A website costing 500 euros can end up costing much more after just a few months. All it takes is a form that doesn’t send emails, a slow-loading page or a domain registered in the provider’s name.
When you search for “cost of a showcase website”, you want a clear figure. In reality, you want to understand the value of a showcase website and what it can offer you.
For a professional or an SME, an effective online presence depends on a company website capable of generating genuine enquiries. In 2026, a professional project typically starts at 800 euros, but these figures are only a guide. A well-designed website, complete with content, basic SEO and conversion tracking, often requires a higher investment. Let’s look at how to interpret a bespoke quote without any surprises.
Key points
- In 2026, the cost of a professional showcase website generally starts at 800 euros, but can run into several thousand depending on the content, SEO, design, functionality and support.
- A personalised quote should clearly set out the number of pages, text, images, revisions, user access, domain, hosting, licences, maintenance and the services included, whilst avoiding any hidden costs.
- An effective website must not only be online: it must be fast, mobile-optimised, accessible, compliant with privacy regulations and designed to generate and measure genuine enquiries.
- Premium templates and bespoke designs cater to different needs: the former helps keep costs down, whilst the latter is best suited to complex projects, multiple locations or advanced integrations.
- When assessing the investment, also take into account the recurring costs and measure the return based on forms submitted, phone calls, bookings, clicks and new customers generated.
Cost of a showcase website: realistic price ranges
The price of a showcase website varies depending on the objectives, number of pages, content, design and level of support required. A freelancer running a one-person business has different needs to a company offering ten services, with multiple offices and active Google Ads campaigns.
These price ranges are indicative and do not include any VAT.
| Solution | Indicative initial investment | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Do-it-yourself with premium builders and templates | 100–800 euros a year | For a straightforward project, with a ready-made design and enough time to carry it out |
| Essential Freelance | 800–1,500 euros | Enough for 4–5 pages using ready-made materials |
| Professional showcase website | 1,500–3,000 euros | For professionals and SMEs looking to make contacts |
| Bespoke project with SEO optimisation and content | 3,000–4,500 euros | For businesses facing local competition or offering multiple services |
| A well-organised web agency | 2,500–10,000 euros | For businesses with teams, processes and advanced features that require a greater investment |
The lowest price is not automatically the best deal. A bespoke quote should be compared in terms of scope, materials, access, training and post-publication support.
The number of web pages matters, but it’s not enough
Five pages are not always the same. A homepage with a clear message, services, testimonials, a call to action, a form, a map and structured data requires more work than a page filled with generic text.
A well-designed showcase website often includes a Home page, an ‘About Me’ or ‘About Us’ page, pages detailing services, contact details, a privacy policy and a cookie policy. If you need to compare different offers, this guide on how to evaluate web development It helps to distinguish between the activities included and vague promises.
What a professional website should include
A company website, even if it is a showcase site, must not simply “exist”. It must explain what the company offers, who its target audience is and what action visitors should take.
Structure, copy and calls to action
The copy requires professional copywriting and must speak directly to the client, not simply fill space. An accountant does not sell “high-quality advice”. They meet specific needs: tax returns, bookkeeping, registering for VAT, and tax management.
The CTA must also be visible on smartphones, alongside a clear contact form. “Contact us” is too vague: “Request a quote”, “Book a studio appointment” or “Discuss your project” make it clear what happens after you click.
Put the main action at the top of the page. Not everyone scrolls all the way to the bottom.
SEO, mobile and request tracking
In web development, SEO optimisation involves keyword research, heading structure, human-readable URLs, meta tags and XML sitemaps. It also includes setting up Analytics and Search Console.
These elements form part of a practical SEO strategy. They help search engines understand the website and improve its online visibility.
If the project involves a redesign, you’ll also need redirects from the old URLs. Otherwise, a page that’s already visible on Google may drop in the rankings or disappear from the results.
Mobile compatibility must be tested on actual smartphones. An awkward menu, a long form or a number that cannot be clicked will cause you to lose contacts, even when the design looks perfect on a desktop.
Recurring costs to be included in the budget
The work doesn’t end once the website goes live: domain registration, hosting, licences and maintenance are all standard running costs. Ignoring them leads to an initial quote that appears affordable, but then results in unforeseen expenses.
| Entry | Approximate range |
|---|---|
| .it domain name | 10–15 euros a year |
| Reliable WordPress web hosting | 80–300 euros a year |
| Licences for plugins or tools | 0–350 euros a year |
| Routine and technical maintenance | 50–120 euros a month |
| Proofreading of texts and web pages | Based on the measures taken |
Pricing tiers may vary depending on the required performance, the support included and the number of sites managed.
A domain on offer for 1 euro may have a much higher renewal fee. Always check the price from the second year onwards, the provider, who owns the account, and whether you have direct access to the hosting platforms.
Maintenance isn’t just about updating WordPress
A comprehensive plan includes verified automatic backups, as well as updates for WordPress, themes and plugins. It also includes security checks, SSL certificate checks, module checks and performance checks.
A webpage can be live but have a broken form. For those investing in SEO or marketing campaigns, this is an immediate business problem. You should therefore assess the website maintenance costs along with the initial project.
If you use newsletters with tracking pixels, you should also consider the The Data Protection Authority’s 2026 guidelines on tracking pixels in emails. Privacy and marketing tools must work together.
Premium template or bespoke design?
