Building a website is the first proactive step you take to connect and engage with your customers online.
For businesses that still need a website, its development can be an invaluable decision in improving their future, reputation, and brand image. So, no wonder you want to be sure of everything about building a website – especially things like cost and time.
Did you know 75% of users admit to making judgments about a company’s credibility based on their website’s design, according to web credibility research from Stanford? HubSpot revealed that 88% of online consumers are unlikely to revisit a website after having a negative experience.
All this suggests that a website can help your business increase the odds of attracting and retaining new customers. That’s why it’s crucial to know how much it will cost to build a website in 2024.
Breaking Down The Cost Of Building A Website In 2024
What type of website do you need?
Not all websites are developed or created equally, so knowing what type of website you need can be critical. You need to know the type of website you need for your business to estimate the total development cost.
For example, building a news website might be relatively inexpensive as it has simpler integrations. All it needs is a contact form, CRM, and email marketing. Therefore, the cost to build a news website ranges from $10,000 to $15,000.
On the other hand, a corporate website is more complex and usually has 40-50 web pages. To create a website for your business, you must build several sections like a Contact Us page, About Us page, service page, and more.
According to Forbes, it may cost around $10,000 to $35,000 to build a corporate website with 50 or more pages. Furthermore, it may cost between $5,000 to $55,000 to develop an eCommerce website and $10,000 to $35,000 for a small business website.
What will be your website’s complexity level?
The complexity level of a website can have a significant impact on the entire development cost. The complexity of a website refers to the complexities of its features, capabilities, and design components. Websites can range from simple informational pages to complex eCommerce platforms or custom online apps, each requiring its own skills and resources.
A complex website usually has various types of content with complicated data structures. These websites provide users with more than simple information. For example, we can look at websites like LinkedIn and Canva. Given the complex requirements, it is evident that they will take more time and cost. They may take around 12 months or more, with development costs between $80-200,000.
- Medium complexity websites
These websites are ideal for businesses that need a balance between functionality and simplicity. These websites usually incorporate moderate features, design elements, and customization. You will need a complete team from frontend and backend developers to UI/UX designers to build websites with medium complexity.
A basic website will include minimal functionalities and features like a backend database, UI/UX designs, and CMS integration. These websites may only take 2-3 months to develop and cost between $10,000 and $20,000.
Will you hire a freelancer or a web development agency?
The cost to build a website also depends on who you want to choose for website development. There are two essential options: hiring freelancers and web development agencies. Each option offers unique benefits regarding cost-effectiveness, scalability, and expertise.
- Hire an independent web developer
Hiring a freelancer is one of the preferred options and may also be affordable. A freelance website developer offers supreme flexibility regarding work routine while reducing the time it usually takes to build a website. Moreover, hiring a remote developer allows for tapping into a global talent pool, ensuring that you get the best expertise irrespective of geographical boundaries. Experienced web developers are likely to charge somewhere between $60 to $80.
- Web development companies
A professional website development agency can make the whole development process a breeze. They take out all the complexities involved in a project with timely delivery. Not only can they implement advanced technologies in your websites, but they also offer additional services beyond developing your website.
The average cost of hiring a web development agency is $100 – $149 per hour. However, hiring a web development and development agency can cost $15,000 to $150,000.
What are the other factors that impact the website development cost?
There are several other expenses you will make while building a website. From choosing between proprietary and open-source software and choosing a web hosting provider to get SSL certificates, these are all essential expenses associated with the web development process.
- Software licensing fees
- Web hosting costs
- SSL certificate expenses
- Domain registration fees
- Premium themes or templates
- Content management system (CMS) expenses
- eCommerce platform charges
- Payment gateway fees
- Website security solutions
- Responsive design testing tools
- SEO and analytics tools
Determining these factors in advance can also help you determine how much a website will cost in 2024. Hiring a web hosting provider may cost about $3-$400 per month. Likewise, buying a domain name may cost almost $10-$20 per year.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the cost of building a website for your business may vary depending on its scope, the features you want, and other factors. Given this, you should comprehensively understand all the factors we’ve outlined to make an informed decision and estimate the overall cost of building a website in 2024.
