Two quotes for "a website" can differ ten times in price. Here is what you are actually paying for, so you can compare fairly.
Ask five web designers in Delhi for a price and you might get five very different numbers. That is because "a website" can mean anything from a single page built on a template to a custom online store with payments and stock management. Once you know the parts, it becomes much easier to compare quotes.
The parts of a website's cost
| Part | What it is | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Your web address, such as yourbusiness.com or .in | Yearly, usually around ₹800 to ₹1,500 |
| Hosting | The server where your website lives | Yearly, usually a few thousand rupees for a small business site |
| Design and development | Planning, design, building and testing the pages | One-time, varies the most |
| Maintenance | Updates, backups, security and small changes | Monthly or yearly, optional |
Domain and hosting prices change with offers and providers, so treat these as rough guides.
What changes the design and development price
- Number of pages. A five-page site costs less than a thirty-page site with separate pages for every service and area.
- Template or custom design. A good template is faster and cheaper. A custom design takes more time but fits your brand exactly.
- Features. Booking systems, payment gateways, member logins, multiple languages and integrations all add work.
- Content. If you need someone to write the text and arrange photos, that is extra work too.
- Who builds it. Freelancers usually charge less than agencies. Agencies usually include planning, SEO basics, testing and support.
Ecommerce websites cost more
An online store needs product pages, a cart, payment options such as UPI and cards, shipping and cash on delivery settings, order emails and often GST-ready invoices. Platforms like Shopify also charge their own monthly fee. Our WordPress vs Shopify guide explains the difference.
Costs people forget
- Domain and hosting renewals, which are often more expensive than the first-year offer.
- Paid plugins, themes or apps with yearly licences.
- Professional photos of your shop, team or products.
- Changes after the website is live, if they are not included in the quote.
How to compare quotes
Ask each designer for a written list of pages, features, number of revisions, delivery time and what support is included after launch. Make sure the domain and hosting are registered in your name. A slightly higher quote that includes mobile optimisation, speed, basic SEO and support is often better value than a cheap site that needs fixing later.
Quick answers
How long does it take to build a business website?
A simple business website usually takes two to four weeks once the content is ready. Larger or ecommerce websites take longer.
Can I update the website myself?
Yes, if it is built on a platform like WordPress or Shopify and you are shown how to use it. Ask for this before the project starts.
Is a free website builder enough?
For a very small start it can be, but you have less control over speed, SEO and design, and moving away later can be difficult.
Based near Chhattarpur or Lajpat Nagar? Our Madangir team works with businesses across South Delhi on exactly this.
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