"How much does a website cost?" is one of the first questions business owners ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on what the website needs to do. A five-page site for a local clinic, a property developer's site with listings and lead forms, and an online store with hundreds of products are very different projects, even if all three are called "a website".
We have chosen not to list rupee figures in this guide, because a number without a scope is misleading. Instead, we explain each factor that changes the cost, so you can write a clear brief and compare quotes on a like-for-like basis. When you are ready, a good agency should give you a written, itemised quote based on your brief.
The main types of business website
| Type | Typical purpose | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|
| Brochure or service website | Explain services, build trust, get calls and enquiries | Number of pages, design quality, content writing, local SEO setup |
| Lead-generation website | Capture enquiries from ads and search | Landing pages, form and WhatsApp integration, tracking, speed |
| Catalogue website | Show products without online payment | Product structure, filters, enquiry buttons, image handling |
| E-commerce store | Sell online with payments and shipping | Platform, product count, payment gateway, shipping, GST invoices, integrations |
| Portal or web application | Logins, bookings, dashboards | Custom features, security, testing, ongoing development |
Knowing which type you need is the first step to a sensible budget.
Factor 1: Number and type of pages
More pages mean more design, content and testing. But not all pages are equal. A detailed service page that ranks in Google and converts visitors takes more effort than a simple contact page. When agencies quote "per page", ask what each page includes: design, copywriting, images, SEO setup?
Factor 2: Template, customised theme or custom design
- Ready-made template: fastest and cheapest, but your site may look like many others, and templates often include features you do not need, which can slow the site down.
- Customised theme: a theme adapted to your brand colours, fonts and layout; a common middle ground for small businesses.
- Custom design: designed from scratch around your brand and customers, usually with wireframes and design mock-ups before development. It costs more but gives the most control over user experience and speed.
Factor 3: Platform and CMS
Most business websites in India are built on WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, custom code or website builders. Each affects cost differently:
- WordPress: flexible and widely supported, with low licence costs but plugin and maintenance needs.
- Shopify: quick to launch an online store, with monthly platform fees and app subscriptions.
- Custom code: suits unusual requirements and high performance, but changes need a developer.
- Builders: easy to start, but you may outgrow them and face lock-in.
Ask the agency why it recommends a platform for your case, and who will own the accounts.
Factor 4: Content and images
Content is often the most underestimated part of a website project. Professional copywriting in English and Hindi, product descriptions, photography, and stock image licences all add to cost, but they also decide whether the site convinces visitors. If you plan to write content yourself, agree a deadline: many projects are delayed waiting for client content.
Factor 5: Features and integrations
Each feature adds design, development and testing time:
- WhatsApp chat button and click-to-call
- Enquiry forms connected to email, CRM or Google Sheets
- Online booking or appointment scheduling
- Payment gateways such as Razorpay, PayU or others
- Multi-language (English, Hindi and regional languages)
- Blog, careers, property or job listings with filters
- Integration with ERP, inventory, shipping or accounting software
List the features you really need now, and those that can wait for a second phase.
Factor 6: E-commerce specifics
Online stores in India need careful planning for payment gateways and cash on delivery, shipping partners and pin-code serviceability, GST-compliant invoices, returns and refund policies, and order notifications by SMS, WhatsApp and email. The number of products and variants also affects setup time, especially if products need to be added manually.
Factor 7: Speed, mobile and accessibility
Most visitors in India browse on mobile phones, often on varying network speeds. A site that is responsive, light and fast costs more effort to build than one that simply "works on mobile", but it usually converts better. Ask how the agency tests mobile performance and whether it checks Google's Core Web Vitals.
Factor 8: SEO foundations
A website that cannot be found does not generate business. Basic on-page SEO should be part of any professional build: page titles and descriptions, clean URLs, heading structure, image alt text, schema markup, an XML sitemap, Google Search Console and Google Business Profile links. Ongoing SEO is a separate service. Our local SEO guide for Indian businesses explains what comes after launch.
Factor 9: Domain, hosting, SSL and email
These are recurring costs, usually paid yearly. Make sure the domain is registered in your business's name, not the agency's, and that you have access to hosting and DNS. Cheap shared hosting can make a site slow; reliable hosting with backups is worth paying for.
Factor 10: Maintenance and support
After launch, websites need updates, backups, security monitoring and small changes. Ask whether a maintenance plan is included, what it covers, and how small change requests are charged. Unmaintained WordPress sites with outdated plugins are a common security risk.
How to compare website quotes
Ask every agency for an itemised quote that shows:
- Number of pages and what each includes
- Design approach (template, customised theme or custom)
- Platform and who owns accounts, domain and hosting
- Content and images: who provides them
- Features and integrations
- SEO setup included at launch
- Number of revision rounds
- Timeline and payment milestones
- Maintenance and support terms after launch
- Taxes (GST)
If one quote is much cheaper, check what is missing. Often it is content, SEO setup, revisions or ownership of the domain and hosting.
Red flags
- No written scope, only a total price
- Domain or hosting registered in the agency's name
- No access to the admin panel after launch
- "Unlimited pages" with no explanation of content
- No mobile speed testing or SEO setup
- Pressure to pay in full upfront
Phasing your website to control cost
You do not have to build everything at once. Many Indian businesses get better value by launching in phases:
- Phase 1: core pages (home, services, about, contact), WhatsApp and call buttons, basic SEO and analytics.
- Phase 2: detailed service or product pages, a blog, testimonials and case studies, based on the questions customers ask.
- Phase 3: advanced features such as online booking, payments, customer portals or integrations.
Phasing spreads cost, gets you live sooner and lets real customer behaviour guide what you build next.
How DND Teams works
DND Teams designs websites from Bhopal for businesses across India, from local clinics and coaching institutes to manufacturers and e-commerce brands. We give itemised written quotes, build mobile-first sites with SEO foundations, connect forms to WhatsApp and CRM, and hand over full ownership of the domain, hosting and admin accounts. See our website designing services, or our pages for Bhopal, Indore, Delhi and Mumbai. For more on picking an agency, read how to choose a website design company.
Get a custom quote
Working with clients in India, the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE, DND Teams replies with a short written review and a clear quote, with no obligation. Get a custom quote for an itemised website design quote, or message us on WhatsApp at +91 88274 09728.
Not ready for a full project? Start with our Starter landing page for US$299 (one-time, paid in advance). Need more? Get a custom quote. See how our pricing works for what affects your price.
Prices shown are indicative ranges in US dollars and exclude taxes and third-party charges (such as Meta or carrier fees, billed at cost) unless stated. Your price depends on your requirements; get a custom quote for an exact figure. This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects our understanding as of October 2026.