Web Design Costs
Transparent Pricing from Freelancers: Fixed Price or Hourly Rate
How much does a professional website cost? The honest answer: It depends—but not on magic, rather on clear, understandable factors. On this page, you’ll find price ranges, specific sample calculations, and all the ongoing costs you should expect. That way, you’ll know what to expect before your first consultation.
Web Design Pricing at a Glance
All prices are net, plus sales tax, and are for reference only—a binding, fixed-price quote may follow after the free initial consultation.
| Project | Price (starting at) |
|---|---|
| Standard Website (up to approximately 5 custom-designed pages, plus legal notice and privacy policy) | starting at €2,490 |
| High-end website (custom design, up to about 10 pages) | starting at €3,900 |
| Complex website (special features, multilingual support, many subpages) | starting at €4,995 |
| WooCommerce Online Store | starting at €4,995 |
| Job | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Web Design / Website Development | €100 plus sales tax |
| WordPress Administration & Support | €95 plus sales tax |
| SEO Analyses & Measures | €110 plus sales tax |
What factors influence the price of a website?
Scope & Number of Pages
A one-pager is quicker to design than a website with 20 subpages, multiple service areas, and a blog. Every additional page template requires extra work in terms of design, copywriting, and coordination.
Unique Design
A customized standard layout or a completely original design based on your corporate identity? The latter makes a stronger impression but requires more design time.
Features & Extensions
Contact forms are standard. Booking systems, member areas, interfaces, or an online store significantly increase the workload—and sometimes plugin licenses are added to the mix.
Texts & Images
The most underestimated factor: If your content is ready to go, the design process moves quickly. If text and images are created during the project, each subsequent delivery results in rework and delays. Ready-to-use content saves you money.
Alignment & Feedback Loops
To be honest: A large part of any website project involves communication—meetings, feedback, and approvals. Having a dedicated point of contact on your end and consolidated feedback instead of many individual emails helps keep this part of the process to a minimum. I factor in one round of revisions per phase.
Multilingualism
Each additional language means additional pages, translation management (e.g., using WPML), and licensing costs. In return, you’ll reach a much larger audience—this website itself is multilingual.
SEO & Visibility
I include the technical SEO foundation in my services. Keyword strategy, content for competitive terms, and ongoing optimization are separate items—see SEO Services —and for WordPress websites, specifically WordPress SEO.
Accessibility (BFSG)
Mandatory for many companies since the Act to Strengthen Accessibility. Designing for accessibility from the start is significantly less expensive than retrofitting.
Fixed Price or Hourly Rate—Which Is Right for Your Project?
For compact, well-defined projects, I can provide you with a fixed price upon request: You’ll know exactly how much your website will cost before the project begins—ideal if you ’re having a website built. WordPress maintenance takes care of ongoing operations afterward.
For larger websites that we develop together step by step, a flat rate would be misleading—no one can realistically quote a flat rate for 30 pages before the requirements are finalized. In these cases, I work on an hourly rate plus a binding “from-to” estimate for each work package: You’ll see a realistic range upfront, and you’ll only be billed for the time actually worked—in increments of a quarter-hour, broken down transparently on a monthly basis, including coordination meetings.
Your peace of mind: the design proof. To start, I’ll design the first two to three pages of your new website. You won’t be required to make the first partial payment until you’re satisfied that the design and direction are right—you won’t pay anything before then. This way, you avoid the risk of choosing the wrong service provider.
Three Real-World Pricing Examples
Example 1: Medical Practice Website (Simple)
A medical practice needs a modern website: Home page, Services, Team, Appointment Scheduling, Contact with Directions, Legal Notice/Privacy Policy. Ready-to-use text and images are available. → Implementation with a custom design, responsive layout, basic SEO, and GDPR-compliant integrations.
Example 2: Corporate Website (High-End)
A consulting firm wants to revamp its website: approximately 10 pages, custom design based on its corporate identity, a references section, a blog, and integration of reviews. → Concept development, custom design, blog templates, and training on how to manage the site independently.
Example 3: Multilingual Website with Special Features (Complex)
A provider with an international client base: bilingual with WPML, booking process, numerous subpages, custom templates for multiple content types. → Complete design, multilingual setup, custom features, extensive testing.
I quote separately for online stores—starting at €4,995, depending on the product range and integrations.
