Website in Drenthe
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What does a website cost in 2026?
"What does a website cost?" is the most common question I get as a web developer. And the honest answer is: it depends. But that's also a bit of a non-answer. In this article I give you a complete overview of real costs in 2026 — from a simple business website to a custom webshop. Plus concrete tips to save money without sacrificing quality.
Price ranges reflect market observations and projects ultimAItech has delivered since 2025; also compare guidance from the Dutch KVK business portal on websites.
Website prices in 2026: the overview
Let's start with the numbers. These are typical prices for professional websites in the Netherlands in 2026:
| Website type | Price range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple business website (3–5 pages) | €1,500 – €3,000 | 1–3 weeks |
| Extended website (8–15 pages) | €3,000 – €7,500 | 3–6 weeks |
| Webshop (basic) | €4,000 – €8,000 | 4–8 weeks |
| Webshop (extended / custom) | €8,000 – €15,000 | 6–12 weeks |
| Custom application / software | €7,500 – €25,000+ | 8–20 weeks |
Note: these prices are for professional, custom-built websites. With a freelancer you generally pay less than at an agency with multiple employees (overhead). Template websites are cheaper, but more limited in options.
Why do prices vary so much?
The difference between €1,500 and €15,000 sounds like a gamble, but there are concrete factors behind it. These are the six main price drivers:
1. Number of pages and content
More pages = more design, more copy, more structure. A 5-page website is fundamentally different from one with 30 pages, a blog with 50 articles and a knowledge base. The more unique content, the higher the price.
2. Custom vs. template
A template website (WordPress + a ready-made theme, Wix, Squarespace) is cheaper, but you're locked into the template structure. Custom work gives you full freedom in design, speed and functionality — but costs more hours to build.
| Template | Custom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €500 – €2,000 | €1,500 – €10,000+ |
| Design | Recognizable as a template | Unique, custom |
| Speed | Moderate to good | Very fast |
| SEO | Basic | Fully optimized |
| Flexibility | Limited | Unlimited |
| Maintenance | Updates required | Less vulnerable |
3. Functionality
A static website with text and images is very different from a site with:
- Online booking system with calendar integration
- Webshop with product configurator and payment integration
- Customer portal with login
- Multilingual support (NL/DE/EN)
- Integration with external systems (CRM, accounting, inventory)
- AI chatbot for customer questions
Every extra feature means more development time and therefore higher costs.
4. Design level
A clean, functional design costs less than a premium design with custom animations, micro-interactions and bespoke illustrations. Both can be effective — it depends on your brand and audience.
5. Content and copywriting
Many entrepreneurs underestimate the cost of good copy. Writing it yourself saves money, but professional copywriting (€100–€300 per page) can make the difference in conversion. A website with strong copy sells — a website with weak copy gets in the way.
6. SEO optimization
Basic SEO (titles, meta descriptions, speed) should be included by default. But if you want to rank seriously for search terms like "website laten maken in Drenthe" or "webshop Meppel", you need more: keyword research, content planning, local SEO and link building. That's an ongoing investment.
Hidden costs: what else to budget for
Build costs are one-time. But a website also has ongoing costs:
| Cost item | Price per year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | €60 – €600 | Shared (cheap) vs. VPS/dedicated (faster) |
| Domain name | €10 – €15 | .nl or .com |
| SSL certificate | €0 – €100 | Free via Let's Encrypt, paid for EV |
| Email address (@yourdomain) | €12 – €72 | Google Workspace or Zoho |
| Maintenance & updates | €300 – €1,200 | Optional, but wise |
| Plugin licenses (WordPress) | €50 – €300 | WordPress only |
Tip: always ask your web developer what ongoing costs are involved. A €1,000 website with €150/month in licenses and hosting is more expensive over two years than a €2,500 website with €10/month hosting.
5 ways to save costs (without cutting corners)
1. Start small, grow later
You don't need a 20-page website on day 1. Start with 5 strong pages (Home, Services, About, Projects, Contact) and expand later with blog, FAQ and extra landing pages. That keeps the initial investment low and lets you build your online presence gradually.
2. Provide your own content
Write your own copy (or have it written before the project starts), gather photos, and define your USPs. The more prepared you are, the fewer hours the developer needs.
3. Choose a developer, not an agency
At an agency you pay for account managers, office space and overhead. With a freelance developer or small studio you work directly with the person who builds it. That easily saves 30–50% on price.
4. No unnecessary features
Do you really need a chatbot? A multilingual site? A customer portal? Often the first three months are the time to discover what your customers want — not to build everything upfront. Start with the basics and add what works.
5. Choose a fixed price
With hourly billing, projects often run over. A fixed price forces both you and the developer to be clear about scope upfront. You know exactly what you pay — no surprises.
The 4 biggest mistakes when getting a website built
Mistake 1: Choosing on price alone
A €500 website can look fine, but if it isn't found, doesn't work on mobile, or is outdated after a year, that saving doesn't help you. Look at total cost over 3 years — and at return.
Mistake 2: SEO as an afterthought
SEO isn't a switch you flip afterwards. It starts with structure, content and technical foundation. A site built without SEO costs much more to optimize later than one set up correctly from the start.
Mistake 3: No own domain or hosting
Make sure you own your domain name and hosting. If your web developer stops, moves or goes bankrupt, you need to be able to access your website. Always ask about this.
Mistake 4: No measurable goals
A website without Google Analytics is driving without a dashboard. You don't know where visitors come from, what they do, or where they drop off. Set goals upfront: how many contact requests do you want per month? How many bookings? Measure and optimize.
What do you get with ultimAItech?
At ultimAItech you work directly with me — Andre, the developer. No account manager relay. This is what you can expect:
- Fixed price upfront — no hourly billing
- Personal contact — one point of contact from start to finish
- Custom work — no templates, but transferable code
- Basic SEO included — titles, meta tags, speed, structured data
- Demos along the way — you see what's being built
- Local and reachable — based in Wanneperveen, active in Drenthe and Overijssel
| Package | Price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Business website (5–8 pages) | From €1,500 | 2–3 weeks |
| Extended website + blog | €2,500 – €5,000 | 3–5 weeks |
| Custom webshop | From €4,000 | 4–8 weeks |
| Software / application | On request | 6–16 weeks |
Frequently asked questions
What does a website cost in 2026?
Costs depend on the type of website. A simple business website costs €1,500–€3,000, an extended website €3,000–€7,500, a webshop €4,000–€15,000 and custom software €7,500–€25,000+. Factors like number of pages, complexity and whether you choose custom or template determine the price.
What are the ongoing costs of a website?
Besides one-time build costs you pay for hosting (€5–€50/month), a domain name (€10–€15/year), an SSL certificate (often free), and optional maintenance (€25–€100/month). With WordPress, plugin licenses are added on top.
Is a cheap website worth it?
It depends on your goals. A €500 website is fine as a digital business card. But if you want to attract customers via Google or sell products, you ultimately save more with a professional website that converts and gets found.
Template or custom — which is better?
Templates are cheaper but more limited. Custom is more expensive but delivers a unique, fast website that fits your business exactly. For most SMB businesses, a light custom solution is the best balance between price and results.
Conclusion: invest smartly in your website
A website isn't a cost item — it's an investment. The question isn't "how cheap can it be?", but "what does it deliver?". A website that converts well and gets found pays for itself. A cheap website nobody finds costs you money.
My advice: start with a solid foundation, invest in good content and SEO, and expand gradually. And choose a developer you trust — not based on price, but on approach and results.
Curious what a website would cost for your business? Schedule a no-obligation call or send a WhatsApp. I'll give you an honest estimate within a day.