How Much Does a Website Cost ? Complete Pricing Guide

The average cost of a professional business website in India is ₹50,000-₹1,00,000. This includes custom design, 15-20 pages, mobile responsiveness, basic SEO, contact forms, blog section, Google Analytics integration, and 3-6 months support. Basic template websites cost ₹15,000-₹40,000, while e-commerce websites range from ₹1,00,000-₹3,00,000. Custom web applications can cost ₹3,00,000-₹10,00,000+ depending on complexity and features required. According to industry data, 65% of businesses in India invest between ₹50,000-₹1,50,000 for their primary business website.

A 5-page website in India costs between ₹15,000-₹40,000 depending on design quality and features. This typically includes: Home, About Us, Services, Contact, and one additional page (Gallery/Blog/FAQ). Template-based designs cost ₹15,000-₹25,000, while custom designs range from ₹30,000-₹40,000. The price includes mobile responsiveness, contact forms, and basic SEO. Additional recurring costs: domain (₹800-₹1,500/year), hosting (₹3,000-₹8,000/year), SSL certificate (₹2,000-₹5,000/year), and optional maintenance (₹5,000-₹15,000/year). Development timeline is 1-2 weeks for template designs and 2-3 weeks for custom designs.

Freelancers are typically 30-50% cheaper than agencies. A website that costs ₹1,00,000 from an agency might cost ₹50,000-₹70,000 from a freelancer. However, agencies offer advantages worth the premium:

• Team expertise: Designers, developers, SEO specialists, content writers working together
• Reliability: Agencies don’t disappear mid-project or become unavailable
• Quality control: Multiple reviews and testing before delivery
• Support: Dedicated team for ongoing maintenance and updates
• Accountability: Legal contracts, guaranteed timelines, money-back policies
• Scalability: Can handle large projects with multiple developers

Freelancers work best for: Simple projects under ₹50,000, tight budgets, non-critical timelines, personal projects. Agencies work best for: Business-critical websites, complex requirements, need for ongoing support, projects above ₹1,00,000, tight deadlines. At Shivah Web Tech, we offer agency-quality service with transparent pricing. Get a free quote →

E-commerce website development in India costs ₹1,00,000-₹3,00,000 for standard online stores, and ₹5,00,000-₹20,00,000+ for custom marketplaces or complex platforms. Breakdown by platform:

• WooCommerce (WordPress): ₹1,00,000-₹2,00,000 – Best for small to medium stores (up to 1,000 products)
• Shopify: ₹80,000-₹1,50,000 setup + $29-299/month subscription – Easiest to manage
• Magento: ₹2,50,000-₹5,00,000 – For large catalogs (5,000+ products) and high traffic
• Custom development: ₹5,00,000-₹20,00,000+ – Unique features, complete control, unlimited scalability

Includes: Product catalog management, shopping cart, payment gateway (Razorpay/PayU/Paytm), order management system, customer accounts, inventory tracking with low-stock alerts, GST invoicing, shipping integration (Shiprocket/Delhivery), coupon codes, product reviews. Mobile apps: Additional ₹2,00,000-₹5,00,000 for iOS and Android apps.

Recurring costs: Payment gateway fees (2-3% per transaction), hosting (₹15,000-₹60,000/year for e-commerce hosting), maintenance (₹10,000-₹30,000/month), SSL certificate (₹5,000-₹10,000/year), SMS gateway (₹0.20-₹0.50 per SMS). View e-commerce packages →

SEO services in India cost ₹15,000-₹75,000/month depending on competition level and business goals. Most website packages include “basic SEO setup” which covers:

Basic SEO (Free with website): Proper URL structure, meta titles and descriptions, header tag optimization (H1, H2, H3), image alt text, XML sitemap, Google Search Console setup, mobile optimization, fast loading speed, schema markup basics. This won’t rank you competitively but provides a solid foundation.

Professional SEO Services (Separate Monthly Cost):

• Local SEO: ₹15,000-₹25,000/month – Rank in your city for 10-15 keywords, Google Business Profile optimization, local citations
• National SEO: ₹30,000-₹50,000/month – Rank nationally for 20-25 competitive keywords, 8 blog posts/month, link building
• E-commerce SEO: ₹45,000-₹70,000/month – Product page optimization, category pages, 100+ product descriptions, shopping feed optimization
• Enterprise SEO: ₹75,000+/month – Large websites (500+ pages), highly competitive industries, dedicated account manager, unlimited content

What’s included: In-depth keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page optimization, quality content creation, white-hat link building, technical SEO audits, monthly ranking reports, Google Analytics tracking, strategy calls.

