How Much Does a Website Actually Cost for a Tradesperson in 2026?
DIY, Freelancer or Managed Package: What Should a Tradesperson's Website Really Cost?
A straight answer for electricians, plumbers, builders and other trades across Colchester, Essex and Suffolk
If you've searched "website cost for tradesperson" and landed on five different answers ranging from £200 to £5,000, you're not imagining things - this is genuinely one of the most inconsistent pricing spaces in small business services. Here's what's actually driving that range, and what you should expect to pay.
The short answer
For a tradesperson in the UK, a proper website typically costs one of three ways:
- DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace): £15–£30/month, but your time instead of money.
- Freelance web designer, one-off build: £500–£2,500 upfront, then you're on your own for updates.
- Managed monthly package (build + ongoing management): £100–£400/month, no upfront cost, someone else keeps it updated.
There's no single "right" answer - it depends on how much time you have and whether you want a website that just exists, or one that actually keeps working for you.
Why the DIY route usually costs more than it looks
Tools like Wix and Squarespace advertise cheap monthly fees, and technically that's true. But the real cost is your time - and for most tradespeople, time is the one thing in short supply. Building a website from scratch means learning a new tool, writing your own copy, sourcing your own photos, and then remembering to keep the site updated as your business changes. Most tradesperson websites built this way get set up once, then never touched again - which matters more than people expect, because a site that hasn't been updated in two years signals exactly that to anyone Googling you.
Why a one-off build from a freelancer isn't the full picture either
A freelance designer building you a site for £800–£1,500 is often good value for the build itself. The gap is what happens afterwards. Once the invoice is paid, most freelance arrangements don't include ongoing updates, new blog content, or managing your Google Business Profile - all things that actually influence whether you show up when someone searches "electrician near me." You end up with a nice-looking website that slowly goes stale, exactly like the DIY option, just with a bigger bill upfront.
What a website should actually be doing for a trade business
A website on its own doesn't win you jobs. What wins you jobs is:
- Showing up in local search — being visible when someone in Colchester searches for your trade
- Looking current — recent project photos, recent blog posts, not a site frozen in 2021
- An active Google Business Profile — this often matters more for local visibility than the website itself
- Some social presence - proof of recent, real work
A website that isn't maintained alongside these things is only doing a fraction of the job.
What to actually look for in a package
Whether you go DIY, freelance, or managed, the questions worth asking are the same:
- Who's updating it after launch? If the answer is "you," be honest with yourself about whether that will actually happen.
- Is SEO and Google Business Profile management included, or a separate cost? These are frequently sold as add-ons, and they're not optional if you want to be found locally.
- What happens if you want to leave? Ask this before you sign anything, not after.
- Is the price genuinely all-in, or will "extras" appear later? Hosting, maintenance, and content updates are sometimes quietly billed separately.
Our take
At Perfect Pixel Solutions, we built our MYLE packages specifically around what we saw missing from both the DIY and one-off-build routes: a website that's actually kept current, without you having to become a marketer to do it. Packages start at £149/month including the build, hosting, ongoing website updates, and Google Business Profile management - no separate setup fee, no long-term contract. You send us photos from a finished job; we turn that into your website, Google, and social content. See the full breakdown of what's included.
Quick answers
Is £149/month expensive for a website?
Compared to a one-off build, it can look like more over a year — but it includes ongoing updates, SEO, and Google Business Profile management, which a one-off build typically doesn't. Compared to paying separately for a website, an SEO freelancer, and social media management, it's usually cheaper combined.
Do I need a website if I already have a Google Business Profile?
A strong Google Business Profile is genuinely one of the highest-impact things for local visibility, but pairing it with a website that Google can also index gives you two routes into search results instead of one, and gives customers somewhere to see your full range of work.
How long does it take to get a website live?
This varies by provider - ask directly what their typical turnaround is before committing, since it's a fair question and any transparent provider should have a clear answer.
