How much should a care home website cost?

It varies widely, but be wary of the extremes. A very cheap template site rarely earns families' trust or ranks well, while a very expensive build often pays for overheads you don't need. Ask for a clear breakdown of what's included, whether you own the site afterwards, and what ongoing care costs — the total over three years matters more than the headline price.

Do I own my care home website after it's built?

You should. Ask directly who owns the code, the content and the domain name. Some companies keep you locked into their platform so you can't leave without rebuilding from scratch. A good partner makes sure the domain is registered in your name and that you can take your site elsewhere if you ever need to.

Does the website company need to understand the care sector?

It helps enormously. A company that has built for care homes already understands inspection ratings, funding questions, accessibility for an older audience and — in Wales — bilingual sites. That means less time spent explaining your world and fewer expensive mistakes.

Choosing a Care Home Website Company: Questions to Ask

Picking who builds your website is one of those decisions that's easy to get wrong and expensive to undo. Most care providers only do it once every few years, so there's no chance to learn from practice. The good news is that a handful of straight questions will tell you almost everything you need to know — long before any contract is signed. Here's what to ask, and what the answers really mean.

"Have you built for care providers before?"

This is the question that matters most. A company that already works in the care sector understands inspection ratings, funding worries, safeguarding, and an audience that skews older and often anxious. They won't need you to explain why a CIW or CQC rating belongs on the homepage, or why a translate widget isn't the same as a proper bilingual site. Ask to see real examples — not a generic portfolio, but care homes or clinics they've actually launched. If every example is a restaurant or an estate agent, you'll be paying them to learn your world on your budget.

"Will I own the website when it's finished?"

You'd be surprised how often the honest answer is no. Some companies build on a locked platform you can never leave, or register your domain name in their own account so you're tied to them indefinitely. Ask three plain things: who owns the code, who owns the content, and whose name the domain is registered in. The right answer to all three is yours. Ownership isn't a technicality — it's the difference between a supplier you choose to stay with and one you're trapped with.

"What happens after launch?"

A website is not a one-off purchase; it's something that needs looking after. Software updates, security patches, hosting, backups and the occasional content change all continue long after the launch party. Ask exactly what's included after go-live, what it costs, and how quickly they respond when something breaks. Vague answers here are a warning sign. A clear care plan that spells out what's covered — and what isn't — protects you from both surprise bills and a site that quietly rots.

"How will families actually find the site?"

A beautiful website nobody sees is a waste of money. Search visibility is part of the job, not an upsell to worry about later. Ask how they approach local search, page speed and the technical foundations that help you rank — and be cautious of anyone who promises to "guarantee number one on Google", because nobody can. Honest answers about healthcare SEO sound like realistic effort, not magic.

"Does it meet accessibility standards?"

For care, this isn't optional. Your visitors are more likely to have poorer eyesight, less confidence with technology, or be reading on a phone in a stressful moment. A good company builds to WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards as a matter of course — large legible text, strong contrast, and pages that work with a screen reader. If accessibility is treated as an extra you have to ask for, that tells you where their priorities really sit.

The warning signs

Some answers should make you pause. Be wary of a company that can't show care-sector work, won't confirm you own the finished site, is vague about ongoing costs, promises guaranteed search rankings, or quotes a price so low the corners have to be cut somewhere. Cheap-and-fast almost always costs more in the end — in lost enquiries, in a rebuild, or in the quiet damage a dated site does to families' trust.

Trust your gut on the conversation, too

Beyond the checklist, notice how they talk to you. Do they listen and ask about the people you care for, or rush to talk about themselves? Do they explain things plainly, or hide behind jargon? You'll be working with these people for years, and the way they answer these questions is a fair preview of what that partnership will feel like.

This is exactly the way we work with care homes — clear ownership, honest ongoing care, and sites built for the families who use them. If you'd like a second opinion on a quote you've been given, or on your current site, we're always happy to talk it through.

The above is general guidance to help you choose a supplier, not legal or contractual advice — always read any agreement carefully before you sign.

Choosing a care home website company: the questions to ask