Ask three web designers in Kenya for a quote and you may get three very different numbers. That is not because someone is overcharging: "a website" can mean anything from a single page with your contact details to an online shop that takes M-Pesa payments and manages stock. The trick is knowing what you are paying for.
What affects the price of a website
- Number of pages and sections. A five-page business website (Home, About, Services, Gallery, Contact) is a very different job from a 30-page site with a blog and team profiles.
- Design approach. A customised design built around your brand takes more time than adapting a ready-made theme, but it helps you stand out from competitors using the same template.
- Features. Online booking, e-commerce, M-Pesa or card payments, customer accounts, multiple languages and integrations with other systems all add development and testing time.
- Content. If you already have good photos and written text, the project moves faster. If you need copywriting, product photography or a logo, budget for that separately.
- Search visibility. Basic SEO setup (page titles, descriptions, a sitemap, Google Business Profile links) should be standard. Ongoing SEO and content work is a separate service.
The running costs people forget
The design and build is a one-off cost, but every website also has a few recurring ones. Make sure your quote tells you who pays for these and when they are due:
- Domain name (for example yourbusiness.co.ke), renewed every year through a registrar.
- Hosting, the server space where your website lives, usually billed monthly or yearly.
- SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser). Many hosts now include a free one, so you should rarely need to pay extra.
- Maintenance and support for updates, backups, security and small content changes after launch.
“ The cheapest website is rarely the one with the lowest quote. It is the one that keeps working, brings in enquiries and does not need rebuilding in a year. ”
How to compare quotes fairly
When you receive quotes, check that they cover the same things. Ask each provider:
- How many pages and which features are included?
- Will the website work well on mobile phones? (Most of your visitors will be on one.)
- Who owns the domain, hosting account and website files when the project is finished?
- How many rounds of changes are included before launch?
- What happens after launch: is there support, and what does it cost?
A clear, itemised quote is a good sign. If a price looks very low, check what has been left out, such as hosting, mobile optimisation or any support after launch.
Getting an accurate price for your business
At SBG Creative we quote each project individually because every business needs something slightly different. After a short conversation about your goals we send a clear proposal covering scope, timeline, costs and running costs, with no surprises later. Request a quote and tell us what you have in mind.
