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How Much Does a Tradesman Website Cost in the UK?

3 hours ago
5 min read

If you're a plumber, roofer, electrician or builder asking how much a tradesman website costs in the UK, the honest answer is: anywhere from a few pounds a month to several thousand pounds up front. What matters is what you get for the money, and what it costs to keep running afterwards.

Quick answer: According to ExpertSure's UK website cost guide (updated September 2026), DIY website builders typically cost £0 to £29 a month, freelance web designers charge around £1,500 to £3,000 for a 5 to 10 page small business site, and regional agencies average £3,000 to £8,000. On top of that, budget for ongoing costs: domain, hosting, email and updates. Pay-monthly plans spread the cost but come with their own trade-offs.

Tradesman website cost: your four main options

1. DIY website builders

Platforms like Wix and Squarespace let you build a site yourself from a template.

What it costs: Startups.co.uk lists Wix plans from £9 a month (Light) and £25 a month (Business) when billed annually, and Squarespace from £12 a month (Basic) or £17 a month (Core) billed annually, with higher prices if you pay month to month. ExpertSure puts the all-in annual cost of a DIY site, including plan, domain and professional email, at roughly £100 to £350 a year.

The catch: the cheapest part is the subscription. The expensive part is your time. You'll write the content, take and edit photos, set up the SEO, and fix things when they break, usually in the evenings after a full day on site. Plenty of DIY sites look fine but never get found on Google or never turn visitors into calls.

Best for: sole traders just starting out, on a tight budget, who are comfortable with a computer.

2. Freelance web designers

A freelancer builds the site for you, usually for a one-off fee.

What it costs: ExpertSure puts freelance projects at £500 to £10,000, with hourly rates of £25 to £120, and a typical small business site of 5 to 10 pages at £1,500 to £3,000.

The catch: quality varies a lot. Some freelancers are excellent. Others build a nice-looking site and disappear. Check who writes the content, whether SEO is included, and who you call when something needs changing six months later.

3. Web design agencies

An agency usually brings design, content, SEO and support under one roof.

What it costs: ExpertSure's guide gives regional agencies an average of £3,000 to £8,000 for a small business site, with London agencies starting from around £8,000.

The catch: you can pay for things a trade business doesn't need. A general agency might build a beautiful site with no clear quote button. A trade-focused agency should understand how homeowners choose a tradesperson and build around getting the enquiry.

4. Pay-monthly website plans

Some providers build and host your site for a monthly fee with little or nothing up front. As one example, StoreBuilder advertises trade websites from £49 a month, on a rolling contract with 30 days' notice, and offers a buy-out option if you want to own the site and domain outright.

The catch: over a few years you can pay more than a one-off build. More importantly, check who owns the website and the domain if you stop paying. With some plans, you leave with nothing, and your phone number and reviews are tied to a web address you no longer control.

What affects the cost of a tradesman website

Whichever route you take, the price depends on:

  • Number of pages: a one-page site costs less than one with a page per service and per area.

  • Content writing: someone has to write about your services in a way that sells and ranks. If it's not you, it's in the price.

  • Photos: using your own job photos is ideal. Professional photography costs extra.

  • SEO set-up: page titles, headings, descriptions and local search basics. Some quotes include it, many don't.

  • Features: quote forms, galleries, reviews feeds, booking systems and call tracking all add time.

  • Branding: if you need a logo or brand refresh as well, budget for it.

  • Ongoing support: a site that's built and left alone costs less up front but tends to go stale.

The hidden costs of a tradesman website

The build price is only part of the story. Ask about these before you sign anything.

  • Domain name: ExpertSure puts domain renewal at around £10 to £15 a year. Startups.co.uk notes a .co.uk domain on Squarespace renews at £8 a year after the free first year. Some builders and hosts offer a cheap first year, then charge more.

  • Hosting: included with Wix and Squarespace plans. With a custom-built site you'll pay for it separately or as part of a support package.

  • Business email: an address like info@yourbusiness.co.uk looks far more professional than a Gmail address, but it's usually a separate monthly cost per mailbox.

  • Updates and maintenance: ExpertSure estimates ongoing maintenance at £50 to £300 a month, with freelancer retainers around £50 to £150 a month and agency retainers around £100 to £500 a month.

  • Changes after launch: adding a new service, updating prices or swapping photos. Find out whether that's included or charged per hour.

  • Marketing: a website on its own doesn't guarantee enquiries. SEO, a strong Google Business Profile or Google Ads may be needed to get it seen.

Common mistakes when buying a website

  • Choosing on price alone, then paying again a year later for a site that actually works

  • Not owning your domain name

  • Getting a site with no clear phone number or quote form

  • Assuming SEO is included when it isn't

  • Signing a long contract without knowing what happens when it ends

What to ask before you buy

  1. Who owns the website and the domain name, and what happens if I leave?

  2. What exactly is included: pages, content writing, photos, SEO, forms?

  3. What are the ongoing costs each month or year, and what do they cover?

  4. Who do I contact for changes, and how quickly are they done?

  5. Can I see sites you've built for other trades?

  6. Will the site work properly on mobile, where most of my customers will find me?

  7. Is there a minimum contract term?

Frequently asked questions

What's the cheapest way to get a tradesman website?

A DIY website builder is the cheapest in cash terms, from a few pounds a month according to Startups.co.uk's pricing guides. The real cost is your time and whether the site actually brings in work.

Is a pay-monthly website a good idea for a tradesman?

It can be if cash flow is tight, but check the contract length, total cost over three years, and who owns the site and domain if you stop paying.

Do I need SEO as well as a website?

If you want the site to bring in new work rather than just act as a business card, yes. Our SEO guide for tradesmen explains what's involved.

How much does Lead Pilots charge for a website?

Every trade business is different, so we quote per job after a free consultation. We'll talk through what you need, what you don't, and give you a clear quote with no obligation.

Get a clear quote for your trade website

Lead Pilots builds websites for roofers, plumbers, electricians, builders and other UK trades, with hosting, domains, email and ongoing support available. See real examples in our roofing web design guide and our work page, or check our FAQ.

Book your free consultation and we'll give you a clear quote for your business.

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