"What does a website cost?" is the most common question I get. The honest answer: it depends. But that's not a useful answer when you need to set a budget.
In this article, I give concrete price ranges, explain what drives the price, and help you estimate which type of website fits your situation.
The short version
| Type of website | Price range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| DIY (Wix, Squarespace) | €0 - €500 | 1-4 weeks |
| Template website (WordPress theme) | €500 - €2,000 | 1-3 weeks |
| Professional brochure site | €1,500 - €4,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Custom business website | €3,000 - €8,000 | 4-8 weeks |
| Webshop | €4,000 - €15,000 | 6-12 weeks |
| Custom web application | €8,000 - €30,000+ | 8-20 weeks |
These prices include design, build, and basic optimization. Hosting, maintenance, and content (text, photos) are usually separate. ultimAItech website packages start at €197 per month (Starter), with Business at €297 and Pro at €457; hosting is included, 36-month term.
What drives the price?
1. Complexity
A website with five fixed pages is fundamentally different from a webshop with 500 products, a search function, and a connection to your accounting software. More functionality = more hours = higher price.
Examples of things that increase the price:
- Multilingual support (NL/EN/DE)
- Product catalog with filters and search
- Integrations with external systems (accounting, CRM, inventory)
- User accounts and login functionality
- Custom forms or configurators
2. Design
Are you working with an existing template or is everything designed from scratch? Custom design costs more, but delivers a unique look that fits your brand - no cookie-cutter feel.
The investment in design pays off: visitors largely judge your company's reliability based on how your website looks.
3. Type of provider
| Provider | Hourly rate (indicative) | Strong in |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (starter) | €50 - €75 | Small projects, personal contact |
| Freelancer (experienced) | €75 - €110 | Custom work, specific expertise |
| Small agency (2-5 people) | €85 - €125 | Design + development combined |
| Mid-size agency | €100 - €150 | Complex projects, multiple disciplines |
In Drenthe and Overijssel, rates are on average 10-20% lower than in the Randstad, at comparable quality.
4. Technology
WordPress is the most popular platform and often the cheapest option. But cheap isn't always advantageous:
- WordPress + theme: lowest entry price, but dependent on plugins that break during updates
- WordPress + custom theme: better quality, higher price
- Custom (React, Next.js, etc.): highest price, but fastest sites and most flexibility
- Webshop platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce): separate pricing model with monthly costs
Hidden costs to watch for
Hosting
€5 - €50 per month, depending on the type. Cheap hosting is slow and unreliable. Budget €10-€25/month for decent hosting.
SSL certificate
Nowadays free via Let's Encrypt at most hosting providers. If someone charges you for this, look elsewhere.
Maintenance
WordPress sites need regular updates (core, theme, plugins). Budget €50-€150/month for a maintenance package, or do it yourself if you're technically inclined.
Content
Writing text, taking or commissioning photos, video - this is often underestimated. Budget separately: €500-€2,000 for a complete set of business copy from a copywriter.
Domain name
€10-€15 per year for a .nl domain. Make sure the domain is registered in your name, not the web developer's.
When is cheap too cheap?
A €300 website sounds attractive, but consider what you get:
- A template thousands of other sites also use
- No customization, no own identity
- Limited SEO optimization
- Unclear aftercare
Your website is often the first contact potential customers have with your business. If that first impression isn't professional, you lose the customer before you get a chance to tell your story.
Save smart without sacrificing quality
- Provide content yourself. Write your own text and take your own photos. That easily saves €500-€1,500.
- Start small, build out. Begin with a solid base of 5-8 pages and add functionality later.
- Choose fixed price. No surprises afterward. You know exactly what you're paying.
- Invest in speed and SEO. A fast, findable site pays for itself.
Summary
- A professional business website in 2026 costs between €2,000 and €8,000
- Complexity, design, and type of provider determine the price
- Watch for hidden costs: hosting, maintenance, content
- Don't choose the cheapest option - choose the best balance between price and quality
- Fixed-price agreements give certainty
Want to know what a website would cost for your business? At ultimAItech I work with fixed prices - no surprises. Request a no-obligation call →