Free tool
Website cost calculator
Compare the total cost of a small business website over time: paying monthly, paying for a one-off build, or building it yourself. Enter the quotes you have been given; the example figures are placeholders, not market prices.
Work out your costs
Total cost at the end of each year
Worked out from the figures above: before VAT if you are VAT registered, including VAT at 20% if you are not.
| After | A: pay monthly | B: one-off build | C: DIY builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £1,200 | £2,135 | £255 |
| Year 2 | £2,400 | £2,270 | £510 |
| Year 3 | £3,600 | £2,405 | £765 |
What the numbers do not show
- Ownership. Ask any provider who owns the website and the domain name, and what you can take with you if you leave. Get the answer in writing before you sign.
- After the minimum term. Ask what happens when a monthly contract ends: whether the fee continues, changes or stops, and what happens to the website.
- Who fixes things. Monthly plans usually include hosting and some maintenance; with a one-off build or a DIY builder, check who you would call when something breaks and what that costs.
- Your time. A DIY builder is usually the cheapest option in cash, but set-up and updates take your own hours.
More detail on each option is in our guide to what a small business website costs. See our published pay-monthly packages, or ask us to go through a quote with you.