The four real price tiers in Ireland (2026)
After quoting hundreds of Irish SMEs, the market consistently sorts into four tiers. Anything cheaper is usually DIY, and anything more expensive is custom enterprise work:
- Starter / Brochure (€499–€999) — 3–5 pages, mobile-ready, basic SEO. Suits sole traders.
- Growth (€1,500–€2,495) — 8–15 pages, CMS, lead forms, GA4, on-page SEO. Suits most SMEs.
- Authority (€2,995–€3,995) — Custom design, copywriting, advanced SEO, integrations.
- Bespoke / Ecommerce / Booking (€5,000–€15,000+) — Shopify Plus, custom Woo, Amelia, multi-language.
What drives the price up
The number of pages matters less than people think. What actually moves the quote is custom design vs template, copywriting (most agencies don't include it), integrations (CRM, Stripe, Mailchimp, booking systems), multilingual setup, and whether SEO is bolted on or baked in from day one.
Hidden costs nobody mentions
Beyond the build, expect ongoing costs that many agencies bury in small print:
- Hosting & domain — €60–€200/year
- SSL — usually free (Let's Encrypt) but some agencies charge €99/year
- Care plan / maintenance — €15–€95/month
- Stock images & icons — €0–€300 one-off
- Premium plugins (WordPress) — €100–€500/year
- Copywriting if not included — €50–€150 per page
Grants that cover most of the cost
Irish SMEs with 1–50 employees can apply for the Grow Digital Voucher (up to €5,000, 50% co-fund) through their Local Enterprise Office. Most of our clients use it to bring a €2,495 Growth-tier website down to roughly €1,250 out of pocket. Digital Bridge is an approved supplier across all 26 counties.
Frequently asked questions
Is €500 enough for a real business website in Ireland?
Yes — at the Starter tier. You'll get a clean 3–5 page mobile-ready site with basic SEO and a contact form. It won't include custom illustration, deep CMS, or e-commerce, but for a sole trader or service business it's a credible online presence.
Why do Irish agencies quote €5,000–€10,000 for the same brief?
Most charge by hours billed, not value delivered. AI-assisted studios like Digital Bridge cut the production hours dramatically while keeping senior-level design and copy, which is why our Growth tier sits at €2,495 vs a typical agency €5,500.
Are there ongoing monthly fees?
Hosting is €5–€15/month and a care plan (backups, updates, security, small edits) is €15–€95/month. You can self-host and skip the care plan, but most owners prefer the hands-off route.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Digital Bridge takes 50% to start and 50% on launch (40/30/30 on larger builds). No 12-month lock-in, you own the site and all assets.
How long does a typical website take to build?
Starter sites: 5–10 working days. Growth sites: 3–4 weeks. Authority/custom builds: 6–10 weeks depending on copywriting and integrations.
Related reading
Talk to an Irish team
Digital Bridge is an Irish-owned digital agency in Gorey, Co. Wexford serving SMEs nationwide. Get a free 15-minute consultation — no obligation.