How Much Does a Tradesman's Website Cost in 2026?

If you fit boilers, wire houses or build extensions, you already know word of mouth only gets you so far. In 2026, most people who need a trade start on their phone. No website, or a bad one, and you are invisible to them.

But "how much does a website cost?" is a fair question with a frustrating answer, because the range is huge. Below is a plain-English breakdown of what you will actually pay in the UK this year, and what you get for it.

What are the three ways to get a trade website?

There are really only three routes: do it yourself, hire a freelancer, or use a done-for-you service or agency. Here is how they compare on typical 2026 UK prices.

Prices are typical UK ranges for a small trade website in 2026. Sites with booking systems, online payments or many pages cost more.

Is a DIY website builder worth it?

Website builders like Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy let you drag and drop your own site. The monthly fee usually lands between £12 and £40 depending on the plan, and most include a domain and hosting in that price.

On paper this is the cheapest option. In reality it is not free. You choose the layout, write the words, size the photos and work out why the contact form is not sending. Most tradespeople who go this route either never finish, or end up with a site that looks like a template because it is one.

There is also the running total. At £25 a month, you have paid £900 over three years and you still did all the work yourself.

DIY makes sense if you genuinely enjoy the fiddly bit and have the evenings to spare. For most, that time is better spent on the tools.

What does a freelance web designer charge?

A freelance web designer will usually build a small trade website for £500 to £1,500 as a one-off. You get a person who does the work for you, which is the big step up from DIY.

The catch is that quality and reliability vary a lot. Some freelancers are excellent. Others go quiet halfway through, or hand you a site you cannot update yourself and then charge for every small change. Always ask to see two or three sites they have built for other trades, and get the price and what is included in writing before you pay a deposit.

Timescales tend to be two to six weeks, sometimes longer if they are juggling other jobs.

Should a tradesman use a design agency?

A design agency gives you a team, a proper process and often extras like copywriting and search setup. That is why they charge £2,000 to £6,000 and up for a small business site, with monthly care plans on top.

For a one-van plumber or a small electrical firm, an agency is usually overkill. You are paying for account managers and meetings you do not need. Agencies earn their money on bigger projects with online shops, booking systems or large multi-branch sites.

How does Brightray compare?

Brightray is built for exactly this problem. It is a fixed £500, paid once, for a professional website designed for your trade, with your site live in about 7 days. No monthly design fees, no hourly billing, no surprise invoices.

You get the freelancer benefit (someone does it all for you) at the low, honest end of the price range, and the agency benefit (a proper, made-for-you site) without the agency bill. It is done-for-you: you send your details and photos, and the site is written, designed and launched for you.

You can see how the fixed price works on the websites from £500 page, and what is built specifically for the trades on the websites for tradesmen page. If speed matters because you have just gone self-employed or a competitor has appeared above you on Google, the 7-day website page explains the fast turnaround. Running a limited company or consultancy rather than a trade? There is a version for professionals too.

What hidden costs should you budget for?

Whatever route you pick, budget for these too, because they are easy to miss:

• Domain name (your web address, like yourfirm.co.uk): about £10 to £15 a year. A .co.uk is fine for a UK trade and usually cheaper than a .com.
• Hosting (where the site lives): from about £5 a month at the low end, more with agencies. DIY builders bundle this into your monthly fee.
• Updates and changes: adding a service, swapping photos, changing your number. DIY means you do it yourself; freelancers and agencies often charge per change, so ask up front.
• Email: a professional address like info@yourfirm.co.uk, often a few pounds a month, sometimes included.

A quick tip: always ask who owns the domain and the site files. You want them in your name, so you are never held hostage if you decide to move.

What does a good trade website actually need?

You do not need a fancy site. You need one that turns a stranger on their phone into a phone call. For a plumber, electrician or builder, that means:

• Your trade, your area and a phone number visible in the first two seconds.
• A tap-to-call button and a simple contact form.
• A short list of the services you offer.
• A few real photos of your work.
• Your Gas Safe, NICEIC or trade body number if you have one, to build trust.
• A handful of customer reviews.
• Fast loading and easy to read on a mobile, because that is where most people will find you.

That is it. Anything beyond this is a nice-to-have, not a must-have.

So what should a tradesman spend?

If money is tight and you have real time to spare, a DIY builder can work, as long as you actually finish it. If you want it handled properly without agency prices, a fixed-price done-for-you service is the sweet spot for most trades.

For a one-off £500 with the site live in about a week, Brightray covers the trades directly, and you can check whether it covers your area before you decide.