How much does a website design cost in 2022?

It is often the first step in many businesses' journey. However, selecting a web designer can be difficult. Apart from all the jargon, it's important to remember that many web design agencies operate online and there is little opportunity for face-to-face meetings. You may be lucky enough to find your website built in-house in the UK. Unfortunately, many people are disappointed. You might be wondering why? It's as simple as price.

Website design is often viewed as a commodity. Since the mid 2000s it has become a marketing tool and a cost-saving option. Many small businesses mistakenly treat it like this. There are many benefits and disadvantages to hiring a web designer team located in the UK. The price will also play a significant role.

Web Level Up is our small business, so we have Create Designs and Web Level Up. Web Level Up is for small businesses and start-ups who are looking for an eCommerce website design or a simpler web design package. There are a lot of overhead costs associated with the business, including rent, council tax and software licenses. Training, hardware, insurance, and training are just a few.

The website designers are perhaps the most expensive part of a web design agency. The average salary for a junior web designer or web designer is between PS18-35,000 annually. Add this to the salaries of a project manager, salesperson, and support staff, and you can see the true cost of a website being built.

Web Level typically works at a rate of PS35+VAT an hour. Create Designs is charged at PS60+VAT, with more senior employees working on complicated web development projects. An hourly rate of PS35+VAT for a web agency is very reasonable considering the salary of the web designer. This is a key point to remember when searching for web designer prices. Time is money, and the more you pay, the more time the company will have to devote to the project.

Why not choose a company that isn't based here? You could, in fact. However, there are some important things to consider before you go this route.

Costs associated with using a web agency located abroad

Perhaps you have thought about looking for an agency or freelancer based overseas. Before making a costly error, you should consider the following factors before paying any money.

Language barriers Do you have the patience to learn English if English isn't your first language? Or, more importantly, do you have the time? It's easy to misinterpret requests due to the industry's jargon. You may even find that the company doesn’t fully understand what you are asking.

A lack of understanding about your business - This should probably be the first thing on the list, as it's so important. Your website designer won't be able to understand your target market and create a website that converts visitors.

Support - A website is not the same thing as a Word document. It is not possible to just delete it. Just like any piece of software on your computer, it must be updated with the most recent security patches and fixes. Your website is more at risk than your laptop because it's publicly visible online. Everyone has experienced a problem with their computer at one point or another. As they are trying to make ends meet, micro businesses, freelancers, and other small agencies won't be interested in continuing to help you with your website. It is important to choose a larger agency that will build a relationship. You'll get better support if you have a team.

Low quality – The less you pay for your website, the more time that the designer has to spend. While it is true that a web designer working in a country with lower wages can spend more time designing websites, there are limits to this and the designs often look dated and amateurish.

High risk - How are you going to pay for your site? PayPal and Escrow are great for physical goods, but don't typically cover digital products. It is possible to find agencies that offer PayPal as a payment option, but this is not the case. You don't have any protection if something goes wrong after you've paid money to an agency abroad. If you are willing to take on the risk of an agency outside the UK, you should be prepared to show that you trust someone to not take your money and run. Our team is based in the UK and offers the security of working with an established, insured limited company that has a thorough dispute process. If there is a dispute, you can also use the Small Claims Court.

This is a typical example of why you should not choose the cheapest option when it comes to web design costs

The UK's average transaction value for a recruiter agency is around PS2000. For your website design, a reputable agency will charge around PS500. A cheaper option costs only PS200. The website is finally completed and made live after you chose the cheaper option. Although it's acceptable, it is not perfect. There are some areas that aren't quite right, images are blurry and spelling errors, and the website loads very slowly. It's finished now, so you can leave it! Wrong.

Potential clients are looking for local recruitment agencies. They have seen your website, but they have jumped right off it to go to your competitors. You have just lost potential thousands of dollars to a client that would have looked amazing on your portfolio. Why? Your website is often your first impression of your company as a whole. Your website should not be a mess. It is unprofessional and makes a bad first impression on potential customers.

What is the real cost of website design?

Here are our recommendations for how much you should spend on your site.

Simple single-page website - Minimum

Spend at least PS200 if you are looking for more than one landing page or holding page. Your designer will likely spend no more that 6 hours at an hourly rate PS35. This includes the time spent with you discussing your project, gathering your requirements, creating a conceptual design, and the time spent back and forth with any revisions. This doesn't include the time spent setting up your email accounts and putting it online. Expect nothing exciting at PS200. Web Level Up charges PS375+VAT to create a starter website.

4-8 page brochure website - Minimum PS400

A logo design can often be included with a website at this price. Your chosen agency will likely have approximately 12 hours to dedicate to your project at this price. The number of pages does not directly impact the cost. This is a common misconception. CWD will discuss your design requirements with you and help you choose the right style website. We also advise on web design trends. It doesn't take long to add basic text pages that don't need any design flair. The web design sale is currently underway and offers great value.

8+ page brochure website - PS500 minimum

If you are working with a UK company, an 8-page brochure website will cost around this amount. This gives you enough time to create a professional website and allow for multiple rounds of revisions.

Let's conclude...

If you want to generate business or provide a reference point for customers, a website should not be considered a commodity. Your website is often the first impression a visitor has of your brand. If designed well, it should be a powerful sales tool. If a visitor has taken the time to read your website, and then called you to make a purchase, you are already half-way to a sale.

If you’re interested in having a website built and simply need some advice, feel free to give us a call on 01242 379 015. You’ll be put straight through to our team based in Surrey. Out of hours or prefer to converse via email? You can contact us here.