What does a website cost in Switzerland? An honest price comparison

«What does a website cost?» is the most common question small businesses ask us — and the honest answer is: it depends on how you count. A CHF 3,000 quote can end up costing more than a CHF 6,000 one once hosting, maintenance and later changes are added. This article breaks down the three usual routes honestly — over five years, not just on day one.

The short answer

In Switzerland, small businesses typically pay for a professional website:

• Classic agency: CHF 1,500 to CHF 8,000 one-off, plus ongoing hosting and maintenance.
• Website builder (DIY): CHF 0 to CHF 500 to start, then CHF 15 to CHF 40 per month — plus your own time.
• Website subscription: no upfront cost, a fixed monthly rate from CHF 60 that already includes design, hosting and maintenance.

The key point: it is not the starting price that matters, but what the website costs over its whole life — and who does the work.

Three routes to a website — and what they cost

1. The classic web agency

An agency builds you a bespoke website. The result is often good, but the road there costs: for a small business, one-off costs usually range from CHF 1,500 to CHF 8,000 depending on scope. On top come the items many quotes print small — hosting, SSL, maintenance and every later change billed by the hour.

Good for: businesses with a clear upfront budget who are happy to organise maintenance themselves later.

2. The website builder (DIY)

With a builder like Wix or Squarespace you build the site yourself. It is cheap to buy — but your time is not free. Realistically you invest several days in setup, copy and images, and the result quickly looks like a template. The biggest hidden cost is upkeep: every change stays with you, alongside the day job.

Good for: those who are technically confident, enjoy tinkering and have the time.

3. The website subscription

With the subscription model you pay no upfront cost but a fixed monthly rate — and someone else handles design, copy, hosting and ongoing care. At Werkwave the website subscription starts at CHF 60 per month, the site is live in ten working days, and changes are included without limit.

Good for: businesses that want predictable costs, have no time for upkeep and still need a professional, well-maintained website.

The honest comparison: total cost over five years

A website rarely lives just one year. Only across the full lifespan does the true cost of a model become visible. For a small business, the maths looks roughly like this:

• Agency: CHF 1,500 to CHF 8,000 upfront, plus hosting and maintenance by the hour. Over five years, roughly CHF 4,000 to CHF 13,000 — with little of your own time.
• Builder: CHF 0 to CHF 500 to start, then CHF 180 to CHF 480 per year. Over five years, roughly CHF 1,000 to CHF 3,000 — but a lot of your own time.
• Subscription: no upfront cost, from CHF 60 per month. Over five years, from CHF 3,600 — design, hosting and maintenance included, none of your time.

The numbers are guides — the point is the pattern, not the last decimal.

The hidden costs that are easily forgotten

When comparing quotes, ask specifically about: hosting and domain, the SSL certificate, maintenance and updates, search-engine visibility (check yours free with our website check), and your own working time — the most underestimated cost of all.

Which fits your business?

There is no single right answer — only the one that fits your situation. Budget upfront and someone for upkeep? An agency can pay off. Technically fit with time to spare? A builder is the cheapest route. Want predictable costs, no effort and still quality? Then the subscription is made for you.

Conclusion

The question is not «what does a website cost?» but «what will it cost me over five years — and who does the work?». Answer both honestly and you will make a better decision than by looking at the starting price alone.