Why prices vary so much
Ask three web designers in New Jersey for a quote and you may get three very different numbers. That does not always mean someone is overcharging. Website prices vary because "a website" can mean anything from a single page with your phone number to a large online store with hundreds of products.
The good news is that most local businesses, such as plumbers, salons, restaurants, contractors and shops, need something in the simpler half of that range. If you know what drives the price, you can ask for exactly what you need and compare quotes fairly.
What drives the price of a website
These are the main things that make a website cost more or less:
- Number of pages. A one-page site with your services, photos and contact details takes far less work than a site with a separate page for every service, a gallery, an about page and a blog.
- Custom design or a template. A design made for your business takes more time than a ready-made theme with your logo dropped in. A good studio can still keep a custom design simple.
- Who writes the text. If you give the designer finished text, the job is faster. If the designer writes or edits it for you, that is extra work, and it is often worth it.
- Photos. Using your own photos costs nothing extra. A professional photo shoot or stock images add cost.
- Features. Online booking, online payments, an online store, a members area or connections to other software all add time and sometimes monthly fees.
- Languages. A site in two or more languages needs the text prepared and checked in each one.
- Turnaround. Very tight deadlines can cost more.
One-time costs and ongoing costs
The design and build is usually a one-time payment. After launch, there are a few ongoing costs, and a fair quote should explain each one:
- Domain name. Your address on the web, such as yourbusiness.com. You renew it every year with a domain registrar. Make sure it is registered in your name, not the designer's.
- Hosting. The service that keeps your site online. For a simple site, good hosts offer free plans, and some designers charge a monthly fee that includes hosting and care.
- Care and updates. Backups, security updates, small text changes and checks that the site is up. You can do some of this yourself, or pay a monthly care plan.
- Email. An email address on your own domain, such as [email protected], usually comes from a separate email provider.
When you compare quotes, add up the first-year total and the yearly cost after that. A low build price with a high monthly fee can cost more over a few years than a higher build price with no monthly fee.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Who owns the domain, and is it registered in my name?
- Will I get all the website files when the site goes live?
- What exactly is included, and how many rounds of changes?
- What will I pay every month or every year after launch?
- Can I cancel any monthly plan, and with how much notice?
- If I leave, what do I get to take with me?
- Can I see a demo or a draft before I pay in full?
A good web designer will answer every one of these clearly and in writing. If the answers are vague, or if the domain will be registered in the designer's name, be careful. Moving a site away later can be hard if you do not control your own domain.
What Brickline Web charges
We are a web design studio in Carteret, New Jersey, and we list our prices openly. All prices are in USD:
- Starter: $650. A one-page website.
- Business: $1,500. Up to 5 pages.
- Plus: $2,300. For businesses that need more.
- Care Plan: $35 to $65 per month. Optional, month to month, and you can cancel with 30 days' notice.
We also have a launch offer with lower prices for our first 10 clients. You can see the details, and what each package includes, on our Services & Pricing page.
With every package, your domain is registered in your name, your logo, photos and text are always yours, and you get all the website files when the site goes live. You do not need the Care Plan to keep your site online. If you do not take it, we set up free hosting in your own account and name, and your only ongoing cost is the domain renewal, which you pay to your domain registrar.
Cheap, expensive or just right?
The cheapest option is not always the best value, and the most expensive is not always the best site. For most small businesses, the right website is one that loads fast on a phone, clearly says what you do and where you work, and makes it easy to call or message you. That does not need a big budget.
Pay for what brings you customers: clear text, good photos, a fast and mobile-friendly design, and easy contact buttons. Skip features you will not use. You can always add pages later.
See it before you pay
Not sure what you need? We build a free demo of your homepage first, and you pay nothing until you approve it. It is the easiest way to see what your website could look like and what it would cost, with no pressure.
Send us your business name and town at [email protected], or request your free demo.