Building a website for your printing business is one of the most critical steps toward establishing a professional online presence. A well-designed, functional website acts as the face of your business and plays a central role in attracting customers, processing orders, and managing your operations.

When you begin your journey, one of the first questions that will come to mind is: How much does it really cost to build a website for a printing business? The truth is that the costs can vary widely depending on several factors, such as how you choose to build the website, the level of customization required, and the features you need.

In this article, we will explore the main approaches to website creation for your printing business, provide a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of each method, and give a comprehensive cost breakdown to help you understand what you can expect to pay. Whether you are starting a T-shirt printing business, offering custom prints, or expanding an established brand, knowing your website’s costs is crucial for effective financial planning.

3 options to build your website and its pros and cons

Do it yourself (DIY)

If you are wondering "How much it does cost to build a website" for a printing business, then DIY is kind of an affordable option.

DIY is always an effective way for building a printing website, especially for those who have already experienced and knowledge about creating websites. However, this approach might be worth trying when it comes to a simple website. However, if you are planning to build a complex website with high functionality such as payment shipment integrations, it can be challenging and might require several skills to handle it.

Pros:

• Affordable: If you have a tight budget, the DIY is a great approach
• Learning Opportunity: You have a chance to test different ideas and learn more about website development. You'll expand your skills
• Control: Full control over the design and functionality of your website
• Flexibility: You get to work at your own pace

Cons:

• Time-Consuming: The process of creating a website might be time-consuming (and time is money), which can be costly if you have other business priorities.
• Limited Functionality: If you lack technical skills, you may struggle to implement advanced features, such as payment processing or shipping integrations.
• Risk of Poor Quality: Your website might look amateur and the quality of the website might be lower than the desired standard, potentially affecting your brand's image.

How much will it cost?

A DIY website for a printing business can cost between $200 and $500 upfront, covering domain name registration, shared hosting, and a premium theme. Ongoing costs will include hosting fees ($50 - $100/month), SSL certificates (free with most hosting providers, but premium options can cost up to $200/year), and premium plugins (around $60/year).

Hire an independent professional

When it comes to creating a business website, hiring an independent professional is often one of the best ways to go. They have extensive experience in creating websites for any kind of business, which means that they have the ability to set up a custom website that meets your requirements. Also, they can suggest features that could help you improve the operations of the website. And, if something goes wrong, they are responsible for solving that issue, not you. However, if you are wondering how much does it cost to have a website when hiring an independent professional agency, then the answer is it's more expensive than doing it on your own.

Pros:

• Professional Quality: You'll get a well-designed, functional website that meets your specific needs.
• Saves Time: Professional developers can build the site much faster than you can.
• Customization: Developers can provide unique features that align with your brand and business goals.
• Ongoing Support: You can contact the developer if anything goes wrong with your site.

Cons:

• Higher Cost: The cost of hiring a professional is significantly higher than doing it yourself, with hourly rates typically between $20 to $80/hour depending on the freelancer's location and expertise.
• Less Control: If you want full control over your website's development and changes, you may find it challenging to rely on an external professional.
• Portfolio Evaluation: It's essential to thoroughly review their previous work to ensure quality and reliability.

How much will it cost?

Freelancers typically charge between $20 and $80 per hour. A custom-built website for a small to medium-sized printing business could range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on complexity and functionality. For more specialized websites with custom features like order management and design tools, you could expect costs to rise. Experienced freelancers charge you anywhere between $20 and $80 per hour, depending on their expertise and location. Freelancers in Europe, the US, UK can charge you at least $40 per hour, while freelancers in Asia such as Vietnam, India, and China can charge you anywhere between $20 and $40 per hour.

Use an agency

If you want a professional website that offers advanced design and functionality, hiring a website development agency is the most comprehensive solution. Agencies provide end-to-end services, including design, development, marketing, and ongoing support, ensuring your site not only looks good but functions well for your business needs. Collaborating with a professional website means that you have everything you need in your hands.

