Small business owners in Worthing and Brighton often ask the crucial question: “How much does a website cost?” If you’ve been searching for terms like “website design cost Worthing” or “how much does a website cost Brighton”, you’re likely looking for clear answers tailored to your local area. In this 2025 guide, we break down everything you need to know – from the factors that influence website design pricing to typical price ranges (DIY vs. professional) and ongoing costs. By the end, you’ll understand what affordable web design in Worthing or Brighton really means, and you’ll be equipped to budget for a new website with confidence. Let’s dive in!
What factors influence website design costs?
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for building a website – it depends on what you need and how you build it. Here are the key factors that determine the cost of a website for your small business:
Website size & complexity
A simple one-page “online brochure” will cost far less than a complex e-commerce store or a website with custom booking systems. The more pages and features you need, the more development time (and cost) is required. For example, a basic 5-page informational site is quicker to build than a 50-page site with interactive features.
Design and functionality
Do you need a custom design tailored to your brand, or will a ready-made template do? Custom design work (unique layouts, graphics, branding) and advanced functionality (like user accounts, appointment booking, or integration with other systems) will increase the cost. A site that “just” provides information is cheaper than one that sells products online, handles bookings, or offers user logins – those extra functions take more work to implement.
DIY vs. professional build
How you create the site makes a big difference in cost. Using a DIY website builder (like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress with a template) can save money because you’re not paying a designer – but you’ll invest your own time, and the site may have functional or aesthetic limitations. On the other hand, hiring a freelance web designer or agency means paying an expert to do it for you, which increases upfront cost but usually yields a more polished, effective website. We’ll compare these options in detail below.
Experience and provider type
Within the “professional” route, costs vary by who builds your site. A freelance web designer or small local agency often charges less than a large, high-profile web design agency. Freelancers in the UK might quote anywhere from £800 up to £3,000 for a small-to-medium business website, whereas a bigger digital agency could charge £5,000 – £10,000+ for a fully managed project. The trade-off is usually in the level of service and customization (we’ll explore price ranges shortly).
Content creation & special features
Don’t forget content when budgeting. Will you provide all the text, images, and product info for the site, or do you need copywriting, photography, or logo design services? If a web design package includes writing your content or creating images, it will cost more. Similarly, features like search engine optimization (SEO) setup, membership portals, multi-language support, etc., can add to the price – either as one-time add-ons or ongoing services.
Ongoing maintenance needs
While this guide focuses on design/build costs, remember that maintaining a website also has costs (discussed more below). If you expect your web partner to handle updates, security, and support long-term, they might charge a monthly or annual maintenance fee. This can be worth it for peace of mind, but it’s an extra factor in the overall cost of ownership for your website.
Local insight
It’s worth noting that Brighton’s tech scene is thriving – the city is known as a digital and creative hub (sometimes nicknamed “Silicon Beach”). It boasts a vibrant community of agencies, freelancers, and startups in web design and marketing. This means Brighton businesses have many options at various price points. Worthing, while smaller, also has a growing digital community of its own, with talented designers offering services often at very competitive rates. In practice, a small business in Worthing or Brighton can choose from a range of providers – from lean freelance operations to full-service agencies – which creates a wide range of possible costs. Now, let’s look at what those cost ranges actually are in 2025.
Typical website design costs in 2025 (DIY vs. professional)
So, what does a website actually cost in 2025 for a local business? While every project is unique, here are some ballpark figures to give you a sense of budget. We’ll cover do-it-yourself options, hiring freelancers, and going with an agency, plus how e-commerce can affect pricing.
DIY website (self-build)
Approx. £150 – £500 per year in out-of-pocket costs. This typically includes a website builder subscription or basic hosting plan, plus a domain name. Using platforms like Wix or Squarespace, you might spend under £50 per month for the premium plan – which is about £600/year at most, often less with annual billing. The big advantage here is saving on professional fees, but remember your time investment and the limitations of pre-made templates. DIY sites can work on a shoestring budget, but they may look less custom and you are responsible for making it all work.
Basic one-page website (starter package)
Approx. £300 – £500 one-time. This is an entry-level professional design cost for a very small site. Some local web designers offer one-page or “microsite” packages in this range. For example, a Brighton agency quotes around £300 for a simple one-page site with basic info and contact details. This kind of site is great for a new startup or sole trader who just needs an online business card. It’s affordable, but also quite limited in scope.
