What a website actually costs
A plain-English breakdown of what goes into website pricing — from simple brochure sites to full e-commerce builds — so you can plan your budget with confidence.
If you've ever asked "how much does a website cost?" and gotten the answer "it depends" — this guide is for you. It explains the real drivers of website cost, what a reasonable range looks like for different types of sites, and what to watch for when comparing quotes.
Quick summary
Website costs depend heavily on scope, complexity, and who builds it. A simple brochure site and a custom e-commerce platform can differ by 10x in cost. This guide explains why — and what questions to ask before you commit to a budget.
The two types of website costs
Before anything else, it helps to understand that website costs fall into two buckets:
- One-time costs — design, development, copywriting, photography. You pay these once to build the site.
- Ongoing costs — hosting, domain renewal, plugin licenses, care plans, security updates. You pay these every year, sometimes every month.
Most people focus on the one-time build cost. The ongoing costs are often smaller individually, but they add up — and they never stop. See Hidden costs to watch for for a full breakdown.
What determines the price of a build?
Complexity and scope
This is the single biggest driver. A five-page brochure site with a contact form is a fundamentally different project from a 100-page e-commerce store with product filtering, customer accounts, and a payment gateway.
Ask yourself:
- How many pages does the site need?
- Will people buy things on it?
- Does it need to connect to other systems (CRM, booking software, inventory)?
- Is the design custom, or based on a template?
Custom design vs templates
A site built on a carefully chosen template — customized to your brand — costs significantly less than one designed from scratch. Both can look professional. The difference is that a custom design starts with a blank canvas and is tailored entirely to your brand; a template starts from an existing visual framework.
Neither is better by default. The right choice depends on your goals, timeline, and budget.
Content
Many clients underestimate how much content affects the cost and timeline of a website project.
If you're providing final, polished copy and approved images before the build starts, that's the fastest and cheapest route. If copywriting, photography, or brand asset creation is part of the project, those services add to the total.
Platform
Different platforms suit different needs — and carry different cost profiles.
| Platform | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress + page builder | Flexible, content-heavy sites | Wide range of ongoing plugin costs |
| WooCommerce | Online stores with WordPress | Requires more maintenance |
| Webflow | Design-forward, lower ongoing tech overhead | Higher build cost on some projects |
| Squarespace | Simple sites, limited needs | Lower build cost, flat monthly subscription |
| Custom development | Complex, unique requirements | Highest cost; reserved for specific needs |
Timeline
Rush projects cost more. If you need a site in four weeks instead of twelve, that compresses the schedule and typically increases the cost.
What do different types of sites typically cost?
We're deliberately not publishing fixed prices here — every project is different, and a quote that skips discovery is usually unreliable. But we can describe general ranges that apply across the industry.
Our project tiers
Chykalophia projects start at $25,000+ for Standard projects and $55,000+ for Larger projects. The full breakdown of what fits each tier is in Our services & pricing. The rest of this guide explains what makes one project sit higher or lower inside its tier.
Standard projects — $25K+
Brochure / marketing site (5–15 pages) Design, development, a contact form, basic SEO setup. Content collaboration included. No e-commerce.
Service-business website with custom design Built on WordPress, Webflow, or Squarespace. Designed around your brand. Most small-to-mid business sites fit here.
Simple Shopify or WooCommerce store Smaller catalogs, standard checkout, no custom flows.
Landing-page sprints A focused, standalone campaign page — fits at the lower end of the Standard tier.
Larger projects — $55K+
E-commerce store with complex flows Many products, custom checkout, subscriptions, or multi-currency. Typically Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce.
Multi-stakeholder rebrand or redesign More discovery rounds, more design iteration, more sign-off steps. Multi-site systems land here too.
Membership or booking site Member accounts, booking calendars, subscription features.
Custom web application If your site behaves more like a piece of software — database integrations, user roles, complex workflows — expect this tier.
Platform migration with content reconstruction Especially Wix→WordPress or large Shopify→WooCommerce moves.
How to get an accurate quote
The most important thing you can do is be specific. Vague briefs get vague estimates.
Before reaching out for a quote, try to articulate:
- What the site needs to do (not just what it looks like)
- Who the audience is
- What platforms you're already using (email, CRM, booking tools)
- Whether you need copywriting or photography as part of the project
- Your rough timeline
We'll then schedule a discovery call to understand your goals in depth — and from that we'll send you a detailed proposal with a clear scope and cost breakdown. See Understanding quotes & invoices for how to read a proposal when it arrives.
Common questions
Related guides
- Understanding quotes & invoices
- Hidden costs to watch for
- Understanding care plan pricing
- The ROI of a website redesign
- What happens in discovery & strategy
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