A web design studio from Found First, built for businesses that rely on trust.
A frank guide
Cheap website design without the cheap-looking website
Cheap website design usually saves money by skipping the three things that bring in customers: good words, clear proof and a proper structure for search. I sit in between cheap and agency: an affordable, fixed-price site from £590 where I write the words and plan the search structure myself, using the same methods as my SEO work at Found First. Here is where cheap sites cut corners, and how to avoid it.
The cheap version
The considered version
Let's be honest
Nobody wants to overpay. But a website nobody trusts is the most expensive kind.
I understand why people search for cheap website design. You are running a business, money is tight, and a website feels like one more cost before you have even earned anything from it.
The trouble is that a website does its work quietly. When it fails, you never see the customers who landed on it, frowned, and went back to Google. You only notice that the phone does not ring.
So the real question is not "how cheap can I get a website?" It is "what is the least I can spend on a website that actually brings in work?"
For most small businesses, the answer is somewhere between £590 and £1,750. That is where my packages sit, and it is why I describe them as affordable rather than cheap.
Spot the signs
Six places cheap websites cut corners
If you are comparing quotes, ask about each of these. The answers explain most of the difference in price.
You write all the words
The quote assumes you supply the copy. You end up with "we are a professional and reliable company", which describes everyone and persuades no one.
A theme everyone else uses
Popular cheap themes appear on thousands of sites. Customers may not know why, but they sense it. Nothing says "we cut costs" like a layout they have seen before.
Stock photos of strangers
Smiling models in hard hats or spotless salons that are clearly not yours. Visitors spot them instantly, and they chip away at trust.
Slow, heavy pages
Bargain hosting and bloated page builders mean slow loading on phones. Every extra second loses people before they see your number.
No search groundwork
Missing page titles, one page trying to rank for everything and no local details. The site exists, but Google cannot tell what it is for.
Nobody answers when it breaks
The cheapest providers often move on quickly. When the contact form stops sending emails, there may be no one to fix it.
When cheap is fine
Sometimes a cheap site is the right call
I would be doing you a disservice if I claimed everyone needs a designer. You probably do not need me if:
- You are testing an ideaA quick builder page to see if anyone bites is sensible. Spend properly once you know it works.
- Nearly all your work comes by referralIf customers already trust you before they visit, a simple page with your contact details can be enough.
- You enjoy doing it yourselfIf you have time, a good eye and a knack for writing, a builder can produce a decent result.
If none of those fit, and you need strangers to trust you enough to call, a properly written and built site will almost always pay for itself faster.
My lowest prices
Low price, no cheap shortcuts.
If you have a tight budget, the Starter Website is usually the smart move. One page, written and designed properly, beats five pages of filler every time.
Starter Website
from£590
A clean one-page website for businesses that need a professional presence quickly.
My answer to "cheap": one excellent page instead of five weak ones.
- One carefully designed page
- Copy written with you
- Mobile-first layout
- Enquiry form or booking link
- Titles, descriptions and basic SEO
Business Website
from£1,250
A 3 to 5 page website with service pages, contact form, mobile optimisation, basic SEO and clear copy.
Often less than people expect for a complete, properly written site.
- 3 to 5 designed pages
- A page for each main service
- Contact form and click-to-call
- Mobile optimisation
- Basic SEO and clear copy
Website + Visibility
from£1,750
A website plus local SEO structure, Google Business Profile guidance, tracking and a simple content plan.
For when you are ready to compete seriously on local search.
- Everything in Business Website
- Local SEO structure
- Google Business Profile guidance
- Tracking set up
- A simple content plan
Stretching a small budget
Start with one page
A single page can hold your services, proof, area and contact details. Add more once it starts earning.
Take your own photos
Ten honest photos of your work, taken in good daylight, beat any stock library. I will send you a simple shot list.
Fix Google first
A complete Google Business Profile costs nothing and works alongside your site. I will tell you what to fill in.
Questions
Cheap website questions
What is the cheapest website you offer?
My Starter Website starts at £590. It is a single, carefully designed page with copy written for you, mobile-first design, an enquiry form or booking link and the SEO basics. For many new businesses that is all they need to begin with.
Why not just use a £10-a-month website builder?
You can, and sometimes you should. The builder is cheap; your time is not. Most owners spend days on it and still end up with vague copy and a template that looks like everyone else. If you have the time and a good eye, go for it. If not, paying once for a site that works is usually the cheaper route over a year.
My current site was cheap and gets no enquiries. Can you fix it?
Often, yes. Sometimes the fix is a rewrite of the main pages and a cleaner layout. Sometimes it is quicker and cheaper to rebuild. I will look at your current site before the call and tell you which I recommend.
Do cheap websites hurt SEO?
Not automatically. But they often come with slow themes, missing titles, duplicated pages and no local details, all of which make it harder to rank. The problem is usually what cheap sites leave out rather than what they put in.
Can I pay monthly instead?
I prefer a simple deposit and a final payment so you own the site outright. If spreading the cost would make the difference, mention it on the call and we can agree a staged payment plan.
Related
Worth a read before you buy
Get started
Spend a little, once, on the right thing.
Tell me your budget and what you do. I will tell you honestly whether I can help, or whether a builder would serve you better for now.