How Much Should a Care Home Website Cost?

It's one of the first questions every care home manager asks, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. Quotes can differ wildly for what looks like the same thing. The reason is that "a website" can mean anything from a one-evening template to a carefully built, accessible, fast site that's set up to bring in enquiries. Here's what actually drives the cost, so you can compare quotes sensibly.

Why quotes vary so much

Two websites can look similar on a screen and be completely different underneath. One is built on a heavy template with plugins bolted on; the other is hand-built, fast and tidy. One has your real photographs and carefully written pages; the other has stock images and placeholder text. The visible difference is small. The difference in how many families get in touch is not.

What goes into the price

Planning and structure. Working out what families need to see, in what order, and how the site should guide them to arrange a visit.
Design and build. A custom design that fits your home, built to work well on phones, where most families will first see it.
Content. Writing and editing the pages. This is often the biggest hidden cost, and the part that matters most for trust.
Photography. Real images of your home and people beat stock every time. See our guide to care home photography.
Accessibility and speed. Building to WCAG 2.2 AA and making pages load quickly takes care, and shouldn't be an optional extra.
Bilingual pages. In Wales, a proper Welsh and English site adds work, and is worth doing properly.
Search groundwork. Page titles, structure and local listings so families can find you. Our healthcare SEO work covers this.

The costs after launch

A website isn't finished the day it goes live. It needs hosting, security updates, backups, and someone to make changes when your fees, staff or inspection rating change. Some agencies bury these in small print; others charge for every edit. A fixed, clearly described website care plan keeps this predictable, and means you're never stuck waiting for help.

Red flags in a quote

No breakdown, just a single number with no explanation of what's included.
Unclear ownership of the design, content or domain name.
Nothing about accessibility, speed or mobile performance.
An unusually low price that leaves out content, photography or any search groundwork.
No mention of what happens after launch, or what changes will cost.

Think in terms of return, not cost

A care home website isn't an expense in the same way as a new carpet. Its job is to bring in enquiries. Work out what a single new resident is worth to your home, then consider how many extra visits a good site might bring. Framed that way, the question shifts from "what's the cheapest option?" to "which option will actually fill rooms?" A cheap site that fails to convert can cost far more than a good one that does.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cheap template website good enough for a care home?

It can be a fair starting point for a very small home, but templates tend to be slow, generic and hard to make accessible. They rarely have the trust signals, enquiry path and local search groundwork that turn visitors into visits. Ask what you'd have to add yourself, and what it costs when you do.

Should a care home website be a one-off cost or a monthly fee?

Often both. The build is usually a one-off project, but hosting, security updates, content changes and support are ongoing. A clear care plan with a stated monthly cost is easier to budget for than surprise invoices every time something needs changing.

Who owns the website once it's built?

You should. Make sure the contract says you own the design, content, photography and domain, and that you can take the site elsewhere if you ever want to. Be wary of anything that locks you in.

How do I know if a website is worth what it costs?

Look at what it does for you. Count enquiries and visit bookings before and after, and compare that to the value of a single new resident. A site that brings in even one extra move-in often pays for itself.

We build for care homes and care groups, and we're happy to give you a clear, itemised quote with no surprises. You can also see how we work in our recent projects, or read how to choose a care website company.

How much should a care home website cost? What you're really paying for