ROI expectation: SEO takes 3-6 months to show meaningful results. Businesses typically see 100-300% ROI after 12 months of consistent SEO. It’s a long-term investment that compounds over time. View detailed SEO packages →

Domain and hosting costs in India (annual):

Domain Registration:

• .com domain: ₹800-₹1,500/year (most popular, recommended for businesses)
• .in domain: ₹600-₹1,000/year (good for India-focused businesses)
• .co.in domain: ₹500-₹800/year
• .org domain: ₹1,000-₹1,500/year (for organizations, NGOs)
• .net domain: ₹1,200-₹1,800/year
• Premium domains: ₹10,000-₹10,00,000+ (one-time purchase of aged/valuable domains)

Web Hosting (Based on Traffic):

• Shared hosting: ₹3,000-₹8,000/year – Good for 5,000-10,000 visitors/month, 5-10 GB storage, suitable for small business websites
• VPS hosting: ₹15,000-₹40,000/year – Good for 10,000-50,000 visitors/month, 50-100 GB storage, faster performance
• Cloud hosting: ₹25,000-₹1,00,000/year – Good for 50,000-5,00,000 visitors/month, scalable resources, 99.9% uptime
• Dedicated server: ₹60,000-₹3,00,000/year – For very high traffic (1 million+ visitors/month), complete server control, maximum security

Recommended providers in India: International (better performance): Hostinger, Bluehost, SiteGround. Indian: BigRock, HostGator India, ResellerClub. Most website packages include free domain + hosting for the first year. Pro tip: Register domain for 3-5 years to save 20-30% and show Google you’re committed (slight SEO benefit).

Yes, WordPress websites are 40-60% cheaper than custom-coded websites for standard business needs:

WordPress Website:

• Cost: ₹25,000-₹1,00,000
• Timeline: 2-4 weeks
• Best for: Blogs, business websites, portfolios, simple e-commerce (under 500 products)
• Pros: Affordable, quick setup, easy to update yourself, 60,000+ plugins for features, large community support, SEO-friendly, mobile-responsive themes available
• Cons: Performance issues with complex features, plugin dependency (security risks), limited customization for unique requirements, not ideal for high-traffic sites (100,000+ visitors/month)

Custom-Coded Website:

• Cost: ₹1,50,000-₹10,00,000+
• Timeline: 2-6 months
• Best for: Complex web applications, SaaS platforms, unique functionality, marketplaces, booking systems, high-traffic websites
• Pros: Complete control over every feature, better performance (2-3x faster), highly scalable to millions of users, maximum security, no plugin vulnerabilities, unique competitive advantage
• Cons: Expensive upfront cost, longer development time, requires skilled developers for updates, higher maintenance costs

Recommendation: Use WordPress for 80% of business websites – it handles most needs perfectly. Go custom only when: WordPress can’t handle your unique requirements, you need very high performance (1 million+ monthly visitors), complex business logic required, or you have budget for ₹3,00,000+ investment. We offer both WordPress and custom development →

Website maintenance in India costs ₹5,000-₹30,000/month depending on website complexity and service level. Typical maintenance includes:

Technical Maintenance (Mandatory for security):

• Software updates – WordPress core, plugins, themes (done monthly)
• Security patches and malware scanning (weekly monitoring)
• Website backups – daily/weekly full site backups
• Uptime monitoring – 24/7 server monitoring, 99.9% uptime guarantee
• Bug fixes and error resolution within 24-48 hours
• Broken link checks and fixing
• Speed optimization – ensure loading time under 2 seconds
• Database optimization – clean up and optimize monthly
• SSL certificate renewal and management

Content Updates (Optional but valuable):

• Text changes – up to 10-20 edits per month
• Image uploads and replacements – 5-10 images per month
• New page creation – 1-2 pages per month
• Blog post publishing – formatting, SEO optimization, images
• Product additions for e-commerce – 10-50 products per month
• Menu and navigation updates

Monitoring & Support:

• Google Analytics monthly reporting – traffic, conversions, user behavior
• Performance reports – page speed, SEO health, broken links
• Technical support – email and phone support during business hours
• Consultation calls – 1-2 strategy calls per month
• Priority response time – issues resolved within 6-24 hours

