Most independent consultants need less website than they think. A clear site of five to ten pages will do, and that can cost anything from about £100 a year on a DIY builder to £1,500 from a freelancer. Agencies start around £2,000 to £3,000 and go far higher.
A consultant's site usually isn't there to pull in strangers. I'd expect most of your visitors to have your name already, from a referral or a LinkedIn post. They've come to check you're real. So the job is to confirm the recommendation, not to win someone from scratch.
A stake to declare: we sell websites, at prices above the cheapest routes. Both are set out below, along with the cases where you should go cheaper.
What you'd pay
- A DIY builder runs to about £100 to £350 a year, plus your evenings.
- A freelancer's brochure site is often £500 to £1,500, though one agency puts freelancers far higher.
- Agency: from about £2,000 regionally to £30,000 or more.
- Judge every route over three years, and make sure the domain's in your name.
- If most of your work comes from people who already know you, spend on proof, not pages.
What the published prices say
Most of these figures come from businesses that sell websites or earn from recommending them. Sources disagree, especially on freelancers, so treat them as guides.
| Route | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder | £100 to £350 a year all-in | ExpertSure |
| Wix | From £9 a month billed annually | Wix, accurate as of 13 July 2026 |
| Squarespace | From £12 a month | ExpertSure |
| Freelancer, basic site | £500 to £1,500 | ExpertSure |
| Web designer, basic site | £300 to £1,000 | Startups.co.uk |
| Freelancer, general | £2,000 to £6,000 | Webpop Design, an agency |
| SME site | £2,000 to £5,000 | ExpertSure |
| Regional agency | £2,000 to £8,000 | ExpertSure |
| Agency, full design and build | £3,000 to £30,000 or more | ExpertSure |
| Domain renewal | £10 to £15 a year | ExpertSure |
| Freelancer upkeep | £50 to £150 a month | ExpertSure |
Note the spread on freelancers: from £300 at one end to £6,000 at the other. Ask what's really included, especially the writing, because that's what a consultant's site lives or dies on.
Our prices
| Size | Monthly | Set-up | Annual, no set-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 15 pages | £99 | £500 | £990 |
| Up to 20 pages | £149 | £750 | £1,490 |
| Up to 40 pages | £199 | £1,000 | £1,990 |
Our prices exclude VAT. There's no minimum term on monthly billing. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee, and if you use it, the site comes down. A brand-new page later is £150.
Three years on
A low first bill can hide a high running cost, so here's each route over 36 months, before your own time. Ours exclude VAT. Wix's page doesn't say, and freelancers vary.
| Route | Sums | Three-year cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wix at £9 a month, billed annually | £9 × 36 | £324 |
| Squarespace at £12 a month | £12 × 36 | £432 |
| Freelancer at £1,500, plus £15 a month for hosting and upkeep | £1,500 + £540 | £2,040 |
| Ours, up to 15 pages, annual billing | £990 × 3 | £2,970 |
| Ours, up to 15 pages, monthly billing | £500 + (£99 × 36) | £4,064 |
| Regional agency at £3,500, plus £50 a month | £3,500 + £1,800 | £5,300 |
The £15 and £50 a month upkeep figures, and the £3,500 agency price, are my assumptions. The agency sum uses the low end of published upkeep. Real costs depend on who makes your changes.
So why would anyone pay more than Wix? Because a site you never update tells a buyer you've stopped trying. We include unlimited updates within 48 business hours, hosting, lead forms and a set-up that lets you add chat or booking later. If you're happy making your own changes, Wix or Squarespace is a fair choice, and I'd say so to your face.
There's also a point about ownership. Ours is a website as a service: we host it and make your changes while your plan runs. After 24 months of payments, you can take the code free of charge. Before then, you can buy it out. If you leave and don't buy it, the site comes down.
What a consulting website has to prove
A buyer on your site is asking four questions. Can you solve my problem? Have you done it before? Are you safe to hire? What happens next?
- A headline that says who you help and with what. Not "helping you reach your potential".
- Two or three case studies with the problem, what you did and what changed, with permission.
- Your name, your face and your background. People hire a person.
- Real testimonials, with evidence on file. The ad rules (CAP Code rules 3.47 and 3.50) expect you to hold proof and permission.
- A starting price or range, if you can bear it.
- Any credentials you really hold. Only use "Chartered Management Consultant" if you do.
- A way to book a call, on every page.
- Your privacy notice, and your company details if you're limited.
Watch your claims too. If you sell to businesses, the rules on misleading business advertising apply. "We add 20% to your profit" needs evidence behind it, and it's a bold thing to say when results depend on the client. Saying what happened on one named project is safer and more believable. Using a client's logo may need permission as well, so check your contract and NDA.
I'd rather have one honest case study than ten logos. A list of famous names you worked for inside a big consultancy can also mislead. If the work was your employer's, say so.
What to check before you sign
- Who owns the domain? Insist on your name or your company's.
- What happens when you leave? Ask if you keep the site, the content and the images.
- How long are you tied in, and what notice do you give?
- How quickly do changes happen, and how many does the fee cover?
- Is VAT included?
- Who writes the words? A designer can't write your positioning.
- Do you get proof it's working, such as form enquiries and booked calls?
When ours is the wrong buy
Plenty of consultants shouldn't buy a site from us.
- If all your work comes from people who know you, a three-page site and a strong LinkedIn profile are enough.
- If you're just starting and short of cash, use Wix or Squarespace. Spend your first money on insurance and a contract.
- If you enjoy this kind of thing, DIY is a good way to learn how to describe your offer.
- If you're a larger consultancy with complex needs, a good agency may suit you better.
Spend more when strangers are finding you and leaving, or when a tired site is costing you bigger clients.
Questions consultants ask
Does a consultant need a website if they have LinkedIn?
You can get work without one. But you don't control LinkedIn, and a profile can't hold proper case studies. A short site makes you look established, so I'd have both.
How many pages does a consultant's website need?
Five to ten: home, what you do, case studies, about, contact, and maybe a page for each main service. Don't let anyone sell you 40, us included.
Should I put my fees on my website?
I'd show a starting price or range. It saves wasted calls and builds trust. If you can't bring yourself to do that, describe how you charge.
What does "AI-ready" mean?
For us, it means chat or booking can be added later without a rebuild. Make any provider define the term.
Can I use my old employer's clients as proof?
Be careful. Say it was your employer's work, keep to what's public, and check your confidentiality terms.
David Bell, founder of Real Business Systems
David helps small UK businesses get found, answer every enquiry and keep customers coming back. We sell some of the services mentioned here, and we say so where they come up.
Sources
- ExpertSure, website design costs (verified October 2026)
- Startups.co.uk, how much does a website cost? (23 March 2026)
- Webpop Design, website costs (9 September 2026, vendor)
- Wix, best website builders UK (accurate as of 13 July 2026)
- ASA, testimonials and endorsements (21 September 2026)
- Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008, regulation 3
- Regulated professions register, Chartered Management Consultant
Prices and rules change. Check the source before you rely on a figure. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.