What does it really cost to build a website? A guide for local businesses in South East London
If you’re a local business owner in areas like Welling, Greenwich, Bexley, Eltham, Plumstead or Woolwich, having a professional website is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re running a barber shop on Eltham High Street, a boutique in Bexleyheath, or a mobile service in Woolwich, your online presence plays a huge role in how customers find and trust you.
But one of the most common questions we hear at Kyeeni is:
“How much does it actually cost to build a website?”
The answer? It depends.
Below, we’ll break down the core costs associated with building a website—so whether you're starting fresh or revamping an old site, you can budget smartly and avoid surprises.
1. Domain name – £10–£20 per year
Your domain is your address on the web. Something like yourbusiness.co.uk or yourshop.com. Most UK businesses opt for .co.uk or .com domains, both of which are affordable and widely recognised.
Prices vary slightly depending on the provider (GoDaddy, Google Domains, 123 Reg, etc.), but you can expect to pay around £10 to £20 per year. Premium or highly sought-after names can cost more, but for most local businesses in places like Bexley or Plumstead, standard pricing applies.
2. Web hosting – £3 to £25+ per month
Hosting is where your website “lives.” It’s the server space that stores all your files and makes your site accessible 24/7.
There are different types of hosting:
Shared hosting (budget-friendly, suitable for small sites): around £3–£8/month
Managed WordPress hosting (more performance & security): £10–£25/month
Cloud/VPS hosting (for growing or high-traffic sites): £25+/month
Local shops in Welling or Woolwich may only need basic hosting, while a growing online retailer in Greenwich might benefit from managed hosting with better performance. Some platforms (below) offer hosting as part of their package as well.
3. Website platform costs – free to £60+/month
This is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make when creating your website: which platform to build it on. Each platform comes with its own cost, flexibility, learning curve, and suitability for different types of businesses.
Let’s break down the most popular options for local business owners in South East London:
WordPress (Self-hosted)
Cost: Free platform, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, themes, and plugins
Best for: Businesses that want control, flexibility, and the ability to scale
Ideal for: Service providers in Plumstead, or multi-location businesses in Woolwich or Bexley
Cost: £7–£25/month depending on plan
Best for: Simple, DIY websites
Ideal for: Independent traders or sole proprietors in Welling or Bexleyheath
Squarespace (this site is built on Squarespace)
Cost: £10–£30/month
Best for: Beautiful visual websites with minimal effort
Ideal for: Photographers in Greenwich, cafés in Eltham, or design-led boutiques
Cost: £25–£300/month (plus transaction fees)
Best for: E-commerce and retail
Ideal for: Local shops selling online from Bexleyheath or Woolwich
Weebly (by Square)
Cost: £5–£20/month
Best for: Small websites with basic e-commerce needs
Ideal for: Market traders or part-time sellers in Plumstead or Bexley
Cost: £12–£40/month
Best for: Businesses who want custom design with modern performance
Ideal for: Tech-forward or creative industries in Greenwich or Eltham
Cost: £2.50–£15/month
Best for: Ultra-budget DIY sites
Ideal for: New startups in Welling or home-based services just starting out
Cost: £12–£30/month
Best for: Agencies or white-label website services
Ideal for: Multi-service or franchise-style businesses in SE London
4. Design & development – £500 to £3,000+ (one-off)
Hiring a professional to build your site can range widely in cost. A simple one-page website for a tradesperson in Plumstead might start at £500, while a custom-built, multi-page site with booking features or e-commerce for a Greenwich-based boutique could run into the thousands.
At Kyeeni, we offer tailored packages for South East London businesses charged by the hour so you get exactly what you pay for, designed to get you online quickly and professionally without unnecessary extras.
5. Plugins & add-ons – £0–£200/year
Depending on your platform, you may want to add extra functionality:
Booking systems for barbers in Welling
Online menus for cafés in Woolwich
SEO tools for businesses wanting to rank higher in Bexley
Security plugins, backups, and performance boosters
Some are free, but many premium plugins have annual fees. A typical WordPress site might have £50–£200/year in plugin costs.
6. Maintenance & support – £15 to £100+/month
Websites aren’t “set it and forget it.” They need updating, backups, security scans, and occasional content tweaks. Some of these comes as part of the platform package as well.
Some business owners handle this themselves, but many choose a monthly care plan for peace of mind. Our local clients in Eltham and Bexleyheath benefit from our monthly maintenance packages, which start at just £20/month.
7. Optional extras
These aren’t must-haves, but many business owners opt for extras like:
Professional photography (£100–£400) – especially useful for shops, salons, or service providers. A strong first impression matters.
SEO services (£50–£500/month) – to help you get found in Google searches for terms like “plumber in Plumstead” or “Greenwich hairdresser.”
Copywriting (£100–£500) – professionally written content that speaks to your ideal customer
Final thoughts
If you’re a business in South East London—from the leafy streets of Bexley Village to the bustling lanes of Woolwich—your website should reflect your brand, connect with your local audience, and help you grow.
The total cost to build and run a website can range from as little as £200 per year (for a basic DIY site) to £3,000+ upfront with ongoing monthly costs for huge sites with lots of functionality. But remember: this is an investment in your visibility, credibility, and long-term success.
If you're unsure where to start, get in touch with Kyeeni. We’re based right here in South East London, and we know what local businesses need to thrive online.
Need help getting your business online?
Contact us at kyeeni.com/contact for a free consultation tailored to your needs and budget.