How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026? A Belfast Small Business Guide

The Short Answer

For a professional small business website in Belfast in 2026, expect to pay:

• •DIY Website Builders: £0-£300/year (plus your time)
• •Freelance Web Developer: £500-£3,000 one-time
• •Web Design Agency: £3,000-£15,000+ one-time

But these numbers don't tell the whole story. Let's break down what you actually get at each price point.

Option 1: DIY Website Builders (Wix, Squarespace, etc.)

Typical Cost: £100-£300/year for a business plan

Website builders like Wix and Squarespace have made it possible for anyone to create a basic website. They're affordable upfront, and you don't need technical skills.

The Hidden Costs

• •Your time: 20-50+ hours learning the platform and building
• •Monthly fees forever: Unlike a custom site, you'll pay £12-£35/month for as long as your site exists
• •Platform lock-in: Try exporting your Wix site to another platform. You can't.
• •Limited customisation: Templates look like templates. Your competitors might be using the same one.

Option 2: Freelance Web Developer

Typical Cost in Belfast: £500-£3,000 for a 4-6 page website

Working with a freelancer gives you a custom website without agency overhead. You'll typically get a more personal service and faster turnaround.

What to Look For

• •Portfolio: Do they have examples of work similar to what you need?
• •Communication: Are they responsive? Do they explain things clearly?
• •Ownership: Will you own the code and be able to move it?
• •Ongoing support: What happens if something breaks in 6 months?

Option 3: Web Design Agency

Typical Cost in Belfast: £3,000-£15,000+ for a business website

Agencies offer the full package: project managers, designers, developers, copywriters, and ongoing support teams. For complex projects, this structure can be valuable.

Why So Expensive?

Agency pricing reflects their overhead: office space, salaries for multiple staff, account managers, and profit margins. A simple business website might pass through 4-5 people before it's delivered.

This makes sense for enterprise projects with complex requirements. But for a small business that needs a professional online presence? You're often paying for structure you don't need.

What Does a Small Business Actually Need?

For most small businesses in Belfast, a website needs to do three things:

1. Look professional — First impressions matter. A polished website builds trust.
2. Be found on Google — What's the point of a website nobody can find?
3. Convert visitors to customers — Clear messaging, easy contact, compelling calls-to-action.

You don't need a £10,000 website to achieve this. You need a website built by someone who understands these goals.

Our Approach: Professional Websites from £749

At ZooView Media, we've built our service specifically for small businesses and startups in Northern Ireland. Our LAUNCH package starts at £749 and includes:

• ✓Custom design (no templates)
• ✓Mobile-responsive, fast-loading
• ✓SEO fundamentals so Google can find you
• ✓Professional webcopy included
• ✓2-4 week delivery
• ✓100% ownership — your code, your data, no lock-in

We keep costs down by using modern development techniques and focusing exclusively on small business websites. No agency overhead. No unnecessary complexity.

Quick Comparison