What Are the Costs of Professional Websites and Webshops?
Websites are indispensable these days, but of course they also come with costs. As a (starting) entrepreneur, it can be difficult to decide where to invest your money in the beginning.
Online visibility is crucial to attract customers. These days, that includes not only a website, but also various social media accounts and AI.
We look at two options: informative websites and webshops. And that’s not all—per option, we also look at who provides the content, what is included, and different budget categories.
The cost of web design with a strong user experience (UX) can vary widely. Prices can range from a few hundred euros to tens of thousands or more, depending on what you want. Building a website yourself can cost as little as €200 per year, but if you lack experience with design and usability, it can actually cost you customers.
What if a customer goes to a website, but it loads very slowly. Eventually, they look around a bit, but can’t immediately find the product they’re looking for. The product description isn’t easy to read because of the color choices. Then, when they finally add something to their cart, shipping costs suddenly appear (something that was never mentioned before). The checkout layout is unclear, and the customer gives up. “If I can’t place an order, I’ll just go to another website.”
A good website should work for you, not against you. You want visitors to easily find what they’re looking for and feel confident in your brand. That’s where professional web design comes in. After all, you want a beautiful website that actually achieves something, right?
So it’s easy to understand why the cost of creating a webshop or website can vary so much. Every web designer has their own pricing. In this blog post, I’ll discuss general price ranges for websites and webshops. There are also many different specialties within web design that can take your website to the next level, think User Experience designers, Interaction Designers, SEO specialists, and Copywriters. For now, let’s first look at the average costs for an informative website and a webshop.
For each scenario, we look at websites and explain what is added specifically for webshops within the given budget.
Scenario 1: You have a budget of less than €1,000
Informative websites: You’ll get a basic website with essential pages (usually 3–5 pages). Often a simple design, but enough for a starting entrepreneur to be visible online. Hosting and a domain are usually included for 1 year; these costs return annually. You provide all texts and images yourself. Within this scenario, you can expand your package with additional services such as help with images and text, search engine visibility (SEO), branding and visual identity, or advice.
Webshops: You get a simple webshop with a limited number of products (around 10), or the option to add more later yourself. The design is usually basic, but sufficient to become visible online and start selling products.
Scenario 2: You have a budget of €1,000–€5,000
Informative websites: What do you get with this mid-range budget? If you want to present yourself seriously and professionally online, this is for you. A professional business website with 5–10 pages. A design that matches you and your company, more extensive branding, and basic or full SEO optimization. Partial customization is possible within this budget. You can expect a good level of usability, provided the web designer focuses on this aspect. You may also receive help with creating content for your website. Lastly, a maintenance contract is optional within this budget.
Webshops: With this budget, you can expect a professional webshop with 10–15 products and a design that fits you and your business. The price depends on the size of the webshop and the payment methods. This is a solid investment for entrepreneurs who want to grow, without immediately opting for a fully custom webshop.
Scenario 3: You have a budget of more than €5,000
Informative websites: At this level, you’re looking at a fully custom website of high quality. A design with extensive branding and all desired (and more complex) functionalities. With this budget, almost anything is possible: customer portals, API integrations, and websites with more than 10 pages. You can provide the content yourself, but at this budget level, content creation is often included. You’ll usually pay extra for an extensive design process, usability research, and/or development. Monthly maintenance costs are also more common at this level. Do you value sustainability and want a strong, tailor-made online identity? Then this could be the best choice for you.
Webshops: Custom webshops are possible within this budget and are suitable for larger companies or stores with more than 50 products. Advanced features are also available, such as advanced search filters, customer accounts, multiple languages, or integrations with other systems. For entrepreneurs focused on a scalable, professionally managed online store with growth ambitions, this is an excellent option.
Please note: this article discusses general prices and budgets. These are not fixed prices, nor do they represent the or all services offered by Veritas Design. For more information, please visit the services page.
Author: Jerney Pompe Add me on LinkedIn!