A premium template isn’t a bad choice. For many professionals, it’s the smartest way to keep costs down and build a solid portfolio website.
The problem arises when the template is installed without customising it to suit the brand, text, photos, services and contact details. In that case, the website looks just like many others.
When it’s worth starting with a premium template
A premium template works well if you have a straightforward business, few services and an established visual identity. Customisation should focus on branding, content, speed and conversions.
A bespoke design makes sense if you have complex navigation paths, multiple sites or advanced features, such as configurators and management system integrations. Even an e-commerce site may have different requirements to those of a simple showcase site. Don’t pay for a bespoke design if the real problem is confusing copy or an unclear offering.
The risks of a website that is too cheap
Cutting the price of a showcase website too much often means that important tasks are left out of the quote. They don’t just disappear. You’ll end up having to pay for them yourself, or they’ll be charged as extras, increasing your running costs.
An affordable website isn’t one that’s cheap on the first day. It’s one that doesn’t need to be rebuilt after six months.
Access, ownership and hidden costs
Always ask who the domain name registrant is and who manages the hosting, Analytics account, Search Console, images and licences. You must be given access to all of them.
If you switch providers, you must retain control over your online presence. Your domain, hosting, accounts, images and licences must remain yours.
Also check what’s missing: content, professional photographs, cookie banners, training, future updates, backups and support. Even a premium template may require customisation, time and expertise.
A DIY website may be a good place to start, but it requires time, skills and constant monitoring.
How to calculate return on investment
A showcase website doesn’t deliver results simply because it’s online. It works when it attracts interested people via search engines and makes it easy for them to get in touch.
The initial calculation is straightforward: the total investment in the first year divided by the average profit generated by a new customer.
A practical example of depreciation
Imagine investing 2,500 euros in the website and 500 euros on hosting, maintenance and licences in the first year. The total comes to 3,000 euros.
If each new customer brings you a net profit of 300 euros, you need ten customers to recoup your investment. If the average value of a customer is higher, or if they return over time, the payback period changes rapidly.
The metrics that really matter
Track form submissions, phone calls, clicks on WhatsApp, bookings and requests for quotes. These are macro-conversions. Even downloading a brochure or clicking on a phone number are useful indicators.
The conversion rate is calculated as follows: conversions divided by visits, multiplied by 100. With 500 visits and 15 enquiries, the result is 3%.
Don’t just look at the average. An overall 2% figure may mask a 4% on desktop and a 0.8% on mobile. Before increasing your advertising budget, check the form, CTAs, loading speed and navigation on smartphones. Assess your SEO strategy alongside traffic quality and conversion rates.
Privacy, cookies and accessibility: what not to leave out
Privacy policies and cookie policies are not standard pages that can simply be copied and pasted. They must describe the data processing activities that actually take place on the website, including forms, analytics, maps, embedded videos, newsletters, tracking pixels and campaigns.
Profiling cookies are subject to different rules from technical cookies. The Data Protection Authority clarifies the Cookie policy and consent procedure, but in complex cases it is advisable to consider whether GDPR compliance is required, with the support of a data protection consultant.
Accessibility and technical compliance
A website that is easy to read, with appropriate contrast levels, images accompanied by alternative text, and forms that can be navigated using a keyboard improves the experience for everyone. In some cases, there are also specific requirements that need to be checked.
One checking the accessibility of a WordPress site It helps identify errors that often hinder users, leads and conversions.
Questions to ask before choosing a supplier
A bespoke quotation protects your investment. It must set out the services included, responsibilities and the scope of the offer.
Compare quotes with an equivalent scope, whether they come from a freelancer or a web agency. Don’t just look at the final total.
Ask for this information before signing:
- Which web pages, texts, images and revisions are included?
- If you’re offering a premium template, what customisation options and restrictions are included?
- Are technical SEO, Analytics setup and Search Console included?
- Who buys domains, hosting and licences?
- Is the website tested on mobile devices, browsers and contact forms?
- How much does post-publication support cost?
- Will I be given access, documentation and a brief induction?
If an answer remains vague, the quotation will also remain incomplete.
An investment that must generate leads
A showcase website should be assessed on the basis of its objectives, profit margins and the enquiries it generates. If it looks good but is slow, lacks CTAs and has no analytics, it remains nothing more than an expensive brochure.
A well-structured project is built on structure, content, SEO, mobile optimisation and maintenance. Together, these elements underpin online visibility and transform a simple online presence into a business tool. Measuring results, adjusting strategies and refining the project over time is the most effective way to achieve a return on investment.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of a showcase website
How much does a showcase website cost for a freelancer?
A basic website created by a freelancer typically starts at 800 euros. For a project involving content, technical SEO, a well-designed layout and conversion tracking, a realistic price range is between 1,500 and 3,000 euros.
Does the cost of the showcase website include the domain name and hosting?
Not always: some quotes only include the domain name and web hosting for the first year. Check the renewal price from the second year onwards, who the account holder is, and the login details before accepting the offer.
Is a template or a bespoke design better?
A customisable premium template is suitable for many professionals and SMEs. A bespoke design is worthwhile when non-standard features, workflows or integrations are required.
How much does it cost to keep a showcase website online?
Take into account domain registration, hosting, licences and routine maintenance. For a small WordPress site, the annual budget can start at a few hundred euros and increase depending on the level of support required.
