If you've been quoted anything between £500 and £5,000 for a trade website recently, you're not alone. The range is baffling — and most tradespeople have no idea what they're actually paying for, or whether they're getting ripped off.
I've spent years working in and around the trades, and I hear the same thing constantly: "I know I need a website but I don't know where to start." This guide breaks down every option — honestly, with no sales spin — so you can make the right call for your business.
The four main options for a trade website
When it comes to getting your trade business online, you've essentially got four choices. Each one comes with a very different price tag, and a very different result.
Drag-and-drop website builders like Wix and Squarespace look appealing because they're cheap and you're in control. In reality, most tradespeople spend a weekend on it, end up with something that looks a bit rough, and abandon it.
Hiring a freelancer can get you a decent-looking site, but there's a lot of variability. Some freelancers are brilliant; others will take your money and disappear. The bigger issue is that once it's built, you're on your own — updates, hosting and security are your problem.
A local agency quote for a trade website is usually somewhere between "ouch" and "I nearly fell off my ladder." You get a proper team, a project manager, and a polished result — but the cost is hard to justify for a sole trader or small trade business.
This is a newer model specifically designed for tradespeople. You pay a fixed monthly fee, get a professionally designed and built website, and everything — hosting, security, updates — is handled for you. No upfront cost, no contract.
What's a realistic budget for a trade website?
Here's an honest summary of what you can expect at different price points:
| Option | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wix / Squarespace DIY | Basic template, you build and manage it yourself | £15–40/mo |
| Freelancer | Custom build, you manage everything after | £500–2,000 upfront |
| Local Agency | Professional build, expensive, not trade-specific | £1,500–5,000+ upfront |
| Hyperlinked | Trade-specific, fully managed, SEO included | From £19/mo |
The honest truth: A cheap website that nobody finds is worth nothing. The price you pay matters far less than whether the site is properly set up on Google, loads fast on mobile, and has a clear call to action. A £19/mo site that ranks locally and generates enquiries is worth more than a £2,000 site that just sits there.
What should a trade website actually include?
Whatever option you go for, make sure your trade website has these essentials:
- A click-to-call button — your phone number should be the easiest thing to find on the page, especially on mobile
- A contact form — not everyone wants to ring, give them the option to message you
- Your service area — be specific about where you work so Google knows who to show you to
- Photos of your work — genuine photos build trust instantly, more than any amount of copy
- Basic SEO — your page title, description and headings need to include the words people actually search for
- Mobile-first design — over 70% of people searching for tradespeople do it on their phone
Does a trade website actually generate leads?
Yes — but only if it's done properly. A website that's not set up on Google, loads slowly, or doesn't have a clear contact button won't generate many leads. A well-built, SEO-optimised site for a tradesperson in a specific area absolutely can and does pull in enquiries consistently.
Think of it this way: if someone in your town searches "plumber near me" or "electrician in Mansfield", they're ready to book. If your website shows up, looks professional and is easy to contact — you're in with a very strong chance. If you're not online at all, that enquiry goes to someone else.
Is it worth paying monthly or better to pay once?
This depends on what you want. A one-off build from a freelancer gives you full ownership — but you're also fully responsible for everything that happens afterwards. Hosting, security updates, fixing things when they break, and making changes all cost time and money on top.
A managed monthly subscription means someone else handles all of that. For most tradespeople who want to focus on the job — not on website maintenance — a monthly managed service makes a lot more practical sense, especially when the cost is less than a tank of fuel.
Ready to getproperly online?
From £19/mo, no upfront cost, no contract. I build your trade website, handle the hosting and keep it updated — you get on with the job.
See Plans & PricingThe bottom line
A trade website doesn't need to cost the earth. What it does need is to be found on Google, look professional on a phone, and make it dead easy for someone to get in touch with you. Whether you spend £19 a month or £2,000 upfront, those three things are what actually generate work.
If you're a sole trader or small trade business just getting started online, a managed subscription service built specifically for trades is almost certainly your best starting point. Low risk, no upfront cost, and you can always upgrade or change direction later.
