How Much Does a Professional Website Cost in 2026? A Guide to Real Prices

"How much does a website cost?" It's the question every business owner asks sooner or later. And the answer, unfortunately, is always the same: "It depends." But depends on what, exactly? And how do you know if the quote you've received is fair — or if you're being overcharged?

In this guide, I'll explain with complete transparency how much a website costs in 2026, what influences the price and how to choose the right solution for your business. No jargon, just real numbers.

The Short Answer

Type of website	Price range
Landing page (1 page)	€800 — €2,000
Brochure site (3–7 pages)	€1,500 — €4,000
Site with blog	€2,000 — €5,000
Site with booking/reservation	€3,000 — €8,000
E-commerce (online shop)	€3,000 — €15,000
Complex portal / web app	€10,000+

These are prices for a professional, custom-built website by a web designer or agency. Not €99 templates and not multinational mega-projects.

What Influences the Price of a Website

1. Number of Pages

A 5-page site costs less than a 20-page site. Each page requires design, content and optimisation. For most local businesses (restaurants, hotels, professional studios), 5–7 pages are sufficient:

Home
About
Services
Portfolio/Gallery
Contact
Blog (optional)

2. Custom Design vs Template

A pre-made template costs less but looks like a pre-made template. All your competitors can have the same look. Custom design costs more but sets you apart. For a business on Lake Garda, where aesthetics are everything (tourism, hospitality, food), custom design is worth every euro.

3. Functionality

A "static" site (text + images + contact form) is the most affordable. Each added feature increases the price:

Booking system: +€500 — €2,000
E-commerce: +€1,000 — €5,000
Members area / login: +€1,000 — €3,000
Multilingual: +€300 — €800 per language
Integrated chat: +€200 — €500
CRM/management system integration: +€500 — €2,000

4. Content (Copy and Photos)

If you already have written copy and professional photos, the cost drops. If the web designer needs to write the text (or coordinate with a copywriter) and arrange a photo shoot, the cost rises. Content is often the most underestimated part of a website — yet it's what makes the difference.

5. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

Basic SEO (titles, meta descriptions, URL structure, speed) should be included in the price. An advanced SEO strategy (keyword research, blog content, link building, competitor analysis) is an additional service.

6. Who Builds It

Junior freelancer: €500 — €2,000. Affordable, but often lacks experience and post-launch support.
Experienced freelancer: €1,500 — €5,000. Good quality-to-price ratio. Caveat: if they fall ill or go on holiday, your project stalls.
Web agency: €3,000 — €15,000. Dedicated team, structured processes, guaranteed support. But the agency's overheads are reflected in the quote.
Local creative studio: €1,500 — €6,000. Knows the area, meets you in person, direct relationship. Often the best compromise for local businesses.

The Hidden Costs: What's NOT Included in the Quote

Watch out for these costs that often don't appear in the initial quote:

Domain: €10 — €30/year. Your web address (e.g. olgadesign.it).

Hosting: €50 — €300/year. The "parking space" where your site lives on the internet. Cheap hosting = slow site. Quality hosting = fast and reliable site.

SSL certificate: Often included in hosting, but not always. Mandatory since 2018 (the green padlock in the browser). Without SSL, Google penalises your site.

Business email: €20 — €80/year. info@yourrestaurant.it is far more professional than yourrestaurant@gmail.com.

Maintenance and updates: €200 — €1,000/year. Security updates, backups, minor changes. If your site runs on WordPress, updates are frequent and necessary.

Professional photos: €300 — €1,000. If you don't have them, you need them. They make the difference between a site that converts and one that repels.

DIY vs Professional: An Honest Comparison

DIY (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com)

Cost: €100 — €500/year
Pros: Affordable, quick to set up, ready-made templates
Cons: Looks like a template. Design limitations. Limited SEO. When you hit a technical problem, you're on your own. When the business grows, the site can't grow with you.

Professional

Cost: €1,500 — €5,000 one-off + €200 — €500/year maintenance
Pros: Unique design, professional SEO, site that scales with you, support, strategy
Cons: Higher initial cost. Takes time (3–6 weeks).

My advice: If your business is your main livelihood and you want the site to bring in customers, invest in a professional. If it's a personal project or hobby, DIY is perfectly fine.

How to Tell If a Quote Is Fair

When you receive a website quote, check that it includes:

Custom design (not a template with your logo slapped on)
Responsive (optimised for mobile and tablet)
Basic SEO optimisation
SSL certificate
Working contact form
Google Analytics integration
Training to manage the site yourself
Post-launch support period (minimum 3 months)
Ownership of the code and content (the site is YOURS, not the agency's)

If any of these are missing, ask. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Want a real-world example? Read how a hotel on Lake Garda recovered its website investment in just 3 months. Or discover the 7 essential elements for a restaurant website.

Our Prices

At Olga Design Studio, we create professional websites for businesses on Lake Garda. Here are our packages:

Brochure site: from €1,500
Landing page: from €800
Site with booking: from €3,000
Existing site redesign: from €1,000

Every quote is tailored to your needs. The first consultation is always free and no obligation. Get in touch to discuss your project.

Also discover our interior design services: we're the only studio on Lake Garda that can create a cohesive visual identity for your business, from your premises to your website.