Main Pricing Tiers by Site Type
| Site type | Price range (USD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Basic brand site (4-6 pages) | $1,500 – $3,500 | 3-5 weeks |
| Mid-tier business site (10-20 pages) | $3,500 – $7,500 | 6-10 weeks |
| eCommerce store | $4,500 – $14,000 | 8-14 weeks |
| Premium brand site (custom design) | $7,500 – $18,000 | 10-16 weeks |
| Custom web system (SaaS / dashboard) | $15,000 – $75,000+ | 4-12 months |
What Drives the Price — 5 Key Factors
1. Design — Template vs. Custom
Template-based designs (e.g., ThemeForest) can cut 30-50% off the price but limit flexibility and uniqueness. Custom design (tailored to brand and audience) requires 2-4 weeks of discovery + design and costs accordingly. Most serious agencies only do custom — because templates hurt the final quality of the site.
2. Number of Pages and Content Types
A 5-page static site is significantly cheaper than a 20-page site with a blog and search system. Each additional page = more design, more copy, more QA. Plus, special content types (interactive maps, dynamic galleries, booking systems) add development hours.
3. Functionality — What the Site Must Do
A static brand site is relatively simple. Add payments, CRM integration, automated data imports, user portal, multilingual support, or third-party API integration — and the price rises significantly. Each integration typically requires 5-30 hours of work.
4. Content — Who Writes It
If the client provides ready content (copy, images, documents) — significant savings. If you need a copywriter, photoshoot, or professional graphics — these are add-ons. Quality copywriting for a business site: $500-$1,500. Professional photography: $750-$2,500 per session.
5. Maintenance and Post-Launch Support
Most agencies offer monthly maintenance packages ($75-$400/month) covering security updates, backups, uptime monitoring, and a few support hours. The package is optional but recommended — a website without maintenance is a website that will fall within 6-12 months due to security issues.
Technology — Does It Affect Price?
Yes, but less than people think. Common platforms:
- WordPress — cheapest, common, easy self-editing. Fits 80% of projects.
- Shopify — monthly subscription, fast development, fits stores.
- Custom (React/Next.js) — pricier but completely flexible. Fits systems.
- "Drag & drop" platforms (Wix, Webflow) — cheap but less flexible and less SEO-friendly.
The right choice depends on needs. A good agency recommends based on the requirement, not on what's convenient for them.
Budgeting Right — 4 Rules of Thumb
Budget 1: One-Time Development Cost
Most clients forget that development is only part of the cost. Plan at least 15-25% above the initial price for: changes, additions, and extensions during development.
Budget 2: Monthly Costs — Hosting, Domain, Maintenance
Domain: $15-50/year. Quality hosting: $8-50/month. Maintenance: $75-400/month. Total: $1,200-$6,000/year after launch.
Budget 3: Marketing and Promotion
A website without promotion is a website nobody sees. Plan $300-3,000/month for paid ads (Google/Facebook) + $500-1,500/month for SEO if you want organic results within 3-6 months.
Budget 4: Reserve for Mistakes
If this is your first site, you'll likely want to change things 3-6 months in based on what you learn from users. Reserve 15-30% of total budget for the next round of improvements.
What You Shouldn't Compromise On
- Loading speed — good Core Web Vitals = good Google performance. Don't accept a site with LCP>3 seconds.
- Accessibility (WCAG) — legal requirement in many countries. Don't skip the accessibility module + manual testing.
- Technical SEO — meta, sitemap, hreflang, schema. The agency must know how to do this.
- Code ownership — don't accept a closed platform you can't migrate from. Request source code.
- Mobile-first — 60%+ of browsing is mobile. If the site isn't smooth on mobile, it's not good.
5 Red Flags in Price Quotes
- Quote without prior discovery — a sign there's no real understanding of the project
- Price significantly below average (less than $800 for a brand site) — usually a template platform with no flexibility
- No support hours included post-launch — you'll be stuck on every bug
- "Takes two weeks" — serious development doesn't take two weeks, period
- No portfolio available — a serious agency shows portfolio
Conclusion: Building a Site Isn't an Expense — It's an Investment
A good site returns its investment within 6-18 months. A bad site causes losses within months. The difference doesn't depend on technology, but on discovery, design, and the professionalism of the team that builds it.
At atar we specialize in sites that work and look great — no big words, just results. If you're unsure about pricing or scope for your project, contact us and we'll get back to you within 24 hours with an initial proposal.