Whether you need a marketing site, a redesign, or a web app, the same three questions come up: what will it cost, how long will it take, and how do I pick the right team? This guide answers all three — with free calculators and templates so you can get your own numbers.
What it includes · Cost · Timeline · Process · WordPress vs headless · Performance & accessibility · How to hire
What web design & development includes
A proper build is more than visuals: UX and information architecture, visual design, front-end and back-end development, CMS setup so your team can edit, performance optimization, accessibility, SEO-ready structure, analytics, and post-launch support. Skipping the last four is why so many pretty sites don’t convert or rank.
What a website costs
Short answer: $3,000–$75,000+. A simple marketing site runs ~$3k–$15k; a custom business site ~$15k–$40k; e-commerce and web apps more. Cost is driven by the number of unique page templates, design approach, CMS/build choice and special features. Get a range with the Website Cost Calculator, or read the deep-dive: how much a website costs.
How long it takes
Most websites launch in 3–12 weeks — a landing page in days, a marketing site in 3–6 weeks, a larger custom or e-commerce build in 8–12+. The usual bottleneck isn’t code; it’s content. Have copy and assets ready and you’ll ship far faster.
The process
- Discovery — goals, audience, and what the site must actually do.
- UX & IA — structure and page flows before visuals.
- Design — on-brand, conversion-focused templates.
- Build — clean, hand-written code (no bloated page builders), CMS wired for easy editing.
- QA & launch — performance, accessibility, redirects, analytics (see the Website Launch Checklist).
WordPress or headless?
WordPress is usually right for content-led sites — fast to build, easy for your team to edit, and fast when built properly. Headless (Next.js + a CMS) suits app-like, highly custom or performance-critical products. Full comparison: WordPress vs headless.
Performance, accessibility and SEO
Speed and accessibility aren’t nice-to-haves — they affect rankings and conversions. Target green Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS) and WCAG 2.1 AA from the start, and keep URLs and redirects intact if you’re replacing an existing site.
How to hire a web team
Write down goals, scope and must-haves, then brief 3–5 agencies with the same document using the Website Redesign RFP Template, and score them consistently with the Agency Evaluation Scorecard. Ask specifically how they handle performance, accessibility and SEO preservation. See how we work: website design & development.
Go deeper (guides in this series)
- How much does a website cost?
- Website redesign: when, why and how
- WordPress vs headless
- Core Web Vitals explained
FAQ
How much does a website cost?
A simple marketing site runs about $3,000-$15,000; a custom business site $15,000-$40,000; e-commerce and web apps more. Page templates, design, CMS and features drive the price.
How long does it take to build a website?
Most sites launch in 3-12 weeks. Content readiness is usually the bottleneck, not development.
WordPress or a custom build?
WordPress suits content-led sites and easy editing; headless or custom suits app-like, highly custom or performance-critical products.
What makes a website convert?
Clear UX and messaging, fast load (green Core Web Vitals), accessibility, and obvious CTAs – plus analytics so you can improve it.