What a Website
Actually Costs
From an Agency That Builds Them
You searched this because every pricing page says the same thing: “it depends, contact us for a quote.” That is not an answer. It is a conversion tactic. We are the agency. We build websites every week, including full breakdowns of web app development cost from India. Here are the real numbers.
If your budget is under $1,500, do not hire an agency. Use Squarespace or Wix. They are the right tool at that budget. Come back when you need custom functionality or when the template is holding your business back.
Website Costs by Project Type, What You Actually Pay
These are not ranges we lifted from a survey. They are based on real projects we have quoted and delivered in 2025 and 2026, billed at $30/hour. Every number assumes a written scope. Projects without a defined scope cost more, take longer, and disappoint everyone. We do not start work without one.
Basic Business Website, $1,500 to $3,500
A 5 to 8 page website covering your services, about page, contact form, and basic SEO setup. Built in WordPress or Next.js. Mobile responsive. Google Analytics 4 installed. Delivered in 4 to 6 weeks. This price assumes you supply the copy and images, if we write the content, add $400 to $800 depending on page count.
Right for: Small businesses, freelancers, consultants, local service companies.
Not right for: Any business that needs online payments, bookings, or member login.
Professional Business Website, $3,500 to $8,000
10 to 20 pages. Custom design. Blog setup with SEO framework. Lead capture integrated to your CRM or email platform. Speed optimised to score above 90 on PageSpeed Insights. Delivered in 6 to 10 weeks. The upper range includes multi-language support, a client portal, or a custom booking system.
Right for: Law firms, accounting firms, healthcare practices, agencies.
Client example: A UK-based real estate company. 8 months of build including custom property search, map integration, and agent portal. Result: the client said the service exceeded his expectations.
eCommerce Website, $2,500 to $6,000
A Shopify or WooCommerce store with standard product catalogue, payment gateway (Stripe or PayPal), shipping rules, discount codes, and mobile checkout. We are a verified Shopify Partner. That means direct platform access, no markup on Shopify's fees, and experience with Shopify's review process.
The upper range covers custom theme development, subscription products, multi-currency, or integrations with inventory management systems like TradeGecko or Cin7.
Custom eCommerce, built from scratch outside Shopify or WooCommerce, starts at $8,000 and is the right answer when you need a marketplace, multi-vendor functionality, or a buying flow that platform templates cannot support.
WordPress Development, $1,200 to $4,000
WordPress builds using existing premium themes (Divi, Astra, Kadence) for fast, budget-conscious delivery. Or fully custom WordPress builds with a bespoke theme, custom post types, and Advanced Custom Fields.
The $1,200 end: template customisation, plugin configuration, basic on-page SEO. The $4,000 end: fully custom WordPress theme, WooCommerce setup, membership plugin, or multisite network. Ongoing maintenance available from $80/month.
Custom Web Application, $5,000 to $25,000
A web application is not a website. It has users, user accounts, a database, business logic, and typically an API layer. Examples: a client portal, a booking and scheduling system, a project management tool, a data dashboard, or an internal business tool replacing spreadsheets.
At $5,000: a single-module application with user authentication and basic CRUD. At $25,000: a full multi-feature application with role-based access, payment integration, email notifications, an admin panel, and production infrastructure setup.
Technology stack: Next.js 15, Node.js, PostgreSQL or MongoDB. Deployed to AWS or Vercel. We write the architecture document before we write the code.
SaaS Product MVP, $15,000 to $60,000
A SaaS product requires multi-tenant architecture, subscription billing (Stripe), an onboarding flow, a user dashboard, an admin panel, and scalable infrastructure. This is not a website. It is a software product that happens to run in a browser.
At $15,000: a focused MVP with one core workflow, Stripe billing, and basic admin. At $60,000: a complete product with multiple user roles, integrations (Zapier, Slack, CRMs), analytics dashboard, team accounts, and a landing page designed to convert.
We have maintained an AI SaaS platform for a client since 2019. We understand what it takes to build something you intend to scale, not just launch.
AI Integration into Existing Product, $3,000 to $15,000
Adding AI capabilities to an existing website or application. Common integrations: OpenAI GPT for content generation, Claude for document processing, Whisper for transcription, or custom fine-tuned models for industry-specific tasks.
