What decides what a website costs?
Website prices vary widely because the scope varies widely. This guide sets out the seven things that move the price, how to compare quotes fairly, and what to ask about before you agree to one.
- There is no single price. Cost follows scope: pages, design, features, content and support.
- Two quotes only compare if they cover the same things.
- Ask what happens after launch: hosting, maintenance and who owns the work.
8 min readPublished By Domeq Solutions
The short answer
Ask ten agencies what a website costs and you will hear ten different numbers. That does not mean anyone is wrong. A small brochure site and a large store with custom features are different projects, and they are priced differently.
So the useful question is not how much a website costs. It is what you get for the price. The rest of this guide gives you the language to answer that.
Domeq's starting price for website projects is stated in the FAQ at the end of this guide.
A lower quote is not cheaper if it leaves out what you need.
How a quote takes shape.
Your brief
The goal, pages and features.
Scope agreed
What is in, and what is not.
Price set
From the scope, platform and design depth.
Work starts
With the terms written down.
Seven things that set the price
Almost every difference between two quotes traces back to one of these seven things. When a number looks too high or too low, check which of them it assumes.
The seven price factors.
Number of pages
More pages mean more design, more content and more testing. A brochure site and a large catalogue are very different in size.
How custom the design is
A design adapted from a template is quicker than one drawn from nothing. Neither is wrong; they suit different needs.
The platform
WordPress, Shopify and Next.js differ in setup, features and upkeep. See Website Design & Development for how they compare.
Features
An online store, bookings, member areas and integrations with other tools each add work.
Content
Writing, photography and video take time. Ask who is providing them and whether they are in the price.
SEO and tracking
Setting up titles, structure, Google Search Console and analytics is work. Some quotes include it and some leave it out.
Testing and support
Checking the site on different devices and browsers, and the support you get after launch, are part of what you are buying.
Template, custom, or in between
The biggest single choice is how much of the design is made for you. A template starts from a ready-made layout, a custom design starts from a blank page, and many projects sit between the two.
None of these is better in itself. A template can be the right call for a business that needs to launch quickly. A custom design makes sense when the layout itself is part of what makes the business different.
Three ways to design a website.
| Aspect | Template-based | Fully custom | A mix of both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design control | Limited to what the template allows | Complete | Custom where it matters, standard elsewhere |
| Time to launch | Shortest | Longest | In between |
| How unique it looks | Similar to other sites on the same template | Unique | Distinctive in the places that count |
| Changing it later | Easy within the template | Flexible, but needs a developer | Depends on how it was built |
| A good fit when | You need to launch quickly | The design is part of your difference | You want a strong look without a long build |
What a quote should spell out
A good quote tells you exactly what you are buying. If one of these is missing, ask. If the answer is vague, treat that as information.
Eight things every quote should state.
- The number and type of pages
- The platform it will be built on
- Whether the design is fully responsive on phones and tablets
- What SEO and tracking setup is included
- The testing that is done before launch
- The timeline, with milestones
- What happens after launch: hosting, maintenance and support
- Who owns the finished website and its files
Costs that arrive after the quote
The price on the quote is rarely the whole cost of having a website. Some costs are normal and recurring; the problem is only when they are a surprise.
Six costs to ask about up front.
Hosting and domain renewals
Both renew regularly. Ask what they cost and when.
Plugin and theme licences
Some tools are paid and renew yearly.
Content and photography
If the quote assumes you supply them, someone still has to produce them.
Extra rounds of changes
Ask how many rounds are included and what extra ones cost.
Maintenance
Websites need updates and backups. See Website Maintenance & Optimization.
Third-party fees
Payment gateways, email tools and booking systems often charge their own fees.
How to compare quotes fairly
Comparing prices is only useful once the quotes describe the same project. Do the work of lining them up, and the differences become clear.
Five steps to a fair comparison.
Write a short brief
Say what the business does, who the website is for, what visitors should do and which pages and features you expect.
Ask each agency to quote the same brief
Give every agency the same document, so the quotes answer the same question.
Line up what is included
Put the quotes side by side and mark what each includes and leaves out.
Check ownership and support
Look at who owns the work, and what help you get after launch and for how long.
Ask about the timeline
A realistic timeline with testing built in is a good sign.
How Domeq scopes a website
Domeq builds on WordPress, Shopify and Next.js. A typical Domeq website has 20 to 30 pages, not counting blog posts, and larger projects can go to 50 pages or more. Every website is fully responsive, includes full SEO setup, has Google Search Console, Google Analytics and Meta connected, and is built to a performance score target of 90 or higher.
Requirements take about a week, and delivery takes at least two weeks, with full QA and sanity testing. Hosting is free for the first year and maintenance is free for the first month, with training if you need it. You own the work and assets once the final payment is made. How Domeq prices projects, and what is included or paid later, is set out on the pricing page.
Free hosting and maintenance apply for the period shown. Hosting and maintenance are paid after that.
Questions, answered.
How much does a website cost in India?
It depends on the scope. Price guides published in 2026 by three Indian web companies (Evolvcode, Zethic and Redpulse Software) put a template site with little customisation at about ₹5,000 to ₹40,000, and a professionally built business website of 5 to 15 pages at about ₹15,000 to ₹2,00,000, with agency-built sites mostly from ₹40,000. Domeq's website projects start at ₹30,000, and scope is discussed around the work you need. The guide above sets out what moves the price.
How much does an ecommerce website cost in India?
The same 2026 price guides put a small online store on Shopify or WooCommerce, with up to about 50 products and one payment gateway, at roughly ₹25,000 to ₹1,50,000, and a custom-designed store at about ₹1,20,000 to ₹3,00,000. Large catalogues, marketplaces and custom builds go higher. Platform fees, apps, payment charges and product photography are usually extra.
Does a simple or static website cost less?
Usually, yes. A site with a few pages, no online payments and no custom features needs less design, building and testing. It should still load fast, work on a phone and be set up for search, so check those are included in the quote.
What do website maintenance charges cover?
Typically software and plugin updates, backups, security checks, small content changes and fixes when something breaks. The 2026 price guides quote anywhere from about ₹1,000 to ₹25,000 a month, depending on the site and the level of support, so ask how many hours or changes a month are included. At Domeq, maintenance is free for the first month and paid after that.
Why do website quotes differ so much?
Quotes often cover different things: the number of pages, how custom the design is, which features are included and what support follows launch. Line them up against the same brief to compare them fairly.
Is a cheap website worth it?
It can be, if it covers what you need. Check what has been left out, such as search setup, mobile layout, testing and support, because adding them later can cost more than including them at the start.
What recurring costs does a website have?
Usually hosting and the domain name, and often maintenance and any paid plugins or tools. Ask for these in writing so there are no surprises.
Who should own the website?
You should. Make sure the contract says you own the design, the content and the files once you have paid in full. Domeq clients own the work and assets after full payment.
What should I prepare before asking for a quote?
A short brief: what the business does, who the website is for, what visitors should do, the pages you expect, any features you need and examples of sites you like.
Keep reading.
More guides on the same topic, and on the ones around it.
- Questions to Ask a Web Design Agency Before You Hire OneQuestions to ask a web design agency before hiring: scope, timeline, ownership, SEO, testing, support and cost, with what good and weak answers look like.Website Design & Development
- How Long Does It Take to Build a Website?How long does it take to build a website? A realistic timeline by project type, what slows a build down, and how to get yours live sooner.Website Design & Development
- Website Launch Checklist: What to Check Before You Go LiveA website launch checklist covering content, mobile, speed, search, tracking and security, so nothing breaks the day your site goes live.Website Design & Development
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