Standard small business website (5–10 pages)
Approx. £800 – £3,000 one-time. This range covers the majority of brochure-style websites for small businesses when done by a freelancer or small agency. The lower end (under £1k) might involve a semi-custom template or a less experienced designer, whereas the higher end (a few thousand pounds) usually means a fully bespoke design by an experienced professional. In the UK market, a freelance web designer often quotes roughly £800 to £3,000 for a small to mid-size brochure site that’s customized to your business needs. Within this range, you can expect a multi-page site (Home, About, Services, Contact, maybe a Blog or Gallery) that is mobile-friendly and tailored to your branding. Many Worthing and Brighton businesses will fall in this category for a professionally made site.
E-commerce or advanced website
Approx. £3,000 – £5,000+ one-time. If you need to sell online or require advanced functionality, anticipate higher costs. Adding e-commerce capability (product listings, shopping cart, payment integration) can significantly increase development time. For instance, one local web company provides an example online shop with ~200 products for about £3,000. Smaller e-commerce sites might start around £2,000, but costs rise with the number of products and custom features (advanced search, customer accounts, etc.). Similarly, a website with custom web application features or integrations will likely be in the multiple-thousands range.
Large or agency-handled projects
Approx. £5,000 – £10,000+ one-time. For a truly custom project handled by a bigger web design agency, budgets typically start here and go up depending on scope. If you’re looking for a comprehensive package – possibly including branding, custom graphics, content strategy, and a larger development team – an agency in Brighton might quote five figures. The investment is higher, but you’re paying for a full team’s expertise (designers, developers, project managers, SEO specialists, etc.). This level is usually more than a typical small business needs in Worthing or Brighton, but medium-sized enterprises or ambitious startups might consider it for a top-tier, scalable website.
Note: These ranges are estimates for initial development and design. Always get a tailored quote for your specific project. Also, prices may vary slightly between Worthing and Brighton providers, but generally the type of site and who builds it has more impact on cost than the city. In fact, both towns have competitive web design markets. For example, some Worthing web design packages start around £495+VAT for basic sites, and in Brighton freelancers often suggest a minimum budget of ~£800–£1,500 for a solid brochure site. The good news is that in 2025, technology allows even lower-cost options to achieve a decent web presence – yet investing a bit more with the right professional can give you a unique, high-performing site that stands out.
Ongoing website costs to plan for
Building the website is one part of the cost equation; keeping it running and effective is another. Don’t overlook these ongoing costs when budgeting for your website:
Domain name
This is your website’s address (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk). You need to register it and renew it annually. Domains are relatively cheap – typically around £10–£15 per year for a standard .co.uk or .com domain. (Specialty domains or premium names can cost more, but most small businesses use common extensions. For instance, .co.uk domains often cost about £9/year.)
Web hosting
Once your site is built, all its files need to live on a server that’s online 24/7. Hosting is usually a recurring expense, either monthly or yearly. The cost can range widely based on the type and quality of hosting:
- Basic shared hosting (suitable for small sites) might cost around £5–£10 per month, or as low as ~£50–£100 per year when paid annually. This would be like entry-level plans many providers offer, which are affordable but come with limited resources.
- Business-grade or managed hosting (higher performance, often including support services) will cost more – perhaps £20–£30+ per month. One Brighton freelancer notes that a fully managed hosting plan with nightly backups can be about £250–£300 per year (roughly £20/month). Managed hosting often includes regular updates, security monitoring, and backups, which can be worth it for peace of mind.
Website builders (like Wix, Squarespace) include hosting in their subscription, so if you went the DIY route, that monthly fee we mentioned covers hosting as well. Just factor it into the yearly cost of DIY.
SSL certificate
Today, having an SSL (secure connection indicated by “https://”) is a must for any website – browsers will flag sites without it as “not secure”. The good news is many hosts now provide basic SSL for free (Let’s Encrypt is commonly used). If it’s not included, an SSL certificate might cost around £30–£50/year for a standard one, more for advanced validation, but most small business sites won’t need an expensive SSL. Make sure your chosen hosting or web package includes SSL to avoid this extra cost.
Maintenance & support
Websites aren’t “set and forget” – software needs updates, and things occasionally go wrong (or you may want minor changes over time). You have a couple of options:
- Do it yourself: If you’re comfortable, you can handle basic maintenance (updating a WordPress site’s plugins, for example) for free. Just allocate time for it.
- Ongoing care plan: Many web designers offer maintenance plans for a monthly or yearly fee. This might cover tasks like software updates, security monitoring, backups, and a set amount of content edits or support time. Costs vary based on what’s included. Some freelancers offer basic maintenance from around £50–£100/month, while more comprehensive support packages (especially from agencies) can be £150+ per month. Evaluate your needs: a plan can save you headaches if you don’t have in-house tech skills. It ensures your site stays secure and up-to-date.
