Website costs and web designer hourly rates: a UK small-business guide
Updated: Oct 26
An hourly rate only tells you the price of an hour. For a small business in Reigate, Redhill or Dorking, a more useful question is what your complete website needs to do, what is included in the quote and what you will pay after launch. This guide explains how to compare proposals without treating every website as the same purchase.
Quick answers before you request a quote
What does a website start at? TW Web Design currently publishes Starter from £499, Medium from £699 and Max from £999. The final quote depends on the agreed scope; these figures do not establish a fixed price for every website.
Do you publish an hourly web-development rate?
No standard hourly rate is published here. Ask Roland for a task estimate or a project quote. An hourly comparison should include the estimated hours and approval process for additional work, rather than just the rate.
What should the written proposal confirm?
Confirm the page limit, design revision rounds, delivery stages, content responsibilities, photography, tax treatment and third-party costs. Ask which support is included and for how long. Hosting, domain renewals, paid applications and maintenance should each be stated as included, excluded or separately priced.
How should you compare a redesign quote?
Ask which useful pages, articles, images and testimonials will stay, which URLs will change, and how redirects, mobile layouts and enquiry forms will be checked. A quote should explain the work you receive and how changes to the scope will be approved.
Hourly rate or agreed project price?
Hourly work can suit a clearly defined update or support task. Ask for an estimate of the time required, the billing increment and how additional work is approved. A lower hourly rate does not necessarily mean a lower total cost.
For a new website or redesign, an agreed project scope is often easier to compare. List the pages, content, photographs, features and review stages. Ask what would count as a change to that scope and how the designer will price it before proceeding. TW Web Design discusses your brief before recommending an approach; contact Roland for a quote rather than assuming a published UK average is his hourly rate.
TW Web Design's published starting prices
The website packages on this site start at £499, £699 and £999. These are starting prices, not a quote for every project. The Starter package describes a simple online presence; the Medium package adds items such as a portfolio, blog and social media setup, training and support. The Max package can include more extensive features such as ecommerce, galleries and booking requirements, depending on the agreed scope.
Use the package descriptions as a starting point for a conversation. Confirm your required pages, design work, content, photography and functionality in a written proposal. Ask specifically about tax treatment, payment stages and any exclusions before you commit.
What changes the cost of a website?
Page count and content: a concise service website needs different preparation from a large catalogue. Confirm who writes and approves the copy, how much existing content can be retained and whether new photography is needed.
Functionality: an online shop, product options, booking requirements or a database-led feature can change the scope. Be precise about what a customer and the business owner need to do. A list of named tools is less useful than an agreed working journey.
Redesign and migration: an existing site may have useful search visibility, links, articles and case studies. Plan which URLs remain, which need redirects and how the enquiry route will be checked. Do not assume rebuilding means starting every page again.
Approvals and support: agree the design review stages, who signs off content and what training or ongoing help you want. A clear process reduces uncertainty on both sides.
Check the ongoing costs before launch
Ask who pays for the domain, hosting or platform plan and any paid applications. Confirm renewal responsibilities, maintenance arrangements and what happens when you want to add a page or feature. Ownership, account access, image usage and handover should be explicit in the proposal; they should not be inferred from a starting price.
A better brief produces a more useful quote
Send your current website, a short description of your services, the customers and areas you want to reach, and the main problem you want to solve. Include any required features and a realistic budget range. If you have a deadline, say why it matters so it can be discussed before work is agreed.
For example, a local trade may need services, genuine project photographs and a simple enquiry form. A retailer may need product information and a buying journey. A professional practice may need clear expertise, relevant testimonials and a reassuring first contact. Each deserves a proposal based on its own priorities.
Talk through your project
TW Web Design is based in Reigate and works with businesses across Dorking, Redhill and surrounding Surrey towns. Work directly with Roland to discuss a new site, a redesign or targeted improvements. The initial consultation is free; the scope and quote are agreed before you commit.
Reviewed and updated 26 October 2026. The original publication date is retained.
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