At $3,000: a single API integration with a basic UI and rate limiting. At $15,000: a full AI feature set with vector database (Pinecone or Weaviate), prompt engineering, conversation history, and a branded interface.
We build AI integrations. We do not oversell them. If your use case does not need AI, we will tell you that before you pay for it.
What Makes a Website More or Less Expensive
What increases the budget
Unclear scope
Vague briefs create more back-and-forth, more revisions, and more time. A complete brief can reduce cost by 20 to 30%.
Custom design from scratch
Template-based builds are 30 to 50% faster. If you have a brand system, provide it. If you do not, expect design time.
Third-party integrations
Every API integration, CRM, payment, booking, shipping, ERP, adds scope. Budget $400 to $2,000 per integration.
Content creation
Writing copy, sourcing images, and creating graphics is separate from development. We can do it, but scope it separately.
Rushed timelines
Standard delivery pacing is most efficient. Compressing timelines requires more parallel resources and typically costs 20 to 40% more.
Post-launch changes
Changes to scope after development starts cost more than changes made before. Define your requirements before the build, not during it.
What reduces the budget
Provide a detailed brief
One page describing what the site must do, who uses it, what success looks like, and what you do not want. This alone reduces quoting time.
Supply your own content
Text, images, logo, brand guidelines ready before we start.
Choose an existing theme as a starting point
We can customise a premium WordPress or Shopify theme significantly cheaper than building from a blank canvas.
Phase the build
Launch an MVP with core features. Add the wish-list features in phase two when you have user feedback. This is almost always the right decision.
Consolidate feedback
One round of structured feedback is faster than five rounds of incremental comments. Gather your team's input before sending it to us.
Fixed Scope, Transparent Hours, Written Agreement
We charge $30 per hour. Every project starts with a discovery call (free) and a scope document (also free, it is part of our process, not a service you pay for). The scope document lists every deliverable, every excluded item, the estimated hours per deliverable, and the payment schedule. You see the breakdown before you agree to anything.
Most projects use a fixed-price model: we agree on scope, we quote a total, we deliver against that total. If the scope changes, we price the change in writing and get your agreement before proceeding. No surprise invoices. Longer-term projects, ongoing development retainers, maintenance agreements, SaaS products in active development, use time-and-materials at $30/hour with a monthly cap if you prefer predictability.
Our team is 100% in-house. No subcontractors, no freelancers, no outsourcing. The person who scopes your project is in the same office as the person who builds it. That matters for cost too: there is no middleman markup. You pay for development time, not for an agency managing another agency’s work. Learn more about how we work: Web Development Services | About CV Infotech
How We Scope and Price Your Project
You get a quote within 48 hours of the discovery call. Here is how we get there.
You Send a Brief
Day 1A one-page description of what you need. What the site does, who uses it, what success looks like. Use the contact form or email letsbuild@cvinfotech.com. No RFP required. A plain English description is enough.
Deliverable: We confirm receipt and book a 30-minute call within 24 hours.
Discovery Call
Day 1-230 minutes. We ask the questions that reveal scope risks: third-party integrations, content requirements, device targets, compliance needs. We do not use this call to sell. We use it to understand.
Deliverable: Discovery notes document shared with you after the call.
Scope Document
Days 2-3A written document listing every deliverable, every excluded item, the technology stack, the timeline, and the payment schedule. This document protects you and us. Nothing happens outside of it without written agreement.
Deliverable: Scope document sent within 48 hours of discovery call.
Quote and Agreement
Day 3-4A fixed price or time-and-materials rate tied to the scope. Payment schedule clearly laid out (typically 30% to start, 40% at mid-point, 30% on delivery). You have time to review with your team before agreeing.
Deliverable: Signed agreement and project kickoff scheduled.
Build and Deliver
OngoingDevelopment starts. Weekly progress updates. Staging environment access throughout. You test the real product at every milestone, not screenshots.
Deliverable: Working product delivered to agreed scope and timeline.
Website Cost Questions, Answered
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Know What Your Project Costs Before You Commit to Anything
A 30-minute discovery call is free. The scope document is free. The quote is free. You pay when work starts, not before. If the numbers do not work, we will tell you that too.