“How much does a website cost?”
I sure wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked that question!
So, in order to help business owners, I’m going to set the record straight – at least for mid-2010. And I hope the fancy-shmancy web design companies and over-priced ad agencies don’t kill me!
Over the course of three posts (two more after this), I will show “comparable” websites and budget estimates (sort of like real estate “comparables”) that suggest what you should consider paying for something similar today. The budget ranges will be:
- $200-$1,000
- $1,000-$5,000
- $5,000-$10,000
- $10,000-$25,000
- $25,000-$50,000
- $50,000-$100,000
- $100,000-$200,000
- Over $200,000
First off, it is a great time for businesses that need new websites or enhancements to existing sites. Prices have come down a lot, and marketing and content management features have become cheaper (if not entirely free) and easier to use and integrate (thanks to open source technology and platforms like LAMP and WordPress, technology leaders like Google, and outsourcing through companies like Elance). And website hosting has become a commodity – prices just seem to get lower and lower.
Some things, however, still require top-notch expertise and dedicated, professional talent: High-quality, powerfuly-branded design; online marketing consulting and strategy; technical architecture, particularly for new business models; and honest, reliable consulting and project management if you don’t have time or are uncertain of what will work best for your business. That said, for most businesses it is a great time to get good deals on solid, professional websites.
A few notes:
1. All the websites I discuss in this series as “comparables” are great examples of professional web building. The designers and developers, and their clients, should be proud of these sites.
2. The estimated prices are for what I consider standard websites that contain a typical amount of design and technological features. The estimated budgets of the “comparables” are based on my experience and prices listed on sites like www.sortfolio.com, www.elance.com and www.99designs.com – check them out to see what you can get for your budget.
3. The prices could be lower if you are extremely web-savvy or have a web-savvy employee who is skilled at outsourcing.
4. “It all depends …” There are lots of pricing variables. Back-end features, content management systems (CMS), online marketing work, 3rd party service integration, consulting, custom photography and design … well, you get the idea. Things that may seem simple or obvious might actually require lots of detail work to get right.
5. Of the websites I discuss, Workbox was only involved with one (www.clickriches.com – I consulted); I’m using all the other sites as “comparables” and don’t know their actual budgets and have no relationship with their designer/builders or their owners.
Next week, I show and discuss websites that fall somewhere in the $200-$25,000 price range. The vast, vast majority of websites online today fall in this price range, and I break them down into estimated budgets of $200-$1000; $1,000-$5,000; $5,000-$10,000; and $10,000-$25,000.
Thanks for reading!
– Eric
Next:
> How Much Does A Website Cost? The $200-$25,000 Range
> How Much Does A Website Cost? The $25,000-$200,000 And Above Range