Cheap Web Design Company: Prices, Risks and Better Options
A cheap web design company in the UK typically charges £500 to £2,500 for a small business site. That quote usually covers a template, five to eight pages and little after launch. You can still get a usable site at the low end if you know what to insist on, and what to skip.
What you actually get at the cheap end
Most cheap web design companies sell a packaged WordPress or similar build, not a custom design. Expect a pre-made theme, your logo dropped in, stock photos and a contact form. You will often supply all the words and images yourself.
A typical scope is:
- Home, about, services, contact, and maybe a blog or one extra service page
- One or two rounds of visual changes
- A layout that scales on a phone, not one tested on real devices
- Basic page titles and a search plugin switched on
- Logins handed over, or a site you rent and never fully own
That can work if your offer is simple and your copy is already clear. It will not carry a shop, a complex service or a fight with established competitors.
UK price ranges for a small business site
These are market ranges I see quoted, not a price list. Hosting, domain and VAT sit on top unless the quote says otherwise.
| Who you hire | Typical one-off price | What that usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore volume company | £200 to £800 | Template, slow replies, extras billed later |
| UK budget company | £800 to £2,500 | Theme, 5 to 8 pages, 1 to 2 revision rounds |
| Freelance designer | £1,500 to £4,000 | More tailored look, you still often write the copy |
| Small studio | £2,500 to £8,000 | Clearer structure, better polish, some content help |
| Mid-size agency | £8,000 to £20,000+ | Strategy, several specialists, longer timeline |
Pay-monthly plans are a separate route. Setup often runs from a few hundred pounds to around £1,500, then £40 to £150 a month for hosting, updates and a set amount of support. Some plans are a rental: stop paying and the site comes down. Others leave you with a site you own. Ask which it is before you sign.
How a company can quote so low
Low prices are not magic. The money comes out of time, or out of what happens after you pay.
- One theme, many clients. The layout is reused. Colours and photos change. Delivery takes days rather than weeks.
- You do the hard work. Copy, photos and sign-off sit with you. Every delay is yours.
- Labour is cheaper elsewhere. Some UK-facing companies pass the build abroad. Quality varies and time zones slow decisions.
- The quote is a foot in the door. Extra pages, a shop, booking tools and logo packages appear once you are committed.
- Ongoing cost is missing. A £799 site still needs hosting (£5 to £30 a month for decent UK hosting), updates and someone to fix it when a plugin breaks.
What gets left out, and what that costs later
- Original layout. Visitors who have seen the same theme on other local firms will treat you as generic.
- Copy that sells. Placeholder text rarely converts. A UK copywriter often charges £250 to £800 for a small site.
- Mobile checks and speed. Buttons that fail on iPhone, and heavy themes, get billed as extras or force a rebuild.
- Ownership. Domain or hosting in their name leaves you stuck. Transfer fees of £100 to £500 are common, and some firms refuse.
- Legal basics. Privacy policy, cookie notice and a form that stores enquiries lawfully. Skipping this is not a saving.
How to vet a cheap quote in one afternoon
You do not need a long tender. You need answers in writing.
- Ask for a page-by-page list, not a vague cap of eight pages. Name each page.
- Ask which platform they use, and who holds the logins, domain and hosting account.
- Ask how many design revision rounds are included, and the cost of one extra page after launch.
- Ask whether the price includes images, a contact form, basic SEO titles and a way for you to edit text.
- Ask who handles updates and security after go-live, and the monthly cost if that is not included.
- If there is a monthly fee, ask what happens if you stop paying. Get that in the contract.
- Ask for two live sites in your sort of sector, and look at them on your phone.
If they cannot answer those without a sales call, treat the low number as incomplete.
One-off payment or pay monthly
Pay once. Budget £1,000 to £4,000, own the site, then pay hosting yourself. This works if you have the cash. It fails if the build is so stripped that you need paid extras within months.
Pay monthly. A setup fee, then a monthly sum covering hosting, updates and ongoing management. This suits a small business with no upfront budget that wants the site taken off their plate. Check the minimum term (often 12 months), whether you own the site at the end, and whether updates means security patches or new pages.
I offer both a one-off build and a pay-monthly plan with a setup fee then a monthly price that includes hosting, updates and ongoing management. For current figures, see arlowebstudio.com rather than treating any article as a quote.
Ways to spend less without looking cheap
- Launch with five to seven pages. Add extras later.
- Skip a shop until you have products and a way to fulfil orders. A brochure site plus phone or email is often enough for trades and local services.
- Photograph real work and premises in daylight. Avoid the same stock faces every other firm uses.
- Write short pages: the problem, what you do, a bit of proof, one clear action.
- One typeface, two colours. Do not buy sliders, live chat or auto-play video you will not use.
A tight five-page site that loads fast and states your process will beat a padded £3,000 site with nothing useful on it.
Red flags that the cheap company will cost you more
- A fixed price sent before they asked what you sell, where you work, or who you want to reach
- Domain or hosting only in their name, with no written transfer process
- Unlimited pages or unlimited revisions at a few hundred pounds
- No contract, or a contract that assigns them copyright in your content
- Pressure to pay in full up front with no staged handover
- They will not let you speak to the person who will build it
Walk away even if the number is tempting. Recovering a locked site takes longer than briefing someone else from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a cheap web design company charge?
Most UK budget companies quote £800 to £2,500 for a small brochure site. Figures under £500 are usually an offshore template or a thin builder skin. Add hosting, a domain and VAT unless the quote says they are included.
Can a site for under £1,000 still look professional?
Yes, if you keep to a few pages, supply clear copy and photos, and use a clean theme without clutter. It will not look custom. It can look tidy and trustworthy if you avoid sliders, stock suits and walls of text.
Is a cheap company better than building it myself?
DIY builders cost about £15 to £30 a month and you do all the work. A cheap company saves time if they finish the job and hand you the logins. Look at their live examples on a phone before you pay. Vague copy will sink either route.
Do I own the website if I pay monthly?
Not always. Some plans are a rental. Ask in writing whether the domain is yours, whether you can export the site, and what happens when the term ends. Ownership belongs in the contract, not in a sales chat.
What should I put in the brief so the quote stays low?
List the pages, your main services, the areas you cover, one example site you like and why, and whether you need a form, map or booking link. Attach your logo and any photos. A tight brief means fewer paid extras later.
Will a cheap web design company get me on Google?
They can set titles, headings and a layout that works on mobile. Ranking for competitive terms needs useful content, real reviews and time. A cheap site with thin text will not outrank firms who publish clear service pages and keep a complete Google Business Profile.