“How much does a website cost?” is the first question almost every business owner asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you need. A sole trader who wants a smart one-page site has very different needs from a company with ten services and a booking system.
This guide breaks down the typical options for small businesses in Carlisle, Penrith and across Cumbria, so you know roughly what to expect before you speak to anyone.
The three main routes
1. Do it yourself with a website builder
Tools like Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy let you build a site yourself using templates.
- Typical cost: a monthly subscription, usually somewhere around £10–£40 a month depending on the plan
- Good for: people who enjoy tinkering and have time to spare
- Watch out for: the time it takes, sites that look like everyone else’s, and slow loading speeds. You’re also tied to the platform, so if you stop paying, the site goes.
2. A freelance or small local web designer
This is where most small local businesses end up: someone who builds the site for you, at a sensible price.
- Typical cost: from a few hundred pounds for a simple site, up to a couple of thousand for a larger one
- Good for: trades and local businesses who want something professional without agency prices
- Watch out for: make sure you’ll own your website and domain, and that the price includes things like mobile design and basic SEO
3. A larger agency
- Typical cost: often several thousand pounds or more
- Good for: bigger businesses with complex needs, such as online shops, custom systems and ongoing marketing campaigns
- Watch out for: paying for features and meetings you don’t need
What affects the price?
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | Each service or area page takes time to plan, write and build |
| Who writes the words | Writing your own text saves money, but good copy wins more enquiries |
| Features | Booking systems, galleries, online payments and so on add work |
| Photos | Real photos of your work beat stock images every time |
| Ongoing care | Hosting, security and updates can be one-off or monthly |
Don’t forget the running costs
Whatever route you choose, there are a few ongoing costs:
- Domain name (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk): usually around £10–£15 a year
- Hosting: from free to a few pounds a month for a small site, often included in a management plan
- Business email: optional, but it looks far more professional than a Gmail address
- Updates and support: either your time, or a monthly fee to someone else
What we charge
At North Eden Digital, we keep things simple:
- One-page websites from £249: ideal for sole traders and new businesses
- Multi-page websites from £599: separate pages for your services and the areas you cover, which helps you show up on Google
- Larger projects from £1,499: for bookings, galleries or custom features
- Monthly management from £29 a month: hosting, security, backups and small updates handled for you
You’ll always get a fixed quote before any work starts, and once it’s paid for, the website is yours.
Is a website worth it?
For most trades and local service businesses, the maths is simple. If a website brings in one extra job, whether that’s a new boiler, a roof repair or a regular cleaning contract, it has usually paid for itself. Everything after that is profit.
The key is a website that’s built to do that job: fast, easy to use on a phone, clear about what you do and where, and set up properly for Google.
Want a free mock-up?
If you’d like to see what your website could look like before spending anything, get in touch. We’ll design a homepage for your business free of charge, with no obligation.