Having a website made: what really determines the cost?
"What does it cost to have a website made?" is one of the questions entrepreneurs ask most, and the answer is almost always: it depends. That sounds evasive, but it is true. A one-page site for a freelancer and a webshop with hundreds of products are two completely different projects. In this article you see which factors set the price, which costs often only appear later and how to make a fair comparison up front.
Why there is no fixed price for a website
A website is not an off-the-shelf product but a combination of design, technology, copy, hosting and maintenance. Whoever asks for a quote pays for a mix of those. Two quotes of the same height can therefore deliver something very different. One includes copy and SEO, the other only a design you have to fill yourself.
That is why it is smarter not to ask "what does it cost?" but "what is included, and what do I pay afterwards?".
The six factors that set the cost
What determines the price of a website
The number of pages and how different they are. A one-pager is not twenty service pages.
A unique custom design takes more time than a strong template you adapt.
Products, variants, payments, shipping and VAT make a site much bigger.
Supply it yourself or have it written? Good copy is often the biggest hidden job.
Titles, descriptions, speed and structure for Google. Included or later?
Hosting, security, updates and small changes, month after month.
Size and features
The more pages and special features, such as booking appointments, a client portal or a quote generator, the more work. In a traditional project you see that straight away in the hours. With an AI website builder that difference is much smaller, because the AI does much of the groundwork.
Design: custom or template
A design created entirely for you is beautiful but takes time. A professional template is a faster route to a strong result: you start with a design that already works and make it your own. Our article on website templates explains when that is the smartest choice.
Copy and images
Many entrepreneurs underestimate this part. A site with strong, clear copy sells better and ranks better in Google. If you have it written, you pay for it. If you write it yourself, you pay in time.
The costs you only see later
The price of the build is only part of the story. These items often only come into view after delivery.
Do not forget these ongoing costs
- Hosting for your site and your webshop.
- SSL certificate for the padlock and security.
- Domain name per year.
- Plugins for SEO, forms, translations or security.
- Updates and maintenance to keep the site safe.
- Small changes you cannot make yourself.
- Payment provider for iDEAL and cards in your webshop.
- Statistics to see what visitors do.
Add those items up over three years. Only then do you see what a website really costs, and can you compare offers fairly.
Three approaches, three kinds of cost
How you pay per approach
| Agency or freelancer | Build yourself with separate tools | AI website builder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| At the start | A project price for design and build | Mostly your own time | No build costs, you start right away |
| Afterwards | Hosting and maintenance separately | Separate subscriptions and plugins | One subscription with the basics included |
| Changes | Often per hour | Figure it out yourself | Yourself, with a sentence or in the editor |
| Predictable | ~Depends on agreements | ×Grows unnoticed | ✓Fixed amount per month |
None of these routes is always cheaper. An agency pays off if you really need custom work and have the budget for it. Building yourself with separate tools looks cheap until you add up the hours and subscriptions. For most entrepreneurs an AI website builder is the most predictable route: you pay a fixed amount and the basics are included.
Want to know what NerrieBuilder costs?Hosting, SSL, webshop, SEO and statistics are included in the subscription.
See the prices →How to make a fair comparison
- Write down what your site must do. Inform, book, sell, quote? That sets the size.
- Ask what the price includes. Copy, SEO, webshop, hosting, SSL, statistics.
- Calculate over three years. Build plus all monthly and yearly costs.
- Check who owns the site. Can you export everything if you switch later?
- Look at independence. Can you change a text or price yourself, or does it go through someone else?
What you pay at NerrieBuilder
At NerrieBuilder you pay a monthly subscription, with no build costs up front. It includes hosting, SSL, your webshop with iDEAL and cards, SEO settings per page, statistics and Dutch and English. You build with the AI and change everything yourself. You can try the platform for free first and your site always stays yours: you export it whenever you want.
Want to see how you go from idea to site in a few steps? Read choosing an AI website builder or visit how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Why do website quotes vary so much?
Because something different is included. One price covers design, copy, SEO and a webshop, the other only the build. So always ask per component what the price includes.
Is a cheap website a bad idea?
Not necessarily. What matters is whether the site does what it should, whether you can change it yourself and whether no unexpected costs come later. A low start price with high ongoing costs is often more expensive in the end.
What costs do I still have after delivery?
Think of hosting, SSL, your domain name, plugins, maintenance, small changes, a payment provider and statistics. With an all-in-one subscription many of these are already included.
Do I have to supply the copy myself?
With an agency usually yes, or you pay extra. With NerrieBuilder the AI writes the first copy based on your description, and you add what only you know.