How much does a website cost for tradespeople and service businesses?

In short

A small, professional business website from a freelancer usually costs somewhere between the high hundreds and the low thousands of euros; agencies are often well above that. At Studio Adil, websites start at 699 €. What ends up in the quote depends on a few factors – and they're worth knowing.

These factors determine the price

• Number of pages: A one-pager is quicker to build than a website with a page for every service, a gallery and a careers section.
• Copy and images: Do you supply text and photos yourself, or should they be created or revised?
• Features: A contact form and directions are standard. Multiple languages, online booking or a shop cost more.
• Tech: WordPress is flexible and easy to edit yourself, a hand-coded site is faster and needs less maintenance. Both have their price.
• Search engine optimisation: Clean basics are always included. Dedicated location or industry pages and ongoing optimisation are extra work.
• Design: A custom design takes longer than an adapted template – but it doesn't look like your competitor's site.

Don't forget the running costs

After launch, smaller amounts come up regularly:

• Domain and hosting: With German providers often available for a small monthly amount, with the domain frequently included.
• Email mailboxes: Usually included in the hosting package.
• Maintenance and changes: Important for WordPress, less so for hand-coded sites. Billed by effort or as a monthly plan.

Website builder, freelancer or agency?

Website builders seem cheap, but they cost a monthly fee for as long as the site is online – and you do the work yourself. Agencies offer a lot, but they work with larger teams and charge accordingly. A freelancer is often in between: one fixed contact, custom work and usually shorter paths.

What to look out for in a quote

• Is it a fixed price – and what exactly is included?
• Will the domain, website and logins belong to you in the end?
• Are the legal notice, privacy policy and the basics for Google included?
• What do later changes cost, and is there maintenance?
• Will the site be tested on mobile?

And at Studio Adil?

Websites start at 699 €. After a free first call you get a fixed price based on the number of pages and features. Domain, hosting and logins are registered in your name. As a small business under § 19 of the German VAT Act (UStG), I don't charge VAT – the price quoted is the final price.