Content updates and marketing
This goes slightly beyond “website cost,” but it’s worth noting. If you want your site to stay fresh and attract visitors, you may invest in creating new content (like blog posts, new photos, product updates) or marketing services (SEO, social media, etc.). You can do a lot of this yourself at no direct cost, but many businesses allocate a budget for professional help here. For example, you might hire a copywriter for blog articles or an SEO service to improve rankings. These costs can be on an as-needed basis or monthly, depending on your strategy. While not mandatory, they’re important to consider in the broader scope of maintaining a successful website.
Tip: When comparing quotes from web designers, ask what’s included for ongoing costs. Some local agencies bundle the first year of hosting or offer a maintenance-free period after launch. Others might offer training so you can update the site yourself (avoiding ongoing fees). Always clarify domain, hosting, and support responsibilities upfront. Transparent providers will list, for instance, “Domain registration £10/year, Hosting £X/year after first year, maintenance optional”. Knowing these details helps you avoid surprises down the road.
Finding affordable web design in Worthing & Brighton
Budget is a big concern for small businesses – understandably, you want the best value for money. The good news is that in both Worthing and Brighton, there are ways to keep web design costs affordable without compromising on quality:
Compare local quotes
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a few web designers (both in Worthing and Brighton) to discuss your project and get estimates. The web design community here is friendly and often willing to have an initial chat or consultation for free. By comparing quotes, you’ll get a sense of the reasonable price range for your needs and can spot any outliers. Just make sure you’re comparing equivalent offerings – one quote might be higher because it includes more services (like SEO or content help).
Start small, then grow
If your budget is tight, consider launching with a simpler site and adding features later. For example, you could begin with a basic informational site now, and plan to add e-commerce or booking functionality in six months or a year once your business grows. Many local designers can work in phases. This staged approach keeps initial costs down while ensuring you have an online presence. Just avoid cutting too many corners on the initial build – you want a solid foundation to grow on, not something that will need a complete redo.
Evaluate DIY vs. professional
If you truly have almost no budget, a DIY builder might be your only option – and that’s okay to start. You’ll spend more time than money. However, if you can invest a few hundred pounds or more, you may find that hiring a professional yields a better return (in terms of a site that attracts and converts customers). Remember that an amateur-looking or poorly functioning website can cost you business. It’s about finding the right balance. Many Worthing/Brighton freelancers pride themselves on offering quality websites at affordable rates for local businesses, so you might be pleasantly surprised that professional help is within reach.
Beware of “too good to be true” pricing
You might see ultra-cheap offers – like someone promising a full website for £199 or similar. Be cautious. While not all low-cost offers are scams, you should scrutinize what you get for that price. Often, extremely cheap packages use a one-size-fits-all template with minimal customization, and might not include important things like mobile optimization or proper SEO setup. As one web agency put it, “A cheap website may save money initially but could cost more in the long run if it doesn’t meet your business needs or requires frequent updates.” In other words, affordable web design is great, but quality matters too – aim for value, not just the lowest price.
Leverage local knowledge
One advantage of choosing a local Worthing or Brighton web designer is that they understand the area and your audience. They can incorporate local SEO terms (like your town name) and design with local clientele in mind. This local insight can make your website more effective in reaching the community. When talking to potential designers, feel free to ask about their experience with other Sussex or South Coast clients. A designer familiar with the Brighton & Hove vibe or the Worthing business community might resonate better with your project’s goals (and it can be nice to meet face-to-face, if needed, given the short distance between our towns).
By following these tips, you should be able to find an affordable web design solution that fits your budget. Worthing and Brighton have a range of options – from solo designers to small agencies – competing to deliver great results for small businesses. With the right approach, you can get a professional-looking site without breaking the bank.
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Your website is an investment in your business’s future – and getting it right is worth it. The exact cost will depend on your needs, but the guidance above should help you make an informed decision. If you’re a small business in Worthing or Brighton looking for an affordable, professionally designed website, we’re here to help make it happen. We offer flexible website design services tailored to local businesses and can even assist with reliable web hosting and ongoing support to keep your site running smoothly.
Ready to get started? 💻 Contact us today for a free quote on your new website. We’ll discuss your vision, provide a transparent quote, and set you on the path to a brilliant online presence. Let’s create a website that attracts customers, builds credibility, and helps your business grow – all at a price that makes sense for you. Get in touch now to kick off your web project!
Sources:
- theguardian.com
- worthingdigital.com
- webdesignbyian.com
- niftywebsitedesign.co.uk
- silkmedia.uk
- saywebdesign.co.uk