How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026? A Banbury Web Designer’s Honest Guide
One of the most common questions we get asked at Aardvarky Media is "how much does a website cost?" It's a fair question — and one that deserves an honest answer. The truth is, website costs vary enormously depending on what you need. In this guide, we'll break down the real costs of getting a professional website built in 2026, with no jargon and no hidden surprises.
The Short Answer
A professional business website in 2026 typically costs between £1,500 and £15,000+, depending on complexity. A simple brochure website starts from around £1,500, while a custom ecommerce site with advanced functionality could be £8,000–£15,000 or more. Let's break that down.
Website Cost Breakdown by Type
Brochure Website (£1,500–£3,000)
A brochure website is a professional online presence that showcases your business, services, and contact information. It's ideal for tradespeople, consultants, small service businesses, and anyone who needs to be found online. Typically 5–10 pages, a brochure site includes a homepage, about page, services page, contact page, and possibly a blog or testimonials section.
What you get: Custom WordPress design, mobile responsiveness, basic SEO setup, contact forms, Google Maps integration, SSL certificate, and content management training.
Small Business Website (£3,000–£6,000)
A step up from a brochure site, this includes more pages, more sophisticated design, and additional features like blog functionality, portfolio galleries, testimonial systems, or booking integrations. Suitable for growing businesses that need their website to work harder.
Ecommerce Website (£5,000–£15,000+)
An online shop built on WooCommerce (the WordPress ecommerce platform) with product management, shopping cart, payment gateway integration, shipping calculations, and order management. The cost depends heavily on the number of products, payment methods, and custom functionality required.
Custom Web Application (£8,000–£25,000+)
Membership sites, booking platforms, client portals, directory websites, or anything with bespoke functionality. These projects require more development time and are priced based on the specific requirements.
What Affects the Price?
- Number of pages: More pages means more design and content work
- Custom design vs templates: Bespoke design costs more but delivers a unique result
- Functionality: Booking systems, payment processing, member areas all add cost
- Content creation: Do you have copy and images ready, or do you need them created?
- SEO requirements: Basic SEO is included, but comprehensive SEO strategy is an additional investment
- Ongoing maintenance: Hosting, security updates, and support packages
The Hidden Costs to Watch For
Some agencies quote low upfront prices but add costs for essentials like SSL certificates, mobile responsiveness, or basic SEO. At Aardvarky Media, our quotes include everything you need — no hidden extras.
Watch out for:
- Domain name registration (£10–£15/year — some agencies charge much more)
- Hosting costs (£5–£30/month depending on the provider)
- Premium plugins or theme licences (we include these in our quotes)
- Content changes after launch (we train you to do these yourself)
DIY vs Professional:
Is It Worth Paying a Web Designer?
Website builders like Wix and Squarespace let you build a basic site for £10–£30/month. So why pay a professional?
- SEO performance: Professional WordPress sites consistently outperform DIY builders in search rankings
- Unique design: Your site won't look like thousands of others using the same template
- Speed and performance: Professional sites are optimised for speed, which affects both rankings and conversions
- Scalability: WordPress grows with your business; DIY builders often hit walls
- Time: Your time has value. The hours spent wrestling with a website builder could be better spent running your business
Our Pricing at Aardvarky Media
We offer transparent, fixed-price quotes for every project. You can get an instant ballpark figure using our website price calculator, or contact us for a detailed proposal based on your specific requirements.
Every quote includes: custom WordPress design, mobile responsiveness, basic SEO setup, content management training, SSL certificate, and 30 days of post-launch support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Get a Quote?
Try our instant price calculator for a ballpark figure, or get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation. We're based in Banbury and work with businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond.
Call: 01295 278777