It’s one of the first questions any business owner asks when they start thinking about a new website. And it’s a fair one. The trouble is, searching online gives you answers ranging from “£200 on Fiverr” to “£20,000 from a big agency” — and very little in between that makes sense.
We work with businesses across West Yorkshire, from Pontefract to Wakefield to Castleford, and this question comes up constantly. So here’s a straight answer.
The four main options — and what they actually deliver
DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) — £10–£40/month
These platforms have improved enormously. For an individual freelancer or a very simple five-page site, they can be a reasonable starting point. You’ll spend a weekend building it, it’ll look broadly fine, and it’ll cost you very little each month.
The problems show up later. The designs are templated — and templates get used by thousands of businesses, so there’s nothing distinctive about your online presence. Performance can be sluggish, particularly on mobile. SEO customisation is limited. And as your business grows and you want something more specific — a booking system that works the way your business works, or landing pages for your local area — you start hitting walls.
Freelancers — £500–£3,000
A good freelance web designer can produce excellent work in this bracket. You’ll often get more attention and direct communication than from an agency. The risk is consistency: quality varies widely, and ongoing support (updates, maintenance, small fixes) can be patchy if your freelancer is busy with other clients.
Small agencies and studios — £1,500–£8,000
This is where you start getting custom design, a proper brief and discovery process, and reliable ongoing support. At the upper end of this range, you’re typically getting a full team: designer, developer, copywriter, and an SEO strategy.
This is where we sit. Our website design and build starts at £1,000 setup + £30/month, which covers a custom multi-page design, hosting on fast infrastructure, monthly maintenance, and a local SEO foundation. It’s not the cheapest option in this bracket — but we think it represents excellent value for what a West Yorkshire business actually gets.
Large agencies — £8,000–£30,000+
Full-service agencies with large teams, strategic consultants, and project managers. Appropriate for large businesses with complex requirements, enterprise CRM integrations, or significant e-commerce. For most local businesses, this tier is more than you need.
What should a website actually include?
Wherever you buy, a good website for a local West Yorkshire business should include:
- Custom design that looks like you — not a template that could be anyone
- Fast, mobile-first build — most local searches happen on a phone
- Clear calls to action — every page should know what it wants a visitor to do next
- Local SEO foundations — proper headings, meta descriptions, Google Business Profile alignment
- A trustworthy contact method — phone, email, a contact form, or even a booking link
If any of those are missing, the price — however low — isn’t actually a bargain.
Should you pay monthly or upfront?
Both are legitimate models. We charge a setup fee (the design and build) plus a low monthly retainer for hosting, maintenance, and minor updates. Some studios charge everything upfront and then bill hourly for changes. Neither is wrong — it depends on whether you’d rather spread the cost or own the asset outright.
One thing to watch: if a monthly-only provider (SaaS website builders, for instance) disappears or significantly raises their prices, you can end up needing to start again from scratch. With us, you own your site and all its content outright — you could take it elsewhere if you ever wanted to, though we’d like to think you wouldn’t want to.
The free concept — see it before you spend a penny
We start every project with a free concept of your new homepage. You tell us your business, we design what your new site could look like, and we send you the link. You see the creative before any money changes hands.
We think it’s the most honest way to work. You’re not committing to anything blind. If you love it, we build it. If it’s not right, we part friends.
If you’re a business in Pontefract, Wakefield, or anywhere across West Yorkshire — get your free concept and see what a proper website could look like for your business. No cost, no obligation.
Want to see our full pricing breakdown before you enquire? It’s all there, with no hidden fees.