Pricing tiers at Shivah Web Tech:

• Basic (₹5,000/month): Technical updates only, weekly backups, email support
• Standard (₹12,000/month): Everything in Basic + 10 content updates, monthly reports, phone support
• Premium (₹25,000/month): Everything in Standard + unlimited minor updates, priority 6-hour response, SEO monitoring

Important: Without maintenance, websites become outdated, slow, and vulnerable to hacking within 6-12 months. 78% of hacked websites had outdated software. Regular maintenance prevents 99% of security issues. View maintenance packages →

Website development timelines in India vary by complexity:

• Landing page: 3-7 days (single page, simple design, lead capture focus)
• Basic template website: 1-2 weeks (5-10 pages, minimal customization, template-based)
• Professional business website: 3-5 weeks (15-25 pages, custom design, full features, SEO setup)
• E-commerce website: 6-10 weeks (product catalog, payment integration, inventory system, testing)
• Real estate website: 4-6 weeks (property listings, IDX integration, lead capture, maps)
• Custom web application: 3-6 months (complex features, database architecture, API integrations, backend development)

Timeline breakdown (professional business website – 4 weeks):

• Week 1: Discovery call, requirement gathering, competitor analysis, sitemap creation, content planning, wireframes
• Week 2-3: Design mockups (homepage first, then internal pages), client review and feedback, revisions (2 rounds included), design approval
• Week 4: Front-end development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript), WordPress/CMS integration, content upload, functionality testing
• Week 5: Cross-browser testing (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), mobile device testing (iOS, Android), load speed optimization, SEO setup (Analytics, Search Console), client training, go live

Common delays happen when:

• Client doesn’t provide content (text, images) on time – adds 1-2 weeks
• Multiple revision rounds beyond agreed limit – adds 3-7 days per round
• Scope changes mid-project (adding new features) – adds 1-3 weeks
• Payment delays – project paused until payment received
• Slow feedback/approval from client – adds 1-2 weeks

Rush delivery: Available for 50-100% extra cost, but NOT recommended as it compromises quality. Fast-tracked websites often have bugs, poor SEO, and need fixes later. Better to plan properly. At Shivah Web Tech, we guarantee delivery within agreed timeline or you get 10% refund. Start your project →

Yes, you should own 100% of the website including all source code, design files, and content after final payment. This must be clearly stated in your contract. What you own:

• Domain name: Registered in your name/company name (you have full control to transfer or renew)
• Website files: Complete source code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP files) – you can download and move to any hosting
• Design assets: Original design files (PSD/Figma), logos, custom graphics, icons
• Content: All written content, images, videos you provided or we created
• Database: All data – customer information, products, orders, user accounts
• Admin access: Full FTP/cPanel access, WordPress admin, database access

🚩 RED FLAGS – Agencies that retain ownership (AVOID THESE):

• Domain registered in agency’s name (not yours) – you don’t control your own domain
• Hosting controlled by agency with no admin access given to you
• Refuse to provide source code after full payment – holding your website hostage
• Charge monthly “license fees” for your own website – this is a scam
• Threaten to delete website if you stop paying maintenance – blackmail tactic
• Keep design files and refuse to share – you can’t make changes elsewhere

Best practice: Ensure your contract explicitly states: “All intellectual property, including source code, design files, and content, transfers to client upon final payment. Client receives full admin access to domain, hosting, and website.” Get domain admin access (domain registrar login), hosting cPanel/admin access, FTP/SFTP credentials, WordPress admin credentials, database access. If agency refuses ANY of these after full payment, find another provider immediately.

At Shivah Web Tech: We provide complete ownership transfer in writing. Domain registered in YOUR name from day one. Full admin access given after final payment. Source code and design files delivered via Google Drive. You’re free to move to any hosting provider anytime. Get written ownership guarantee →

Yes, you can build a basic website for free using platforms like Wix, WordPress.com, Weebly, or Google Sites. However, “free” has significant limitations that make it unsuitable for serious businesses:

Free website limitations (deal-breakers):

