In over 10 years as a web development agency, we’ve been asked this question countless of times, one that plagues every developer, every producer, and anyone involved in the service industry: How much should you spend on your website?

We have two answers for this ubiquitous question. Both are important in understanding the true value of a website to a business.

Your Website as a Function of Your Goals

The first answer is that the cost of your website should be a function of what you hope to achieve. If you want your website to generate a million dollars of revenue every year, then a couple of hundred thousand dollars is a good estimate. You want to guarantee, as much as possible, that your website will achieve that desired outcome. If a website is instrumental in bringing you that million-dollar revenue, then the investment is well worth it.

A Minimum Investment for Serious Businesses

The second, more concrete answer pertains to businesses serious about their digital presence.

If you want a website that works properly, has few bugs, stays up-to-date, is easy to maintain, and will last a long time, then you want to be spending a minimum of $12,000 to $15,000 for production, and another $5,000 on top for writing, design, and other creative aspects.

The total budget could be around $20,000 to $25,000. This is the starting point for a robust, well-structured website for a serious business.

When Spending Little Makes Sense

However, if you don’t have a clear objective for your website, spending less might be a better strategy. If your website is just to mark your presence, without contributing significantly to your business, then spending any substantial amount on it would be a waste. In this case, the goal should be to have the website up and running at the lowest possible cost.

Have a Clear Outcome In Mind

The main takeaway here is the importance of having a clear outcome or objective for your website. If your website doesn’t serve a specific purpose or contribute to your business goals, any amount spent on it would be a waste. Know what you want your website to achieve for your business. That will give you a clearer picture of how much you should be willing to invest in it.

So, the next time you find yourself asking, “how much should I spend on my website?” remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on what you want your website to do for your business and how much you’re willing to invest to achieve those goals.