Pros:

• Expertise and Resources: Agencies have a team of experts with specialized knowledge in different areas of website development, more likely to be up to speed on trends and technologies, ensuring high-quality results.
• Comprehensive Services: In addition to website creation, agencies often provide marketing, SEO, and maintenance services. It’ll be cost-effective if you purchase package deals. Many agencies would offer discounts or promotion programs if their customers buy more services.
• Time-Efficiency: An agency can complete your project faster than freelancers or DIY approaches.
• Security: Agencies offer professional, secure services with legal contracts, so you don't have to worry about sudden service interruptions. Besides, they have their own reputation, which means that they’ll strive hard to live up to their reputation.

Cons:

• High Cost: Agencies are often the most expensive option. Costs can range from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on the project’s complexity.
• Possible Delays: Large agencies may have multiple projects on their hands, which could delay your project.
• Less Flexibility: If you want to make changes after the website is built, it may be more difficult and expensive with an agency.

How Much Will It Cost?

The cost of hiring an agency can range from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on the complexity of the project. For a typical small-to-medium-sized printing website, expect costs between $10,000 to $35,000.

How much does it cost to create a printing website (Full Breakdown)

Let’s go over some factors that can be associated with setting up every aspect of the website. Let's check out 

Category	Price	More Info
Domain name	$10 per year	Required for your website’s address (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com).
Hosting	$100-$500	The cost of hosting depends on traffic and hosting services. Companies like BlueHost or HostGator charge around $100 per year for standard web hosting and  WPengine or SiteGround charges around $300-$500 per year.
SSL Certificate	Costs range from $10/year to $200-$300 per year	Most website hosting providers usually offer a free SSL certificate when you choose to host your site with them
Website Template or Theme	$57.54/month	If you want to run your printing business effectively, we would like to recommend you to check out these themes and essential yet powerful plugins PrintShop, NB Designer, Yoast SEO, UpdraftPlus, WP-Optimize, WPForms, Elementor
Premium plugins	$50-$500	Essential plugins for functionality (payment gateways, order management, SEO).
Design	$2000 to $15,000	Custom design costs based on the complexity of your brand and website requirements.
Pages	$1000 to $5000	Based on the number of pages required (e.g., product pages, checkout, etc.).
Functionality	$2000 to $25,000	Cost for adding custom features like web-to-print tools, payment systems, and order management.
Content management system (CMS)	$2000 to $25,000	The cost for a customizable CMS (e.g., WordPress, Joomla, or Magento) to manage your site’s content, products, and customer data.
Website maintenance	$35-$6000	Regular updates, bug fixes, and security checks.

Besides, the table below shows the cost differential between building a small and large website:

Type of website	Estimated design cost
Small to mid-business website (8 to 16 pages)	$1,000 to $ 9,000
Large business website (25 to 75 pages)	$10,000 to $35,000
E- commerce website (100 to 1,000 products)	$5,000 to $55,000
Database website (20 to 2,000 pages)	$6,000 to $75,000

Note: The processing of creating an online printing website could take anywhere between 2 to 6 months

Key Takeaways

Building a printing business website involves various cost factors, from the approach you take to the level of complexity and functionality required. Whether you choose to build it yourself, hire a freelancer, or collaborate with an agency, each option has unique benefits and drawbacks.

For those on a budget, DIY is a great starting point. However, if your business needs a more sophisticated solution with features like web-to-print, it’s wise to consider hiring a professional or working with an agency for a more tailored approach.

Cmsmart offers a comprehensive platform that integrates all the tools you need for a successful printing business website. With PrintCart for custom product design, powerful e-commerce features, and seamless scalability, Cmsmart can help you build a site that grows with your business.

You can visit our Printshop solution for a better experience or create a ticket, our dedicated consultants will get back to you ASAP.

Now you know how much does it cost to make a website, maybe you want to read: How to start a printing business online

Thanks for reading!