"What does a website cost?" is one of the most-asked questions on the web – and one of the hardest to answer. Prices range from €200 for a builder template to €100,000 and more for complex enterprise projects. For SMBs the question is: what do I actually need, what does it cost – and how can I tell a fair price?
Why prices vary so much
A website is not a standard product. The term hides completely different deliverables:
- A website builder (Wix, Jimdo, Squarespace) can be set up in an hour
- A WordPress site with custom design takes weeks
- A bespoke web application with e-commerce, user accounts and CRM integration is a multi-month development project
Comparing a €500 Jimdo site to a €30,000 agency build is misleading. They are simply different products.
The four price categories at a glance
| Category | Price | Typical providers | Who for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builders | €0–500 one-off + €15–50/mo | Wix, Jimdo, Squarespace | Hobby, trial, absolute minimum |
| Cheap freelancers | €500–2,000 one-off | Platforms like Fiverr, Upwork | Small operators with tight budget |
| Professional build | €3,000–15,000 one-off or subscription from €59/mo | Local agencies, specialists | SMBs, service providers, retail |
| Custom development | €15,000–100,000+ one-off | Digital agencies, software developers | Complex requirements, e-commerce, web apps |
What costs what – a breakdown
Design and concept
Professional design is the most expensive element. An experienced UI/UX designer charges between €80 and €200 per hour. A simple website with 5 to 8 pages needs 20 to 60 hours of design work – that's €1,600 to €12,000 just for design.
It costs less when the designer works with established templates and adapts them instead of designing from scratch. The result is often barely any worse – and significantly cheaper.
Development and engineering
For simple websites, template-based systems (WordPress, Webflow) are cheaper. For custom requirements, things are built from scratch. Hourly rates: €60–150 for German freelancers, €120–250 for agencies.
Copy and content
Many underestimate the effort. Good website copy is not a quick task – it has to convince, be SEO-friendly and hit the right tone. Professional copywriters charge €80 to €200 per page.
Tip: deliver your own raw drafts. This cuts costs significantly and makes sure the message is right. Your provider edits and optimises the copy.
Hosting, domain, SSL
Professional hosting on German servers: €10 to €50 per month. Domain: €10 to €20 per year. SSL certificate: included with good hosting. Cheaper hosting often means slower load times and worse uptime – both hurt SEO.
Maintenance and updates
A website is not a one-off project. Security updates, plugin care, backups, tweaks – without maintenance it ages quickly and becomes a security hole. Monthly maintenance fees: €30 to €200.
The subscription model: a website without an upfront fee
More providers – including us at Klarspur – offer websites on a monthly subscription. Instead of a large upfront payment you pay a monthly fee that covers design, build, hosting, maintenance and often SEO management.
| Model | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|
| One-off investment | Ownership, no recurring cost after amortisation | High upfront cost, maintenance extra |
| Subscription | No risk, predictable cost, all-inclusive | Long-term commitment, no design ownership |
How do you spot bad offers?
- Very low flat prices without a clear scope
- No mention of hosting, maintenance or ownership
- No portfolio with real reference projects
- Promises of "page 1 on Google" in a short time
- No mention of GDPR compliance
- No written contract or unclear cancellation terms
What should a good SMB website be able to do?
- Professional, trustworthy design
- Mobile optimisation (responsive design)
- Fast load times (under 3 seconds)
- SSL certificate (HTTPS)
- Contact form with GDPR-compliant processing
- Basic SEO setup (title, meta, heading structure)
- Google Analytics or privacy-friendly analytics
- Easy-to-edit CMS
Conclusion: what should you spend?
For a professional SMB website that actually wins customers, plan a one-off budget of €3,000 to €8,000 – or a subscription from roughly €60 to €150 per month including hosting and maintenance.
Less is usually a compromise that bites back. More is rarely necessary for SMBs – unless you run e-commerce or need complex features.
It's better to invest a little more in a website that actually works than to spend little on one no one finds or that scares prospects away. A good website is the best salesperson you have.