Ask any website builder their most commonly-asked question, and it’ll likely be this: How much should a website cost?
That’s not an easy question to answer. If you’re a massive company with 500 employees and thousands upon thousands of customers, your site will no doubt cost a lot more than if you own a small business that you run from your home with your partner. It’s like comparing apples to oranges, as the saying goes.
Still, it’s a question for which clients are seeking an answer. As such, we like to ask this in return:
How big is an orange grove?
You can’t answer that, can you? What you’ll need to do, instead, is look at the expenses associated with building a website and determine whether the budget you’ve planned is right for you.
You’ll need to keep an open mind as well. Many business owners have preconceived notions about what a website will cost. Others assume it will be super expensive. They try doing it themselves or will hire someone who builds websites “for fun” to save money upfront. But they may not realize that a poorly crafted website is probably costing them MORE money in the long run.
The ”Sleep at Night” Factor to Website Cost
Another way we like to explain the cost of a website to our clients is by using the “sleep at night” factor. If you were going to spend X number of dollars per month on your marketing efforts, what is the “sleep at night” factor that allows you to say you’re spending the correct amount of overall revenue? This dollar amount includes your branding and image and the proper outward communication about your company with the rest of the world. In other words, is the amount you chose to spend on your site keeping you up at night? Or can you sleep like a baby knowing that the money you’ve invested in building your website is right for your business?
A website is the first impression of your business for many current or future customers. Before they see you – and they may never see you – they see what you’ve put on the internet. So, you need to ask yourself what it’s worth to have a clean, thorough, up-to-date, and accurate representation of your business available to customers 24/7. Remember, your website is essentially the salesperson for your company, one that’s always available!
You can choose to spend next to nothing, but, remember, a high-quality website may not happen with only one weekend of work by an amateur who builds websites on the side for extra pizza money. A well-crafted site requires hard work by experienced professionals who take the time to brainstorm with you to determine what’s right for your business and your budget.
An investment in the future
As cliché as it may sound, when you invest in a high-quality website, you invest in the future of your business. That said, at Watershed9, we have clients at both ends of the spectrum regarding size and profitability. That means what might seem exorbitantly expensive for one of our clients may be a proverbial drop-in-the-bucket for another.
That’s why we’re happy to work with a variety of budgets and why we keep your budget in mind at all times. If the cost of your website is stressing you out, then we’ve done something wrong. Making decisions about your website together is the name of the game, and what keeps our clients satisfied is knowing that we understand our financial responsibility to them, including sticking to our agreed-upon expenses.
Limitations
Of course, there are limitations. You can’t get a 40-page website for the cost of a 15-page website. Most customers understand that. And you may not even need those 40 pages! Why buy an expensive new car if it eats up all the money you’ll need for gas? You’ll be left with a car sitting in your driveway that you can’t drive because the tank is empty.
Our websites typically cost between $2500 and $8500. Where your price falls will depend on several factors. We find, however, that we should give you what you need and not pile on lots of extras. For example, you may not require dozens of pages and lots of bells and whistles like scores of videos and a fancy online store. Simple may be best for you.
Remember the lesson about the car. Just as you should spend less on that automobile to have money for gas, you should do the same with a website to have a solid budget for ongoing improvements, maintenance, and more. Again, it’s an investment in the future.
A website that represents you well and puts forward your best online presence is what every business needs to stay ahead of the game. Let the experts at Watershed9 show you how to do that. For more information on our web-building services, call us at 604-337-1449.