What affects website prices?

When someone asks what a website costs, the most honest answer is "it depends on what you want". But that answer helps no one. Two companies can give very different figures for the same question, and both can be right. The things that make the difference are well known. In this post we explain what pushes the price up, what brings it down and what to look at when you get a quote.

1. Not the number of pages, but what the pages do

"How many pages will it have?" doesn't set the price on its own. There is a big difference in effort between a five-page brochure site and a five-page site with a quote wizard, a product selector or a calculator inside it. The real question is this: do the pages only give information, or do they get something done with the visitor?

2. A ready-made template or a custom design?

A ready-made template is faster and more affordable because the design has already been done. With a custom design, the structure is built from scratch around your business; it takes more time and effort. We explain the difference in a separate post. In short: if your business runs on a standard flow, a template may be enough; if you want to stand out, a custom design makes the difference.

3. Who provides the content?

If the text, photos and videos are ready, the work goes faster. If not, producing them becomes part of the scope too: copywriting, photo shoots, editing existing photos, video editing. When comparing quotes, always check whether content is included; the biggest price differences often come from here.

4. What the visitor needs to do

What do you want to happen at the end of the site? Should someone call, send a WhatsApp message, fill in a quote form, or buy directly? Each step means a bit more work:

• A WhatsApp and phone link is the simplest.
• A quote form needs it set up where the form goes and who replies to it.
• Selling online needs a payment system, contract texts, return rules and an invoicing setup.

5. Special features

Features such as a 3D product view, multilingual content, memberships, bookings or a connection to another system raise the price noticeably. Mentioning them at the start avoids extra costs later. For example, on the Gölgede Yaşam site visitors can rotate a pergola in 3D and place it on their own terrace on their phone; a feature like that is separate work that has to be planned from the start.

6. After launch

The domain, hosting, updates and content changes make up the site's yearly cost. The quote should state in writing who handles these and how much they cost. Also insist that the domain is registered in your name; even if you change agencies, your address stays with you.

Questions to ask when you get a quote

1. What is included in the price, and what isn't?
2. Who provides the content (text, photos)?
3. How many rounds of revisions do I get?
4. When will the site go live?
5. Who will keep the domain and the login details?

A quote that answers these five questions in writing won't bring surprises later. You can see our fixed-price work on the pricing page; if you need a scope made for your business, you can ask for a written quote on the business website page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cheap website a bad website?

Not always. If you need a simple brochure site, an affordable option may be enough. What matters is knowing what the price covers: are content, the domain, updates and support after delivery included?

Does it make more sense to pay monthly?

With monthly models, the total cost can overtake a one-off payment within a few years, and the site often stays tied to the provider's platform. Before deciding, compare the three-year total of both options.

Why should I ask for the quote in writing?

A written quote makes clear what is included and when it will be delivered. A scope agreed on the phone can be remembered differently over time; a written scope protects both sides.

Cover photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya / Unsplash