How much does a website cost in Northampton? (2026 prices)
If you run a small business in Northampton and you have started asking around about a new website, you have probably had quotes ranging from "free" to several thousand pounds. That makes it hard to tell whether you are being overcharged or being offered a bargain that will cost you later.
This guide explains what drives the price of a website in 2026, the ongoing costs people forget, and what to ask before you sign. Our own prices are near the end, as one option among several.
The short answer
As a rough guide, these are the typical ranges you will come across. They are broad market ranges based on what is commonly quoted, so treat them as a starting point. Plenty of quotes fall outside them.
- DIY website builder: nothing up front, then roughly £10 to £40 a month for the plan, plus a lot of your own time.
- Freelancer working from a template: often a few hundred pounds up to around £1,500.
- Small agency: commonly £2,000 to £6,000 for a brochure site, and more for an online shop.
- Fully custom design and development: anywhere from around £5,000 into five figures.
The headline price matters less than three things: what is included, who owns the finished site, and what you will pay every month afterwards.
What drives the cost of a website
Who builds it
Doing it yourself with a builder such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify is the cheapest option in cash and the most expensive in time. Many owners start keen and end up with a half-finished site that never launches.
A freelancer is one person with low overheads, so prices are usually lower. Quality varies a lot. Ask to see live sites they have built, and check they will still be around to help after launch.
An agency has a project manager, designers and developers. That is worth paying for on a large or complex project. For a five-page site for a plumber in Duston or a salon in Abington, it is often more than you need.
Template or custom design
Most small business websites today start from a well made theme, which is then set up with your branding, photos and wording. There is nothing wrong with that. Good Shopify themes are built and tested by professional developers and work properly on phones.
Custom design means starting from a blank page and coding features that do not exist off the shelf. It costs more because it takes longer. It is worth paying for when you need something specific, such as booking linked to your own systems or a quote builder. If the aim is simply to look different from competitors, a theme can usually get you there.
Pages, products and content
Every page needs writing and every product needs photos, a description and a price, so a 10 product shop and a 500 product shop are very different jobs. If you are expected to supply the words and photos, count your own time in the cost.
Features
Payments, bookings, quote forms and links to stock or accounting software all add work. List what you need on day one and add the rest later.
The ongoing costs people forget
Platform or hosting fees
Shopify charges a monthly plan. In the UK the Basic plan has typically been in the region of £19 to £25 a month depending on whether you pay annually or monthly, plus card processing fees on each sale. Prices change, so check Shopify's own pricing page. WordPress itself is free, but you pay for hosting, which can be a few pounds a month for basic shared hosting or considerably more for managed hosting.
Domain name
A .co.uk domain usually costs somewhere around £10 to £20 a year. Make sure it is registered in your name or your company's name.
Apps and plugins
Each one looks small, maybe £5 or £15 a month for reviews, bookings or extra features, but they add up. Ask for a list of any paid apps before your site goes live.
Changes and maintenance
Who updates your opening hours, adds a new product or fixes something after an update? Some designers charge per change, some charge a monthly retainer. Find out before you start.
What to watch for before you sign
Who owns the website?
This is the big one. Some providers build on their own system and effectively rent the site back to you. Stop paying and the site disappears. Ask plainly: will the site, domain and content be in my name, and can I move it if I leave?
Contracts and minimum terms
"Nothing up front, £99 a month" sounds affordable. Over 24 months that is £2,376, and you may own nothing at the end. Always work out the total cost over two or three years.
Hidden monthly fees
Watch for separate charges for hosting, "support", security certificates (included free on most modern platforms) or an "SEO package" nobody can explain clearly.
Access and logins
You should have admin access to your website, domain, Google Business Profile and analytics. A supplier who will not share them is a warning sign. Ask for live examples of their work too.
Our prices, as one option
Ecomm Development is a one-person web design business run by Mike in Kingsley, Northampton. We are a Shopify Partner and an Orbit Commerce Partner. Our websites start at £250 one-off, with three tiers at £250, £495 and £795. What each tier includes is set out on our pricing page.
You own the site. Platform fees, such as Shopify's monthly plan, are separate from our price. Before you pay us anything, we will build a free preview of your homepage so you can decide whether you like it.
If you want help being found once the site is live, our local SEO and social media management starts at £70 a month with no contract. That covers managing your Google Business Profile, weekly Google Maps rank scans across a grid of your area, and posts to your website, Google and Facebook.
Recent work includes Rock Bottom Fireworks here in Northampton, Kitchen 94, a wedding and event caterer in London, and Airport Taxi Links. You can see more on our portfolio. If you already have a site that is not working for you, see our website redesign page.
We are not the right fit for everyone. If you have a large budget and a complex project, an agency may suit you better. If you enjoy doing things yourself, a DIY builder could be all you need.
See your homepage before you spend a penny
Tell us about your business and we will put together a free homepage preview. Call or WhatsApp Mike on 07809 404501, or send a message through our contact page.
Get my free previewFrequently asked questions
Is a £250 website any good?
It can be, as long as you know what is included. A well set up theme with your own branding, clear wording and good photos will serve most small businesses well. Ask to see examples, check who owns the site, and check what the ongoing platform costs will be.
Do I have to pay monthly for a website?
Almost every website has some ongoing costs, such as the domain name and either hosting or a platform plan like Shopify. What you can usually avoid is paying a designer a monthly fee just to keep a site you have already paid for.
Should I use a local web designer in Northampton?
It is not essential, but it helps. A local designer can meet you, knows the towns and areas your customers search from, and is easy to reach when you need a change. Whoever you choose, make sure you own the finished site.