Website Costs

What Does a Website from an Agency Cost in 2026

Q: What is a realistic minimum budget for an agency website in 2026?

For a serious collaboration with an agency team, it often starts in the mid-four-figure range . Many market overviews cite starting points for agencies around 5,000 € and more because concept, design, development, and launch need to be covered properly. AgenturFinder If you are significantly below this, you usually get a highly standardized solution, or you have to handle elements like content, SEO, or testing yourself.

Q: How long does a website project typically take?

It depends heavily on the type. Internationally, 2 to 12 weeks are often mentioned for business websites, 4 to 16 weeks for shops – and significantly longer for larger web applications. Digital Information World In our practice, the pure construction time is less crucial than the collaboration: content approvals, coordination, and feedback loops set the real timeline.

Q: Why is an online shop much more expensive than a regular website?

Because a shop doesn’t only have 'pages' but processes: product data, cart, checkout, payment, emails, legal texts, shipping logic, returns. In addition, there are security requirements, monitoring, and often integrations. Many price guides therefore quickly see shops in the five-figure range, sometimes up to 50,000 € and beyond – depending on complexity. HEADON

Q: What does maintenance cost per year – and do I really need it?

Maintenance is not mandatory as a product, but factually mandatory as responsibility. Systems get updates, there are security gaps, browsers change. International surveys often mention 250–1,000 $ per year for small business websites and 1,000–5,000 $ for e-commerce and portals. GoodFirms If you skip maintenance, you save short-term – but increase the risk of outages, data loss, or costly emergency fixes.

Q: Does AI noticeably reduce website costs in 2026?

AI primarily reduces costs for routine work and accelerates iterations. At the same time, requirements for quality (performance, accessibility, compliance) are rising. Therefore, a 'good website' does not automatically become cheap – you get more quality for the same budget . That AI is strongly integrated into the workflow is shown by surveys: A large portion of designers and developers are using AI tools regularly. Webdesigner Depot

Q: Is accessibility an optional add-on or should it be in the budget?

If your website is a serious channel, accessibility should be in the budget. It makes the product more robust, broadens usability, and reduces friction. Since 2025, the topic has also gained focus due to EU regulations (depending on industry and offering, this can also become legally relevant). Practically, it means: more care in design and development, plus tests with keyboard and screen reader. It's effort – but very well-invested effort.

Q: How do I recognize an offer that will become expensive later?

When important transitions are missing: content migration, redirects, consent/tracking, tests, launch support, follow-up care. Or when nowhere does it state how changes are handled. A good offer is not merely 'cheap' or 'expensive.' It is clear : What's in it, what isn’t, what assumptions apply, how quality is ensured.