Guide · 6 min read
How much does a small business website cost in the UK?
Short answer: A small business website in the UK typically costs £0 to £50 a month on a DIY builder, £2,500 to £4,000 from a freelancer, and £2,500 to £6,000 from a small agency, plus £50 to £200 a month for hosting and maintenance. Socialcave's monthly bundles start at £249 to refresh a site you already have, or £399 with a new site, hosting and Google profile included.
What drives the price?
Four things set the price of a website: the number of pages, who writes the words, what the site has to do (take bookings, payments or orders), and who looks after it afterwards. A five-page brochure site with your own copy sits at the bottom of every range. A shop with 200 products and integrations sits at the top.
UK website costs at a glance
| Option | Upfront | Monthly | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | £0 | £15–£50 | Very early-stage, lots of spare time |
| Freelancer | £2,500–£4,000 | £50–£200 | Simple sites, owner happy to manage |
| Small agency | £2,500–£6,000 | £50–£200 | Custom design, more pages |
| Socialcave Get Booked | £129 setup | £399 | Owners who want a new site done and looked after |
Freelancer and agency ranges: Whito UK Marketing Cost Index, 2026.
The hidden costs to ask about
- Domain and email: around £10–£20 a year for a .co.uk, plus email hosting.
- Copywriting: often extra with freelancers; included in every Socialcave plan.
- Changes after launch: many builds charge by the hour for edits.
- Who owns it: check the domain and site are registered to you, not the agency.
Which option is right for you?
If you have more time than money and are comfortable with design tools, start with a DIY builder. If you want a custom site and will handle updates yourself, a freelancer is good value. If you would rather run your business while someone else keeps the site fast, findable and up to date, a monthly plan spreads the cost and includes the ongoing work.
Frequently asked questions
Is a monthly website plan better than paying upfront?
It depends on cash flow and how much help you want. Monthly plans cost more over several years but include hosting, updates, support and usually marketing work, while upfront builds leave ongoing care to you.
How much does a website cost per year to run?
Expect roughly £600 to £2,400 a year for hosting, maintenance, domain, security and small edits if you pay an agency or freelancer for care.