We can not emphasize enough on the fact how vital it is for your business to have a robust digital presence. When the world is at your fingertips, and you can trade across the globe in a few clicks, then developing a website for your entity is the fundamental step of the establishment. Web Development Companies in UAE have helped many small business owners enhance their trade beyond their conventional brick and mortar shop by helping them go online and reflect not only in UAE or the Middle East but also in the whole wide world. Therefore, every entrepreneur planning to digitalise must have pondered on how much developing a website costs for small-scale enterprises. In this article, we will help you answer this question.
Let us tour the determining factors to ascertain the accrued cost of developing a website.
Factors influencing the cost of website development:-
The expense accruable of an E-commerce or business website depends on the following facets since each one of them counts when a particular website hits the digital market.
(1) Domain
The primary step of going online is to develop the brand name for your website. But what if your desired name is not available? The cost of a domain varies as per the name, and sometimes it can even cost up to 10,000 AED for a premium single word domain name. So you have to continue surfing through names until you get a unique and simple name. You might get a domain name for free or one that values hundreds of AED; it all comes down to your preference.
(2) Web design features
This is a vicious cycle in which if you enter once, you will always feel lacking no matter how much you keep on spending on the features. The swirl of plugins and features will trample one if they imitate the big guns. Therefore one has to be cautious while spending and managing the cost incurred on features like many pages, banners for the website, sliders, SSL certification, Google map integration and more.
(3) Number of pages on the website
The size of the website outlines the implied cost. Therefore, the business owner will have to think thoroughly about how many pages will be sufficient for a small business. For instance, 5 to 15 pages are enough for a company website, while for an E-commerce website, it might take 1000 pages to introduce each product and service. Thus, the cost becomes directly proportional to the number of pages inducted since each category will need a specific design. Hence, a simple website for a small business can cost around 5000 AED to 50,000 AED.
(4) Website designing
Would you instead prefer your website to operate on a template that you can find easily and for free of cost on the internet which may have rigidity in terms of features and personalization? Or would you rather analyze Web Designing Prices in Dubai and choose one which offers higher customisation and creative liberty? If you choose to design your website, then the number of pages with distinctive designs will influence the cost of the website. It must be considered that a website with a specific design appeals and fetches more audience than a website running on an accessible template.
(5) Features and Functionalities
Even a tiny E-commerce entity will need dynamic content, multiple images, loading prices, coupon codes, checkouts, product comparison, payment gateways, wishlist, registration etc. Proper functioning and advanced user experience can only be achieved through smooth navigation and optimizing factors. A store like this will comparatively cost more than a website with ‘contact us’ and ‘about us’ pages.
(6) Mobile-friendly designing
Irrespective of what industrial foresight one possesses, one will agree that developing and designing your website compatible with mobile phones is an unsaid law. However, abstaining from doing so means you are letting go of the vast and ever-growing market base of 5.29 billion mobile users. Moreover, mobile phones dominate the sphere of life; consumers most access and visit websites on mobile phones. Therefore one will need a mobile-friendly design to beat the heat of the cut-throat competitive market. Naturally, this will alter the development cost, but ignoring the same can prove a fatal flaw for your small scale business.
(7) Hosting charges
If you wish to target the whole world, you will need unlimited disk space, bandwidth, email accounts and many other things, and therefore a hosting server like this will charge you relatively higher as per your demands. However, if your website resembles only the portfolio of your business, then you need not worry about the expense.
(8) SSL and Google Map integration
For establishing a secured website, you will need an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certification. It keeps you protected from hackers and intruders, mainly if your website contains confidential and delicate information. On the other hand, integrating Google Maps builds a good brand image. However, you must know that it affects your budget significantly, but adopting it or not is ultimately your decision as per the need of your website.
(9) Altering the website
People usually turn a blind eye to the Content Management System while appropriating the expense in website development, but it is one of the essential parts of your website. This system enables you to edit and update the information on the website once it has launched. Of course, the cost will depend on the extensiveness of the technology, and there are many companies like Drupal, Joomla and WordPress and other CMS development.
(10) Ascertaining the price
For a small business in Dubai, freelancers can develop the website at a relatively lower cost; however, a renowned Web Development Company in UAE guarantees success. On the other hand, a freelancer may not; the minimum starting price is 4000 AED.
A website for a small scale entity that is uncomplex and ranges over 5-10 pages will cost around 4,000 AED to 10,000 AED.
Can you build a website for free?
Yes, one can make a website for free. But there is a catch. Free accounts created by website builders hold several critical features back. For instance, one will not use custom domains and have free advertisements for that website builder.
How much does it cost if you hire someone to build a website?
On average, it is expected to incur a cost of 6000 AED if you hire a professional web developer or designer to build your website. In addition to that, there will be a significant cost of 1000 AED to maintain the site too. However, most of the Web Development Companies in Dubai provide affordable website packages for designing and maintaining your site from scratch.
How long does it take to build a website?
When you seek the help of a freelancer to build a small uncomplicated website, it depends on their efficiency. Web Development Companies in UAE usually take approximately two to four months to develop a website for a small business from scratch.
Is it hard to create a website?
Creating an effective and efficient website is hard work, yes. It involves designing SEO tactics and tools, and for this exact reason, self-built websites run incredibly inefficiently. So instead of channeling your energy to vanity, you should let website developing companies do their job so that you get the time and conserve energy to do what you do best, running your business. But it is worth burning the midnight oil since it directly reflects your business. In short, it can either make or break your establishment.
How can you open a website in the UAE?
This is a pressing question for many aspiring entrepreneurs, however, it is simpler than it seems, coupled with the robust and proactive commercial environment of UAE. To Start an Online Store On Shopify in UAE, all you have to do is to,
- Choosing the right jurisdiction and getting a trade license
- Developing and launching your E-commerce website
- Include the Best Payment Gateways in UAE for Your E-commerce Website
- Secure logistical support, storage and delivery channel
- Marketing the products and services
Is creating a website worth it for small scale businesses in Dubai?
Absolutely. Having a website is worth it for every business; even though it is optional, it is critically recommended for the vitality of your entity. Your website opens your small scale business to many opportunities, builds credibility, captures more leads, and learns and analyses your clients’ consumption behavior. So yes, a website is a good investment for small scale businesses.
Henceforth, it is conclusive that even small scale businesses must pilot their establishment online with a website. However, as imperative it is to assess the cost of development after consulting with a Web Hosting Company in Dubai, one must bear in mind that some expenditure is recurring as long as the website runs and is renewable on a monthly or annual basis, like the cost of the domain, SSL certificate, website hosting, E-commerce functionality, CMS and website maintenance.