The cost of a small business website depends on what needs to be built, who prepares the content and who maintains it afterward. A brochure site and a system that takes payments, manages inventory or stores customer accounts are different projects. There is no useful universal price that covers both.
Instead of starting with an average from another country or an old pricing article, ask providers to quote the same written scope. Keep currency, taxes, renewal periods and responsibility clear so you can compare the offers fairly.
Separate the initial build from ongoing costs
The build fee covers agreed design and implementation work. It may or may not include copywriting, photography, revisions, migration or setup of external services. Ask for those items explicitly rather than assuming “complete website” includes them.
Ongoing costs can include the domain registration, hosting, software subscriptions and maintenance. A low first-year offer can have a different renewal price. Check the renewal terms and what happens if you cancel or move providers.
| Cost area | Ask before accepting |
|---|---|
| Design and build | Which pages, features and revisions are included? |
| Content | Who writes, supplies and approves the text and photographs? |
| Domain | Who is the registrant, and who manages renewals? |
| Hosting | What does the service cover, and when does its price renew? |
| Maintenance | Which updates, fixes and response times are included? |
| Third-party tools | Are bookings, email or payment tools billed separately? |
Define the features that change the work
“Booking” could mean a link to an existing booking page, an embedded widget or a custom scheduling system. These are not interchangeable scopes. Similarly, displaying product information is different from taking orders, calculating shipping and processing payments.
Write the behaviour you need in ordinary language. For example: “Visitors should see our consultation types and follow a link to the booking service we already use.” Ask the provider to explain any additional service fees or limitations.
Accessibility, mobile usability and testing should also appear in the conversation. Ask how the finished site will be checked, rather than treating those words as guarantees on a sales page.
Account for your own contribution
An owner who supplies approved copy and organized images reduces uncertainty. A project that needs interviews, service research and photography requires that work somewhere in its budget. Delayed approvals can also delay delivery even when development is finished.
Use the content preparation guide to identify what you already have. Ask whether missing material changes the quoted price or timeline. Keep a list of what is excluded so a later addition becomes an informed choice rather than a surprise.
Compare responsibility, not just totals
Before accepting a quote, ask who controls the domain, where the site will be hosted and what files or content you can take if you leave. Clarify the process for correcting a broken link, updating opening hours and handling a failed renewal.
A written website brief makes these comparisons easier. Ireland’s Local Enterprise Office guide to obtaining a website quote is a useful reference for describing requirements before approaching a developer.
What AIsite.now’s free offer includes
AIsite.now offers selected businesses a showcase website with no design or build fee and lifetime hosting for that website included. A business can use its AIsite.now address without a separate hosting bill.
Custom-domain registration and renewal remain the business’s responsibility. You can bring a domain you already own or ask AIsite.now to help purchase and connect one. Optional third-party services, e-commerce, complex functionality and work outside the included scope are separate. Review how the offer works and the FAQ before applying.