Cost

What you are likely to get for it

Zero

Nothing. You'll have to build it yourself.  You could use something like Wordpress or Google Sites.

$0-500

Limited number of pages (less than 10). You'll pick from a selection of basic templates. You upload the content yourself.

Unlikely to be any add-ons and reporting may be basic, but you may be able to get plugins to do extra things.  You can setup a Wordpress site with quite a good (purchased) professional template and a domain name for less than $100.00 if you do the work yourself.

Watch for 'includes' that actually have no real value such Search Engine submissions.

$500-1000

Template design but may be more sophisticated, have a selection of nicer designs and/or include extras such as image gallery, contact form.

You can get payment capability but will probably be limited to a Paypal or Google checkout link.  Limited social media integration, say a Facebook status or Twitter feed.

Likely be a limit to the number of pages.

Note: One page sites still have to be designed so aren't necessarily the cheapest!

$1000-1500

Still likely to be template design but may get some degree of customisation or the content may be uploaded for you.

It could include a flash header, image gallery etc.

$1500-2000

May be custom designed if small and/or a simple design required.

Or it will be a pre-built template with options in terms of where the menus are, colour scheme matched to your brand colours, additional modules, extra menus etc.

$2000-5000

You start getting into custom designs or template sites with extra functionality such as payment capability, catalogues, image galleries, contact forms, email marketing modules etc.

Additional functionality or custom imagery will still be extra. Site should be search engine friendly but you could get some element of SEO thinking applied, eg structuring the site architecture around your keyword phrases.

$5000-10000

Start to expect something extra – this may be in the form of copy-writing your content, SEO research and integration into the structure of the site, custom graphics, photography or e-commerce functionality (ie shopping carts and payment processing). May even include limited social media set-up.

Search friendliness, good reporting, ability to add unlimited pages (within storage limits), email marketing modules, additional menu items etc. Should come as part of the package

You may still have to do the actual uploading of content yourself or may be included depending on mix of requirements

$20,000 – 50,000

Will be a fully customised design with variations of the design across the site (eg different layouts for different sections or changing colour scheme). Probably a larger site that requires sizeable project management and collation of content from multiple stakeholders.

The extra cost may be for custom functionality, application development or integration with back-end or third party systems, software licensing costs etc.

Training on CMS, customisation of content management work flows may also be included.

$50,000 plus

As above but bigger (thousands of pages) or more complex in some shape or form.

For large corporate entities this kind of budget is not unusual.

Extras

You will have pay extra for hosting, domain names, secure certificates and payment processing.

The kind of thing that increase costs (sometime significantly) are:

• Paying for a web designer or developer by the hour. You use up their time and it's on your ticket! Usually required for custom or complex projects.

• Any kind of custom functionality (ie code) or integration with other systems that doesn't come 'out of the box'

• Changing your mind about design elements after the build has begun

• Creative eg brand development,custom flash animations and graphics, photography etc

• Content - getting a skilled writer on board is a great idea but will add to the cost

• Migrating content from an old site to a new one

• Any kind of strategic planning and implementation including market research, social media planning, promotion (offline and online), ongoing brand management, SEO etc

• Software licenses for multiple users

• If you want the site to work for people who use TV to browse the web or still use Internet Explorer 6.

These things shouldn't really be extra

Reporting. Google Analytics does take a little bit of time to be set up, but should be included or you should only be charged a minimal cost.

Content Management System (CMS) – most sites are supported by a content management system unless it is a one page campaign micro-site, so having one is 'standard' not 'special'. The cheaper sites may only have very basic update capability

Search Engine submissions are rubbish. If the site is search engine friendly (including an XML sitemap), they will find it.