Every website needs a domain name which you can easily get from a domain name registrar - we use lcn.com and 123reg.co.uk. Just enter your chosen domain name in the search box and if it's available put it in the basket and buy it. Try get the .com version - about £12 a year and the .co.uk about £3 a year. If the .com is already taken, check what it is being used for before settling for the .co.uk only.

Once a website is built and up and running there are some ongoing costs. Your domain name will need to be renewed;  £3 - £12 a year and you need to pay for the space your website takes or web hosting; small business hosting is typically £5 - £15 a month depending on features. 

When planning a new website or a website redesign, work out the total cost over 3 years, about the lifespan of a typical website before it needs a major update because of technological advances, your business has grown, people's expectations of what a website should do have changed or simply a fresh new look.

So get quotes for Year 1, Year 2 & Year 3. This will even out any introductory offers, free things that are only free for the first year and highlight any possible nasty surprises further down the line.

When getting quotes from website designers try to match the size of your business to the size of your web designer, the same as you'd use an accountant or lawyer. Web design quotes are based on hourly rates and the bigger the company the more per hour.

An inexperienced freelance web designer just starting out might charge £15 per hour - a full digital design agency with account managers, project mangers along with the design team will probably be £100+ per hour.

Static pages are edited manually and moved to a website server. If any changes need making then the original files are edited and resubmitted to the server. If your web designer is doing the changes, you usually get a bill for the work.

Usually  the first thing a new customer say to us is "I want a website I can update myself", they have had their fingers burned with constant bills for website updates.

A CMS is a Content Management System - the information on a page is stored in a database, so to make any changes, you simply log in to the administrator section, make the change and save it. Most people can do this themselves, so no invoice.

The above examples and 99% of all websites are built the traditional way, the same as constructing a building - put in the foundations, build the framework, add the walls, roof, doors, windows and connect the utilities:- only then can it be decorated and furniture be moved in.

In the real world small businesses don't generally have their own premises built from scratch, they just rent an industrial unit, office, shop, art gallery, restaurant, cafe, workshop or whatever fits their needs. Pay the first months rent and move in.

We have done the same for websites - your next website is already built just waiting for your logo, colour scheme and content.