If you\u2019ve spent more than a weekend trying to get your website looking right, you\u2019re probably wondering whether it\u2019s time to hand it over. This article explains when it makes sense to hire someone to build your website, and what that usually costs for a small UK business. Duport has been helping UK businesses get online for 28 years. Here\u2019s what that experience has taught us.<\/p>\n
The real cost of a DIY website isn\u2019t the monthly subscription. It\u2019s the hours you\u2019re spending on it instead of running your business. Wix, Squarespace, and similar platforms charge between \u00a313 and \u00a330 a month. That\u2019s \u00a3156 to \u00a3360 a year before you add a custom domain, a professional email address, or any paid apps you actually need.<\/p>\n
Most business owners can live with that. What\u2019s harder to live with is the 20 to 40 hours they typically spend wrestling with it and often still aren\u2019t happy with the result. If your time is worth \u00a3200 a day, those hours quickly become more expensive than hiring someone. The website was supposed to make your business look more professional. Spending weeks fighting it is probably making you less productive.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to stop when your website is costing you more in lost time and lost credibility than it would cost to have someone else build it properly.<\/p>\n
The clearest signs:<\/p>\n
If any of those are familiar, you already know the answer.<\/p>\n
Hiring a freelance web designer in the UK typically costs between \u00a3500 and \u00a33,000 for a basic business site, though it varies significantly based on scope and experience. A full web agency will often quote between \u00a32,000 and \u00a38,000 for a small business site.<\/p>\n
A freelancer is usually more affordable, but you\u2019re managing the relationship, providing detailed briefs, and chasing revisions yourself. One important thing to know: cheap doesn\u2019t mean cost-effective. A website that cost \u00a3300 but doesn\u2019t reflect your brand, loads slowly, or isn\u2019t set up correctly for search engines can actively cost you customers. In the long run than a better option done right.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a third option that most people don\u2019t know exists: done-for-you website services that handle the entire build for a flat fee.<\/p>\n
Yes. A done-for-you website services handle the entire build for a fixed price, without the cost of a full agency or the hassle of managing a freelancer.<\/p>\n
Done-for-you means you answer a few questions about your business, hand over the information needed, and the site gets built. You won’t have to wrestle with templates, decipher DNS settings, chase anyone for revisions, or call support because your domain isn’t connecting.<\/p>\n
For most small businesses that just need a clean, professional website, this is usually the simplest option. It costs a fraction of agency pricing, goes live in days rather than weeks, and takes almost none of your time.<\/p>\n
Duport\u2019s website service<\/a> takes 30 minutes of your time and your site is live within 72 hours. We build a professional,\u00a0 compliant, mobile-friendly website. We\u2019ve been doing this for 28 years and we know exactly what a UK small business needs online: a clear, fast site that tells people who you are, what you do, and how to reach you. Mention this article and get 60% off!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re also setting up your company<\/a> at the same time, our full bundle is \u00a3244 and \u00a3197 a year after that. That covers company formation, a domain, a professional email address, your website, and seven compliance bots that handle ongoing admin in the background.<\/p>\n Yes, we check all our web builds for legal compliancy. One thing most builders won’t remind you about: legal compliance. Whether you build it yourself or have it done for you, your website needs to meet UK legal requirements: a privacy policy, cookie notice, terms and conditions, and the right business information in your footer. Most DIY builders don’t flag when something is missing.<\/p>\n Already have a website? Run it through our free compliance checker to see what’s there and what isn’t.<\/p>\n Check your website now<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re also weighing up whether you need a website at all, we\u2019ve covered that question honestly in \u2192 Is It Worth Paying for a Website for Your Business<\/a>. And for a detailed breakdown of what different website options cost over three years, see \u2192 How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in the UK?<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A done-for-you service like Duport\u2019s takes 72 hours from the point you hand over your business information.<\/p>\n Yes. The cost includes us making small updates for you each month as part of the service, so you don\u2019t need to manage the website yourself.<\/p>\n Typically your business name, what you do, your contact details, and any existing content e.g photos, a list of services, and any text you\u2019d like to use.<\/p>\nWill my Duport built website be legally compliant?<\/h2>\n
\nFurther reading:<\/h2>\n
\nFAQs<\/h2>\n
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How long does it take to get a website built professionally?<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Can I make changes to my website myself once it\u2019s live?<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What information do I need to provide to get a website built?<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n