If you are a plumber, electrician, roofer or another local tradesperson, you probably do not want to spend weeks comparing web design proposals. You want to know what you will pay, what you will get, and whether the website will make it easier for customers to contact you.
The awkward answer is that a “website price” can mean several different things. One quote might cover the build only. Another might bundle the build with hosting and support. A cheaper-looking monthly offer may cost more over time, while an expensive build may still leave you arranging hosting and updates yourself.
The way to compare them is to separate the cost of getting the website live from the cost of keeping it useful.
What are you actually paying for?
A basic trade website should make four things clear: what work you do, where you work, why a customer can trust you, and how to request a quote. The price should cover the work needed to make those answers visible on a phone as well as a computer.
Before accepting a quote, ask whether it includes:
- The pages you need, such as Home, Services and Contact.
- Writing and structuring the copy, or whether you must provide finished text.
- A mobile-friendly layout and a phone number customers can tap to call.
- A working contact form, tested after launch.
- Basic search setup, such as descriptive page titles and clear information about your services and areas covered.
- Connecting your domain, hosting the site, security updates and backups.
- Changes after launch, including what counts as a paid extra.
The number of pages alone does not tell you whether a quote is good value. A three-page site that describes your real services and gets enquiries to the right place is more useful than a larger site filled with vague text.
Upfront payment or monthly plan?
Some suppliers charge for the build upfront and then a smaller monthly amount for hosting. Others spread the build cost across monthly payments. Neither arrangement is automatically better: it depends on your cash flow and how long you expect to keep the service.
For a concrete example, Websites for Trades currently offers two options for the same three-page website: £250 upfront plus £20 per month, or £0 upfront plus £40 per month. At those advertised rates, the first option totals £490 over 12 months and the second £480. Over 24 months, the totals are £730 and £960 respectively. These are simple sums of the advertised build and hosting charges, not a claim that either option includes every possible future change or domain renewal.
The £0 upfront option currently has a minimum 12-month hosting term. If you are comparing it with another provider, ask about the minimum term, cancellation notice, what happens to your site when you leave, and any transfer costs. Get the answers in writing before you commit.
What will it cost after launch?
Websites need occasional care. You might change your phone number, add a service, replace a gallery photo or fix a form that has stopped working. Hosting, software maintenance and content changes may be included, billed separately or handled by different companies.
Ask your supplier to explain the monthly charge in plain English. Does it include hosting only, or also updates and technical support? Are backups made? What happens if something breaks? Who renews the domain name, and who is named as its owner?
Websites for Trades lists website updates and optimisation at £30 per hour. That gives you a basis for budgeting for changes, but ask for an estimate when the work is more than a small edit. You should always know whether a request is included in your plan before it becomes an invoice.
How to judge value, not just the lowest price
Imagine two sites cost the same to launch. One uses a stock photograph, says “we provide quality solutions”, and hides the contact number in the footer. The other shows your own work, lists the jobs you take on, names the towns you cover and makes calling easy. The second gives a customer a much better reason to get in touch.
When you compare quotes, ask to see a sample site on your phone. Try the contact form. Check whether the wording could describe any trade business or whether it helps the right customer recognise the right service. Ask how changes are requested after launch.
If you are unsure what information belongs on the site, our guide to what a trade website should include is a useful starting point.
The short version
Set a budget for the first year and the years after that. Confirm what is included, who owns the domain and content, how long you are committed for, and who will help when you need a change. A clear quote makes it much easier to choose a website that fits your business instead of buying a price you do not understand.
If you want a straightforward quote for a new trade website, see our current pricing or tell us about your business.
