If you’ve asked around for website prices, you’ve probably heard numbers that are far apart for what sounds like the same thing. That’s rarely because someone is being unreasonable — “a website” can mean very different amounts of work, and some quotes include ongoing costs while others don’t. Here’s how to read what you’re being offered.
Two costs, not one
Every website has two kinds of cost, and it helps to compare them separately:
| Cost | What it pays for | When |
|---|---|---|
| The build | Design, writing the code, setting up pages, menus, galleries and links, launching the site | Once |
| Running it | Hosting, HTTPS security, technical care, and sometimes a domain renewal | Monthly or yearly |
| Changes later | New prices, photos, menus, sections or pages after launch | When you ask |
A quote that looks cheap up front can cost more over a few years if hosting or changes are expensive — and the reverse is also true.
Different types of website project
- A standard business website — home, services or menu, gallery, about and contact, with clear buttons to call, book or order. This is what most pubs, restaurants, cafés, barbers and trades need.
- A redesign of an existing, outdated site — often similar work to a new build, plus moving across the content worth keeping.
- Custom software — online shops, booking engines, member areas or integrations with other systems. These are a different kind of project with a different price and ongoing maintenance.
What moves the price of a build
- Custom design or a template. A template can be cheaper up front but looks like many other sites. A custom design is built around your business and only includes what it needs.
- How ready your content is. If text, photos, menus and prices are ready, the build moves quickly. Writing copy or sourcing images takes time that has to be paid for somewhere.
- Features beyond the basics. Menus, galleries, maps, contact forms and links to booking platforms are standard. Shops, custom booking systems and member areas add significant cost.
- Who you’re dealing with. A larger agency carries more overheads than an independent studio; neither is automatically better, but it shows up in the price.
Hosting and maintenance
A website needs to be hosted somewhere, served securely over HTTPS and kept technically healthy. Some designers include this in a monthly plan; others leave you to arrange it yourself. When comparing, check exactly what the monthly price covers — and whether content changes are included or charged separately. There’s more detail in how much website hosting costs in Ireland.
Questions to ask before you pay anyone
- Exactly what’s included in the build price — pages, features, revisions?
- What will it cost every month or year once it’s live, and what does that cover?
- How are changes after launch charged? Is there a published price list?
- Do I own the website files, and can I move them if I leave?
- Who owns the domain name?
- Can I see live sites you’ve built — and are they client work or concepts?
How UWRH Digital prices websites
One clear offer, with no packages or page-count tiers:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Custom website build | €800 one-time |
| Managed hosting & care (included with every new website) | €30/month, billed monthly |
| Changes after launch | From €10 — full editing price list |
You own your completed website files after full payment, and you can cancel hosting and move them to another provider. What your website includes is agreed in writing before any work starts. All prices are the full price — no VAT is added on top. See web design pricing for the details.
Need a hand?
UWRH Digital builds custom websites for Irish businesses: €800 one-time, with managed hosting & care at €30/month.