What determines the cost of a WordPress website?
Page count is only part of the estimate. Design, reusable layouts, data structure, features, and the content available all affect the work involved. To compare estimates, first compare what they include.
Evgeny Glushko · WordPress development since 2017
Unique pages and reusable layouts
Ten service pages using one layout and ten pages with different layouts involve different amounts of work. It is more useful to list the types of pages you need: home, service, catalog, item details, article, and contact.
You also need to decide which parts you will edit yourself. Updating a text field and managing related catalog specifications require different administration tools.
Design and visual starting point
With a Figma design, the estimate covers implementing the finished layouts, including responsive behavior, element states, and interactions. With a template, it covers choosing and adapting blocks to suit your content and structure.
A custom design is not automatically included in development. I work from supplied designs or an existing visual starting point. The differences are explained in the article on templates and finished designs.
Features and integrations
A standard form, specification filters, a custom calculator, and two-way data exchange are different tasks. For an integration, we need to establish what data moves, where it comes from, and what happens if something fails.
For example, Kivilab includes shortlists, PDF export, and spreadsheet synchronization. For the outdoor advertising project, I developed a multi-step calculator. These features cannot be estimated by counting website pages alone.
Content and initial population
Before starting, we establish who will prepare the text, photographs, documents, and catalog data. A structured spreadsheet is a different starting point from information scattered across individual files.
Building an item page template and populating hundreds of items are separate tasks. An import also requires data checks, field mapping, and image handling. The estimate should specify the initial content included.
External costs and ongoing work
Domains, hosting, paid themes, plugins, and external services may involve separate fees and renewals. Identify them before the project starts. The owner should retain the accounts and rights associated with them.
After launch, you may need updates, backups, and new features. Development does not automatically include indefinite maintenance. For recurring tasks, we can agree on a separate support scope.
How to get comparable estimates
Describe your business, the purpose of the website, page types, features, and available content. Attach a design or examples. For an existing website, include a link and a list of changes.
A proposal should make the deliverables, stages, cost, timeline, client materials, and acceptance process clear. My initial estimate is free. If an accurate assessment requires a detailed review of an existing project, we discuss its terms first.
Why there is no single price for every website
A template-based landing page, a company website, and a catalog with integrations involve different work. A single figure without a defined scope can set the wrong expectations.
We first choose the format, then estimate the specific scope. This helps align the budget with the task and decide which features belong in the first version and which can follow after launch.
A practical example
Viking is a project where the main work involved adding features to an existing website.
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Tell me about your project
Describe the website you need or what you would like to change. I will provide a free initial estimate of the work and cost. A detailed brief is not required.