If you're a small business in Cardiff looking to build or rebuild your website, it's easy to get lost between cheap template builders and agencies quoting five-figure sums. Here's a straightforward guide to what actually matters.
How much should a website cost?
For most small businesses, a well-designed multi-page website with proper SEO foundations should sit in the low hundreds to low thousands of pounds, depending on scope — not tens of thousands. If a Cardiff web design agency is quoting significantly outside that range, ask exactly what's included and why.
Template vs custom design
Template-based builders (like generic DIY website tools) are fine for a very early-stage business testing an idea. But once you're relying on your website to bring in real enquiries, a custom-designed site built around your brand and your customers' journey will almost always convert better — because it's built for your business, not a generic template used by thousands of other sites.
What to check before you commit
- Does the quote include mobile responsiveness and basic on-page SEO, or are these extras?
- How many rounds of revisions are included, and what happens after that?
- Will you own the website outright, or is it locked into the agency's platform?
- Is there a plan for ongoing maintenance, or does the site get handed over with no support?
Common mistakes we see
The most common mistake is treating a website as a one-off project rather than a growth tool. A site that isn't reviewed, updated, or measured after launch tends to underperform within a year. The second most common mistake is prioritising how a site looks over how it converts — a beautiful website with no clear enquiry path is a missed opportunity.
If you're comparing web design agencies in Cardiff, it's worth asking each one for a fixed quote up front so you can compare like-for-like — that's exactly how we structure our own website packages.