• Subdomain only (yourname.wix.com, not yourname.com) – looks extremely unprofessional, customers won’t trust you
• Platform branding and ads on your site – ruins credibility
• Limited storage (500MB-1GB) – not enough for quality images/videos
• No custom email addresses (info@yourname.com) – must use Gmail, looks unprofessional
• Basic templates only – can’t customize properly, looks generic
• Very limited features – no advanced forms, no payment processing, no real SEO control
• Can’t sell products effectively – no proper e-commerce features
• Platform can shut you down anytime – you don’t own anything
• Terrible for SEO – won’t rank on Google

Minimum costs for “professional-looking” DIY website:

• Custom domain: ₹800-₹1,500/year (mandatory for credibility)
• Premium plan to remove ads + custom domain: ₹3,000-₹10,000/year
• Premium template: ₹2,000-₹6,000 (one-time)
• Stock images (Shutterstock/iStock): ₹3,000-₹10,000
• Email hosting (Google Workspace): ₹1,440-₹6,000/year
• Logo design (Fiverr/Freelancer): ₹2,000-₹8,000
• Total first year: ₹12,000-₹40,000 minimum

Hidden cost – YOUR TIME: Building a quality DIY website takes 40-80 hours if you’re learning (research, design, content writing, SEO setup, troubleshooting). Your time might be worth ₹500-₹2,000/hour running your business. That’s ₹20,000-₹1,60,000 in opportunity cost! Plus, DIY websites often need professional “rescue” within 6-12 months (₹30,000-₹60,000 to fix everything).

Free/DIY works for: Personal blogs, hobby projects, testing an idea for 2-3 months, student portfolios. NOT recommended for: Actual businesses, e-commerce, professional services, anyone who wants to appear credible and get customers.

Better option: Invest ₹50,000-₹75,000 in a professional website that actually works, looks credible, ranks on Google, and converts visitors into customers. ROI is positive within 3-6 months for most businesses. Call us for affordable professional options →

Most professional agencies in India use milestone-based payment structures to protect both client and agency. Common payment terms:

50-50 Model (Most Common for smaller projects):

• 50% advance payment before starting any work (design kickoff)
• 50% upon project completion and client approval (before going live)
• Best for: Projects under ₹1,00,000
• Timeline: Second payment due within 7 days of completion notification

30-40-30 Model (Recommended for most projects) ⭐:

• 30% advance payment (project kickoff, requirements finalized)
• 40% after design approval (mockups approved, before development starts)
• 30% upon final delivery and launch (website live and working)
• Best for: Projects ₹1,00,000-₹5,00,000
• Why it’s best: Fair risk distribution, motivation for both parties, quality checkpoints

25-25-25-25 Model (Large/Complex Projects):

• 25% advance payment (project kickoff)
• 25% after design phase approval
• 25% after development completion (before testing)
• 25% after final testing and launch
• Best for: Projects above ₹5,00,000, 8+ weeks timeline

Custom milestone-based (Enterprise projects):

• Payments tied to specific deliverables (wireframes, design, backend, frontend, testing, launch)
• Typical: 20-30-20-20-10 or similar structure
• Best for: Projects above ₹10,00,000, 3-6 months timeline

🚩 WARNING SIGNS (Avoid these agencies):

• 100% payment upfront demanded – very high risk, agency could disappear or deliver poor quality
• No payment schedule mentioned in contract – leads to disputes later
• Payment only after launch – legitimate agencies won’t accept this (too much risk for them)
• Vague milestone definitions – “after approval” without clear criteria

Payment methods accepted in India: Bank transfer/NEFT/RTGS (most common, no fees), UPI (instant, convenient), Credit card (3-4% processing fee usually added), Cheque (3-5 days clearing time). Important: Always get GST invoice for business expense claims. Keep all payment receipts. Ensure payment terms are in written contract.

At Shivah Web Tech payment structure: 50-50 for projects under ₹75,000, 30-40-30 for ₹75,000-₹3,00,000 projects, custom milestones for larger projects. No work starts without signed contract and advance payment. Final payment must be cleared before website goes live. We issue GST invoices immediately. Start your project with clear terms →

Understanding one-time vs recurring costs is crucial for proper budgeting:

One-Time Costs (Pay Once):