Web Design Price Comparison: Freelancers, Agencies, Website Builders
All prices are net, plus sales tax; these are for reference only—a binding, fixed-price quote will follow after the free initial consultation.
| Website Builders (Wix, Jimdo, etc.) | Freelancers | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up costs | Seemingly affordable (subscription) | Moderate | high |
| Ongoing Costs | Ongoing, increasing | Low (hosting + optional maintenance) | often a retainer |
| Individuality | Template Limits | High | high |
| Scope of Functions | Provider’s fixed feature set | Plugins, customizations , and in-house developments | Unlimited (including complex programming) |
| Contact Person | Support Hotline | Direct & Personal | Varies, ticket system |
| Ownership of the Website | No (platform lock-in) | Yes, it belongs to you | Yes |
At first glance, the website builder seems unbeatably affordable—a few euros a month instead of a four-figure project cost. But when you look at it over three or four years, the picture changes: The subscription fees keep coming, desired features are limited by the platform’s capabilities, and the website never really belongs to you. Anyone who wants to switch away from Wix, Jimdo, or Squarespace later on will discover that there’s no export option—the site has to be rebuilt from scratch. Helping clients make exactly these kinds of migrations to WordPress is part of my daily routine; still, a website builder can be a legitimate stopgap solution for getting a business off the ground.
Agencies also have their place—though rarely for the types of projects discussed on this page. If you’re running ongoing campaigns, looking to expand an in-house marketing team, or planning a project involving many parallel disciplines, an agency is the right choice, and you’re justified in paying the corresponding overhead. However, when it comes to the website for a company, a medical practice, or a law firm, you’re essentially paying for structure you don’t need: project management, shifting responsibilities, and ticket systems.
As a freelancer, my rates fall somewhere in between—with one key difference: You communicate directly with the person who designs and builds your website. No “Chinese whispers” effect, no hidden fees, and once the site goes live, it belongs entirely to you.
Ole Roloff: Web Designer Since 2014 – Fair Pricing
Where do the figures on this page come from? – From over a decade of project experience: Since 2014, I have been creating and maintaining WordPress websites of all sizes—from compact practice websites to multilingual platforms with custom features.
This experience makes my estimates reliable: I know exactly how many hours actually go into a homepage, a booking system, or an online store—and I calculate accordingly and honestly. That’s why I can work with transparent “from-to” price ranges instead of setting flat rates with hidden buffers.
As a freelancer, I’m your direct point of contact—with no agency overhead and no shifting responsibilities. Just feel free to reach out with a no-obligation inquiry: During our free initial consultation, you’ll receive an honest estimate of what your project will cost.
How to Reduce Your Web Design Costs
- Provide your own text and images right from the start
- Clear briefing and concise feedback
- Start with a compact scope and expand it in a modular fashion
- Standard features instead of custom development, where appropriate
- Manage Content Yourself Going Forward (One-Time Training Instead of a Maintenance Subscription)
Four Steps to Your New Website
- Free Initial Consultation – Clarify goals, scope, and budget (30–45 min, no obligation).
- Written quote – fixed price (small projects) or a transparent range estimate for each work package (larger projects), including all licensing costs.
- Design Sample – I’ll design the first 2–3 pages; the first installment is due only once you’re satisfied with the direction.
- Implementation & Launch – defined milestones, consolidated feedback, acceptance testing prior to release.
What My Clients Say
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Frequently Asked Questions About Web Design Costs
How much does a professional website cost?
Simple, clearly structured websites start at €2,490 (net) with me; more extensive sites with custom designs start at €3,900. Complex projects with special features or multilingual support, as well as online stores, are priced higher. You’ll receive the exact price as a binding fixed quote after the free initial consultation.
Why do web design prices vary so much?
Because “website” can mean anything from a one-pager to an online store. The key factors are scope, design uniqueness, features, and who provides the content. Reputable providers make these factors transparent—flat rates that don’t take the project into account are rarely reliable.
How much does a web designer charge per hour?
My hourly rate is €100 net for web design and website development; WordPress administration and SEO have their own rates (see overview above). Billing is based on each quarter-hour or portion thereof—including communication.
Isn't an inexpensive website built with a website builder enough?
It might be a good option to start with—but subscription fees are an ongoing expense, you don’t really own the website, and moving it later is a hassle. After two to three years, having your own WordPress website is usually the more cost-effective solution and can grow with your business.
What are the ongoing costs of a WordPress website?
A realistic estimate of €70–600 per year for hosting, the domain, and licenses—depending on your needs. You can handle maintenance yourself or outsource specific tasks; I don’t require a mandatory subscription.
Do you offer fixed prices?
Yes—for compact, well-defined projects. For larger websites that we develop together, I calculate the cost based on an hourly rate and a binding start-to-end estimate for each work package: this is more transparent than a flat fee based on guesswork, and I only bill for the time actually worked.
Do I have to pay in advance?
No. At the start of the project, I’ll design the first two to three pages—the first installment isn’t due until you’re satisfied that the design is heading in the right direction. After that, I’ll bill you monthly based on the hours worked, with full transparency.