How Much Does a Brochure Website Cost: Real Prices by Formula
A brochure website costs between 0 euros (very limited no-code) and 5000 euros for standard custom creation, with a common rate of 1500 to 3000 euros at an agency or with a freelancer for a 5 to 8-page site. At VeryAppi, the subscription plan offers this same type of site for 99 euros excl. VAT per month, all-inclusive, with no creation fee and no separate billing for later changes. The price gap between options depends less on the technology, which is simple for a brochure site, than on what's included after delivery.
The trap of the displayed price without the rest
The brochure website is the most common type of site and, paradoxically, the one where price comparisons are the most misleading. A 1200-euro quote and a 4000-euro quote for "the same" brochure site almost never cover the same scope: actual number of pages, content writing included or not, hosting covered, maintenance and changes included or billed on each request.
The typical problem plays out in two stages. First, the client compares only the initial invoice amount and picks the cheapest option. Then, six months later, every small change (swapping a photo, adding a business hour, fixing a typo) generates a new invoice, and the total over a year far exceeds the option that seemed more expensive at first but included these adjustments.
What actually makes up the price of a brochure website
Graphic design. A slightly adapted generic template costs less than a visual identity custom-built from an existing logo and brand guidelines, or created from scratch.
The number of pages and their content. A 5-page site with text already written by the client requires much less work than a 12-page site where all the content must be written by the provider.
Additional features. A simple contact form, an interactive map, a photo gallery, a customer reviews module: each addition, even a technically simple one, takes development and testing time.
Hosting. Often forgotten in the displayed price, it nonetheless represents a real recurring cost, between 5 and 50 euros per month depending on the solution chosen.
Maintenance and future changes. This is what most distinguishes offers over time: some providers deliver the site and stop there, others include ongoing follow-up and regular changes.
No-code, freelance, agency, subscription: the four paths
Self-managed no-code (a free site builder or one costing a few euros a month) works for testing an idea or a personal project with no budget. The limits are real: a domain name that's often generic at first, customization limited to available templates, little to no technical support if something goes wrong, and sometimes a less professional image compared to better-presented competitors.
A freelancer generally offers lower rates than an agency for equivalent work, since their overhead is lower. Quality and reliability vary enormously from one profile to another: check previous work and follow-up terms after delivery carefully.
A standard agency typically charges 20 to 40% more than a freelancer for the same service, in exchange for a more stable structure (several people, lower risk of the provider disappearing) and sometimes more thorough support upfront.
An all-inclusive subscription changes the model: no creation invoice to pay upfront, a fixed monthly rate that includes hosting and changes, and a standardized go-live timeline thanks to a repeated process across similar business verticals. The trade-off is a more structured framework, less suited to a very atypical need outside the covered verticals.
Calculating the real cost over two years, not just at the start
The price displayed at signing tells only part of the story. To seriously compare two options, you need to project the cost over a realistic usage period, generally two years for a brochure site that evolves gradually with the business.
Take a concrete example. A 2000-euro site from an agency, with no maintenance included, with changes billed at 80 euros each. If the business adjusts its content once a month on average (new service, hours change, updated photos), that represents about 960 euros of changes per year, or 1920 euros over two years on top of the initial price. Total cost then reaches nearly 4000 euros.
By contrast, a 99-euro-excl.-VAT-per-month subscription with changes included comes to about 2400 euros over two years, with no surprises or extra invoice for each adjustment. This calculation doesn't mean the subscription is always the best option: if the site never changes once live, the one-off agency payment often remains more economical over time. What matters is doing this calculation before choosing, rather than relying solely on the amount displayed first.
Questions to ask before signing
Before committing, a few simple questions help avoid most of the unpleasant surprises seen after the fact:
- Does the price include content writing, or do I need to supply text that's already ready?
- How much does a text, photo, or hours change cost once the site is live?
- Is hosting included, and for how long at the quoted rate?
- Who remains the owner of the domain name and the site's source code?
- What is the actual go-live timeline, and what happens in case of delay?
Asking these questions before signing rather than after a disagreement avoids most of the disputes seen between clients and providers on this type of project.
Price table by plan
| Plan | Budget | Typical timeline | Changes after delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-managed no-code | €0 to €20/month | A few days | Do it yourself, no limit but tied to the imposed tool |
| Freelance | €800 to €3000 | 2 to 8 weeks | Often billed separately, variable rate |
| Standard agency | €1500 to €5000 | 2 to 6 weeks | Billed per item in most cases |
| Subscription (VeryAppi) | €99 excl. VAT/month | 7 days | Included, no separate billing |
Key takeaways
- The price of a brochure website mainly varies according to what's included after delivery, not the technical complexity of building it.
- A low quote with no maintenance included can end up costing more than a subscription over a period of one to two years.
- Free no-code is an honest option for zero budget, as long as you accept its customization and support limits.
- A serious freelancer generally charges less than an agency for comparable results, but availability risk (illness, another project) should be anticipated.
- Systematically check whether hosting and changes are included before comparing two quotes on their initial amount alone.
Conclusion
The right budget for a brochure website depends less on the price displayed upfront than on the real cost over time, once changes and hosting are factored in. If you're looking for a fixed rate with no surprises, no upfront creation fee, and changes included, VeryAppi's subscription website plan is built precisely for this use case, with a site delivered in 7 days.
Frequently asked questions
›What budget should I plan for a professional brochure website?
Expect 1500 to 5000 euros at an agency or with a freelancer for custom creation with no subscription, or 99 euros excl. VAT per month all-inclusive with VeryAppi (hosting and changes included, no creation fee). A free no-code tool remains an option for zero budget, with customization limits.
›Why can a simple brochure website cost 5000 euros at an agency?
The price doesn't reflect technical complexity, which is low for a brochure site, but the time spent on custom graphic design, content writing, review rounds, and the agency's overhead costs. The same site can cost half as much with a freelancer or a standardized subscription.
›Is hosting included in the price of a brochure website?
This depends entirely on the provider. Many agencies and freelancers bill hosting separately, between 10 and 50 euros per month, or leave you to manage it yourself. Always check this point before comparing two quotes, as it changes the real cost over the year.
›How much do changes cost after the site goes live?
This is the most commonly underestimated item. At a standard agency, a text or photo change can be billed between 50 and 150 euros per request. A plan with changes included in the subscription avoids this repeated billing.