• Website development: ₹25,000-₹10,00,000+ (based on complexity) – Design, development, initial SEO setup, testing, launch
• Custom design work: ₹20,000-₹1,00,000 – Unique layouts, graphics, branding elements
• Logo design: ₹5,000-₹30,000 – Brand identity creation
• Content writing: ₹10,000-₹50,000 – Professional copywriting for entire website
• Photography/videography: ₹20,000-₹2,00,000 – Professional shoots for website
• Premium plugins/themes: ₹5,000-₹20,000 – Lifetime licenses for special features
• Initial SEO audit: ₹10,000-₹30,000 – Comprehensive website analysis
• Payment gateway setup: ₹15,000-₹40,000 – Razorpay, PayU integration

Recurring Costs (Annual – MUST Budget For):

• Domain registration: ₹800-₹1,500/year – Your website address
• Web hosting: ₹3,000-₹60,000/year – Server to store website files
• SSL certificate: ₹2,000-₹10,000/year – Security + SEO requirement
• Email hosting: ₹1,440-₹12,000/year – Professional email (info@yourname.com)
• Premium themes/plugins updates: ₹5,000-₹15,000/year – Keep features working
• CDN service: ₹5,000-₹25,000/year – Fast global loading (optional)
• Backup service: ₹3,000-₹10,000/year – Automatic daily backups

Recurring Costs (Monthly – Optional but Valuable):

• Website maintenance: ₹5,000-₹30,000/month – Updates, security, support
• SEO services: ₹15,000-₹75,000/month – Rank higher on Google
• Content creation: ₹5,000-₹20,000/month – Regular blog posts
• Google Ads: ₹10,000-₹1,00,000+/month – Paid advertising
• Social media marketing: ₹15,000-₹40,000/month – Facebook/Instagram
• Email marketing: ₹3,000-₹10,000/month – Newsletter campaigns

Real Budget Example (Professional Business Website):

• Year 1: ₹75,000 (website) + ₹15,000 (recurring) + ₹1,20,000 (optional marketing) = ₹2,10,000 total
• Year 2+: ₹15,000 (recurring) + ₹1,20,000 (optional marketing) = ₹1,35,000/year

Important: Skipping recurring costs (especially maintenance and security) leads to hacked websites, lost rankings, and eventually paying more to fix issues than you would have spent on maintenance. Budget properly from day one. See our transparent annual cost breakdowns →

Website costs vary 300-500% between agencies due to these factors:

1. Agency Size & Overhead:

• Freelancers: ₹25,000-₹60,000 (low overhead, one person, inconsistent quality)
• Small agencies (5-10 people): ₹50,000-₹1,50,000 (balanced cost-quality)
• Large agencies (50+ people): ₹2,00,000-₹10,00,000+ (high overhead, premium brand, enterprise clients)

2. Experience & Portfolio:

• New agencies (0-2 years): Charge 30-50% less to build portfolio
• Established agencies (5-10 years): Premium pricing, proven track record
• Award-winning agencies: 2-3x higher rates, work with big brands

3. What’s Actually Included:

• ₹20,000 quote: Template installation, stock images, 1-week support
• ₹75,000 quote: Custom design, original content help, 3-month support, SEO, training
• ₹2,00,000 quote: Dedicated team, strategy, custom features, 12-month support, marketing consulting

4. Quality Difference:

• Cheap websites (₹15,000-₹30,000): Generic templates, slow loading, basic features, minimal SEO, looks like 10,000 other sites
• Mid-range (₹50,000-₹1,50,000): Custom design, good performance, proper SEO, professional appearance, converts visitors
• Premium (₹2,00,000+): Unique design, exceptional UX, advanced features, high conversion rate, competitive advantage

5. Support & Maintenance:

• Cheap agencies: 7-15 days support, then you’re on your own
• Good agencies: 3-6 months support, maintenance options available
• Premium agencies: 12 months support, dedicated account manager, priority fixes

6. Technology Stack:

• WordPress template: Cheapest, limited customization
• Custom WordPress: Mid-range, good flexibility
• Custom coded (React/Node.js): Most expensive, maximum control

7. Location:

• Tier 2/3 cities: 20-40% cheaper (lower operating costs)
• Metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore): Standard pricing
• International agencies: 3-5x more expensive than India

Warning: Extremely cheap quotes (₹5,000-₹15,000) usually mean: stolen templates, no support, poor quality, hidden costs later, or agency disappears. If price is too good to be true, it is. Expect to pay ₹50,000-₹1,00,000 for a genuinely professional business website from a reliable agency. This is the “sweet spot” for quality + affordability in India. See what ₹75,000 gets you at Shivah Web Tech →