Summary
- Brief on business goals, not on design preferences.
- Shortlist on measurable results and references you can call.
- Ownership of code, domain and hosting must be yours in writing.
- Technical SEO belongs in the build, not in an upsell.
Quick answer
Write a one-page brief with your goal, audience and budget, shortlist three agencies with proven work in your sector, and compare on process and ownership rather than price. A small business site typically costs $3,000–15,000 in the US and £2,500–12,000 in the UK.
Start with the goal, not the design
"We need a new website" is not a brief. "We need 20 qualified enquiries a month from homeowners within 30 miles" is. Agencies quote wildly differently against a vague brief, because they are each guessing at a different project.
Your brief should cover: the business goal, who the site is for, what visitors should do, which pages you know you need, who writes the content, your budget range, and your deadline.
Shortlist on evidence
Run their own clients' sites through PageSpeed Insights. An agency that ships slow sites for others will ship you one too.
What a website costs in 2026
| Scope | US (USD) | UK (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Template site, 5 pages | 1,500–4,000 | 1,200–3,000 |
| Custom small-business site | 5,000–15,000 | 4,000–12,000 |
| E-commerce | 10,000–50,000 | 8,000–40,000 |
| Monthly care plan | 100–500 | 80–400 |
Prices exclude sales tax and VAT. Content writing, photography and paid advertising are usually quoted separately.