How Much Should a New Website Cost?

Your company or organization website is vital tool for growth and engagement, not to mention for many of our clients it is the vehicle they deliver their services through. So when it comes time to redesign it, update the content, or modernize the platform it runs on, the partner you choose, process they use, and platform they specialize in are some of most important decisions you can make. And one of the critical elements is – how much should it cost? If I spend too little, do I put my initiatives at risk? What if I overpay for something that doesn’t meet my needs?

To give some insight toward this, let’s look at cost vs value. This post won’t go deep into the different kinds of processes and platforms, but it will provide some insights into cost considerations and how they translate to long-term benefits.

Choosing a Platform

The cost of building a website varies widely, influenced by factors like design, functionality, and platform choice. WordPress, known for its ease of use, can dramatically reduce long-term costs. It is XO’s opinion that WordPress is well suited for most client needs. It is flexible, cost effective, and can support any level of enterprise integration. That’s a big part of why W3Techs reports that WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, indicating its widespread acceptance and reliability. The platform is free, and the developer community is the largest of any platform. In contrast, advanced platforms like AEM and Sitecore offer sophisticated features but at a significantly higher cost, both in terms of initial setup and ongoing maintenance. One of our preferred Sitecore partners states the approximate cost of a Sitecore project can span between 350k-800k, while the average XO Spark WordPress site comes in between 25-50k. That cost difference isn’t because the features are robust on one and sparse on the other, it comes down to the cost of licenses you don’t need to pay with WordPress, and the efficiencies in development that it affords.

There isn’t a right or wrong answer on platforms generally, but there is a right answer for you. Closed ecosystem models are appropriate for some client needs, but you may be surprised what WordPress can replicate at a fraction of the cost. We can support building on either type of platform, but we want to make sure it’s the right platform for your needs.

Agency vs. Internal Development

Another cost is who does the work. Choosing between agency development and in-house creation is a strategic decision. Agencies, while potentially more expensive, bring specialized expertise. For instance, our XO Spark framework and design system is continuously refined with each project, meaning it’s best-in-class from the start. Simply starting from scratch or building on top of your existing site means you’ll be recreating work that’s already done. So in-house development may be easier to start, but may not save any money over the long run. Find a partner that specializes in the solution you need, and benefit from the efficiencies their experience offers.

Agency Cost Comparison

Our experience is that agency pricing can vary widely. We can break it down into three main categories, and what you should think about, when you’re comparing bids. The pricing below is typical for a ‘brochure’ style site based on a platform like WordPress, Wix, Weblow, or Drupal. They are focused on communicating brand positioning, with some basic integrations like a CRM, event calendar, or other off-the-shelf features.

Budgeting for Your Website over the Long Term

Balancing quality and budget is a common challenge especially for midsize companies. It’s not just about the initial cost but the total cost of ownership. The burden of maintaining the site often lands on the internal company team, not the agency. These are costs that continue perpetually, so finding an agency that designs the site with the marketer or the content editor in mind as one of the main users, not just visitors, is key to controlling long-term costs. Beware of hard-coded or template site approaches that do not offer the flexibility your organization needs.