Key Takeaways
- Compare the included work, not page count alone.
- MattDarm's published website packages are £1,600, £2,800 and £4,800+ excluding VAT; the written scope controls the quote.
- Separate the build from hosting, licences, maintenance, content and marketing.
A website price is useful only when you know what it buys. Five simple information pages, a shop with stock integration and a website migration are different jobs, even if their homepages look similar. Start with the customer tasks and the work required to deliver them.
The prices below are MattDarm's own published packages at this review date, not a survey of UK agencies or a guaranteed quote for every project. The custom website design service is the source to check before making a purchasing decision.
MattDarm's published website packages
| Package | Published one-off price, excluding VAT | Starting scope |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | £1,600 | Up to five pages, responsive presentation, a contact form, CMS integration and an agreed revision allowance |
| Business | £2,800 | Eight to twelve pages, a blog, more involved forms, CMS training and an agreed revision allowance |
| Premium | £4,800+ | A separately scoped build for more complex content, features or integrations |
The written proposal should confirm page types, content responsibilities, features, revisions, acceptance and payment terms. Premium is not an unlimited-work promise. Hosting, ongoing maintenance and changes outside the scope should be confirmed separately. Do not assume a package includes photography, copywriting, translation, paid advertising or every third-party subscription.
Choose the amount of custom work you actually need
A suitable existing theme can be a sensible option for a straightforward site. A custom theme or application becomes easier to justify when the required content, editing or integration cannot be delivered proportionately on that foundation. Neither approach guarantees search rankings or sales.
Our custom-versus-template comparison explains the distinction. Use the custom development business-case guide to decide which extra work is justified. The GTS Reading project used a theme-based WordPress approach; Liz Patey Makeup used a custom theme. These are delivery examples, not a claim that one method always pays back faster.
The work that changes a quotation
List the different page types rather than counting only URLs. Ten pages using one approved layout can involve less design work than five pages with different interactions. Then list the dependencies:
- Content: who writes, checks and enters the copy, product information and images?
- Migration: which URLs, files, forms and integrations must survive the change?
- Functionality: does the site need payments, accounts, bookings, search or multilingual content?
- Editing: who publishes, and what permissions or training do they need?
- Approval: who signs off, how many revision stages are included and what changes the scope?
For an existing site, include the redesign SEO checks. Keeping the domain does not remove the need to protect useful URLs and test enquiry delivery.
Budget for ownership after launch
Ask separately about domain renewal, hosting, email, paid themes or plugins, backups, monitoring and support. Provider charges change; use the supplier's current quote and renewal terms instead of a price copied from an old article. Identify which accounts the business will own and what happens if the developer changes.
MattDarm's maintenance service has plans starting at £99 per month; confirm the current package, VAT treatment and inclusions in the proposal. Maintenance, hosting, content editing and emergency response are not interchangeable labels. The maintenance checklist helps you assign those responsibilities.
An illustrative budget calculation: a £2,800 build plus twelve months of support at £99 is £3,988 before applicable VAT and any separately quoted costs. That is arithmetic using two example line items, not an all-inclusive offer. Add the actual hosting, content, licences and other agreed charges before comparing suppliers.
Compare proposals on the same basis
| Question | What a useful answer looks like |
|---|---|
| What will be delivered? | Named templates, features, content responsibilities and exclusions |
| What proves it works? | Agreed mobile, form, editing, migration and accessibility checks |
| What may change the price? | A documented process for additional scope and approval |
| What will we control? | Clear account ownership, source access, licences and export arrangements |
| What happens after launch? | Support period, maintenance scope and a named handover owner |
If you serve Woking, our Woking web-design page explains how discovery and delivery can be organised. For an operational or trade-led business, see web design in Slough. These are genuine service areas, not claims of additional offices.
Send your current website and requirements for a scoped discussion. A small repair may be more proportionate than a rebuild. The aim is to buy a maintainable website that meets an agreed brief, not a promise that any particular spend guarantees growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the prices UK market averages?
No. They are MattDarm's published packages at the review date. Other suppliers and scopes differ. Check the current service page and written proposal before relying on a figure.
Does a website package include ongoing marketing?
Do not assume it does. Confirm build work, maintenance, hosting, content and marketing separately, including any media spend or third-party charges.
Can an existing website be improved for less than a rebuild?
Sometimes. A scoped content, usability or technical repair may be sufficient when the underlying platform remains maintainable. Review the actual problems before choosing the larger project.
