While it may take approximately 10 hours to create a basic business website, ensuring it meets its purpose demands expertise. Seeking professional assistance ensures correct setup and optimized content and structure for optimal performance.
Freelance Web Design: Cost and Limitations
Choosing a freelance web designer for cost-effectiveness is an option, but limitations should be recognized. Freelancers may excel in design but struggle with copywriting or lack development capabilities. Costs range from $25 to $100 per hour, but the absence of guarantees for quality and timely delivery can pose risks.
Web Design Agency: A Comprehensive Solution
Opting for a web design agency provides a comprehensive solution, especially when they offer a spectrum of design services. Professional web designers, combined with full-service design and marketing capabilities, make them a one-stop-shop for a purpose-fit business website. Agencies understand the nuances of effective website design, user experience optimization, lead generation, and resonant content creation.
Employing a design agency ensures your website aligns with industry standards and as a result leverages the latest trends for optimal performance. Their expertise extends beyond mere design to encompass a holistic approach, including marketing strategies that resonate with your target audience.
Choosing the right path depends on your specific business needs and objectives. A detailed exploration of what web design agencies offer can provide valuable insights into making the most informed decision for your online presence and business success.
What ongoing cost considerations should you bear in mind?
Engaging with potential design partners and identifying the most suitable platform for your website are crucial steps in making initial design and development decisions. The features you require play a pivotal role in determining the appropriate platform for constructing your website.
Below are the ongoing cost factors associated with selecting the right web platform:
1. Website Platform & Content Management System Costs:
Monthly fees for Proprietary CMS platforms like Wix, Webflow or Shopify can range from $10 to $50, depending on the platform and required features. They generally charge additionally for other features and plugins. So be careful around this. In our opinion, you’re always best to steer clear of Propriety systems where you pay a license fee to use the software. Using WordPress, SilverStripe or other Open-Source Software will give more peace of mind. In particular around who owns your site and your content.
2. Integrations or Plugins:
Additional plugins for specific site functions can pose hidden costs ranging from $0 to $100+ per year. It’s crucial to evaluate the platform’s built-in features and compatibility with your needs before committing to avoid escalating subscription costs.
3. Hosting Costs:
Hosting platform expenses vary widely, from a few dollars a month for shared hosting to hundreds or thousands per month for dedicated or cloud hosting. So how much does it cost to host a website? Well, On average, hosting a website on a shared server costs anywhere from $8 -$100 per month, depending on whether you manage it yourself or have someone else do it for you. It will also depend on whether you have a maintenance plan included too. In which case it is important to know what you are actually paying for.
4. Ongoing SEO Maintenance Costs:
Depending on your site’s complexity, hiring a developer for SEO and website maintenance or updates may be necessary, with costs ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars annually.
5. Development Costs:
Inquire about the average charges for making changes to your site, such as adding a new page. Developer costs typically range from $25-$100 per hour, contingent on experience and project complexity.
6.Domain Name Costs:
Annual fees for registering your website’s domain name can range from $10 to $50. This will depend on where you register it. Some places seem cheap at face value, however they often charge for additional services (such as domain redirects or email aliases). Others may charge more but include this.
What ever you do we recommend you stay clear of GoDaddy!
7. Security:
For online stores or sites collecting sensitive information, investing in an SSL certificate for data encryption is essential. SSL certificate costs can range from $50 to $500 per year.
In saying that this is something we believe should be including in this day an age as it is best practise.
Understanding these ongoing cost factors is crucial for making informed decisions and therefore ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of your website.
What is the cost of website design in New Zealand in 2024?
The pricing for website design in New Zealand typically falls within the mid-range of the investment spectrum. This is attributed to the country’s higher-than-average minimum wage and cost of living, factors that are reflected in the hourly rates charged by designers.
Ballpark Website Costs for 2024:
- Basic one pager/Sales landing page: $450 – $1000
- Basic Templated Solution: $1990 – $3600
- Basic brochure websites: $3,000 to $8,000
- Complex websites with advanced features: $10,000 to $50,000
- E-commerce websites: $10,000 to over $100,000
- Growth-Driven Websites:
– Strategy: $1500-$5000
– LaunchPad: $6000 – $10,000
– Continuous Improvements: $1,800 – $6,000+ per month (depending on the size of the company, the strategy (and its outcomes) wishlist features and requirements, both functionality and speed of delivery)
Opting for local NZ based designers offers advantages, ensuring a more cohesive design tailored to the target market. For example Local designers, familiar with New Zealand’s culture, trends, and consumer preferences, bring a nuanced understanding to their work. This expertise enables them to create websites that align with the unique needs of businesses in New Zealand, therefore enhancing the effectiveness of reaching and engaging the local audience for better results.
Transitioning into the Future with Confidence
As you navigate the landscape of website costs in 2024, above all remember that it’s not just about the price tag; it’s about the value your website brings to your business. Consider your goals, the needs of your audience, and the long-term vision for your digital presence.
In conclusion, if you see a website not as a cost but as an investment, you’ll be investing in your business’s digital future.
Understanding the costs investment involved and embracing growth-driven web design will set you on a path to not just a website but a strategic online asset that evolves with your business.
