How much does a website cost - prices, packages, and what's behind them

A professional website from mindmelt is an investment with measurable returns: more enquiries, better rankings, a site that fits your business. No drag-and-drop builder, no template - bespoke development with open-source CMS, solid SEO foundations, and full ownership of the source code. Owner-managed web agency, Frankfurt. Since 2002.

Website builder or professional site - costs compared

At some point, every business faces the same question: €30 a month on a website builder, or a professional site from €3,500? Honest answer: both have their place.

A builder works fine if you need a digital calling card - five pages, opening hours, a contact form. No SEO required, no bespoke design, no integrations.

A professional website is what you need if the site should generate enquiries. If you want to rank on Google. If multiple team members need to manage content. If the design has to reflect your business - not someone else's template.

Three-year cost comparison: a builder costs roughly €1,100 (36 x €30). A professional site starts at €3,900. But the builder won't earn you Google rankings, won't give you source code ownership, and won't give you independence. Switch provider after three years and you start from zero.

3900

from €
Website Starter

200+

Web projects
since 2002

Years'
experience

48h

Hours to
your quote

What does it cost to have a website built?

Website costs depend on four things - not on how many hours the designer clocks.

Factor 1: number of pages. A compact site with 5-8 pages costs less than a corporate site with 30 pages and a careers section. Page count is the single biggest cost driver.

Factor 2: functionality. Blog, multilingual content, API integrations, member login - every feature has a price. What you don't need, you don't pay for.

Factor 3: copy and imagery. Supply your own text and photos and costs drop significantly. If both need creating, that goes on top.

Factor 4: SEO and design. Technical SEO foundations are always included. Ongoing monitoring, content strategy, and link building are separate line items.

Four packages - matched to scope and requirements

Every project is different. These four tiers give you a clear sense of what suits your business.

Compact Website

5-8 pages, bespoke design, CMS back-end, SEO foundations. For start-ups, freelancers, and small businesses. From €3,900 net.

Business Website

10-20 pages, service areas, blog, contact forms. SEO-first architecture. For service businesses and growing companies. From €5,900 net.

Corporate Website

20-40 pages, multiple audiences, careers section, Schema.org, multilingual option. For mid-sized businesses with 10+ staff. From €8,900 net.

Relaunch

Complete rebuild with SEO migration, redirect map, and Search Console monitoring. For businesses with an existing site and rankings to protect. From €11,900 net.

Every price is a fixed price. Every line of code belongs to you.

What does it cost to have a website built?

Compact website up to 10 pages from €3,900 net. Business website with 10-15 pages, blog, and SEO setup from €5,900. Premium website with 20+ pages, multiple target audiences, and Schema.org from €8,900. Enterprise projects with extensive content and integrations from €11,900. All prices are fixed prices.

Can I manage the website myself after launch?

We use an open-source CMS with a German-language back-end. After a short handover session, you can manage text, images, and news yourself. No monthly licence fees. No subscription. The source code is yours - switch agencies or develop in-house whenever you like.

What has the biggest impact on website costs?

The three biggest cost drivers are page count, functionality, and whether you're supplying copy or need it written. Then there's SEO depth: technical foundations are always included - ongoing monitoring and content strategy are separate. Rule of thumb: the earlier you define scope, copy, and imagery, the more accurately you can budget.

Are there ongoing costs after launch?

There are no ongoing fees. No subscription, no licence costs, no maintenance contract. Hosting runs €5 to €30 a month depending on provider - you can manage that yourself or we can handle it. Any technical support after launch is billed by time.

Will my website rank on Google?

Yes. Every mindmelt website is built with solid SEO foundations: clean URLs, meta tags, Schema.org markup, fast load times, mobile optimisation. Ongoing SEO - content strategy, link building, ranking monitoring - is available as a separate package.

Does mindmelt use builders like Wix or Squarespace?

No. mindmelt is an agency, not a builder platform. We build bespoke websites: bespoke design, bespoke CMS, bespoke code. You don't get a template that looks like 10,000 others - you get a site built around your business, which you own outright.

Transparent on pricing from day one

mindmelt gives you prices in the first conversation - not after three rounds of scoping. Every quote is a fixed price. What it says is what gets delivered. No hourly rate surprises.

Over 200 web projects since 2002. Experience shows: website costs are easy to pin down when scope, functionality, and copy availability are clear from the start.

Phone: 069 21936250 ·

Get in touch

Initial consultation - free and no obligation

30 minutes is enough. We'll work out what you need and tell you straight what it costs. You'll have a written fixed-price quote within 48 hours.

Call 069 21936250

Case study: trade business, Frankfurt

Starting point: Electrical contractor with 12 staff. No website - just a Google Business Profile. Enquiries came through word of mouth and the Yellow Pages.

What we built: Compact site with 7 pages. Services, reference photos, contact form with callback option. Open-source CMS, SEO foundations targeting 5 service keywords. Mobile-first.

Results after 4 months: 3 keywords in the Google Top 10 for Frankfurt. 8-12 enquiries per month through the website. Load time 1.4 seconds.