Pricing a Construction Company Website Like a Bill of Quantities

For a building firm, a website from AI Web Maker carries one fixed yearly charge of $119 for hosting and one variable charge for the domain. The firm can draft the whole site and preview it without paying, so money is committed only when the directors are happy to launch. For that money the firm gets pages for its services, its completed projects and its people, together with an enquiry page where clients describe the job. Builders are used to detailed quotes, so it helps to treat the website the same way and price each part separately. Because the pages are drafted and arranged automatically in under a minute, the design and copywriting lines that dominate most web quotes simply drop out. What follows prices each item on the website bill, so a firm can see exactly where its money and its time go.

This article is part of our complete guide: Home Services Website Builder.

Which items on the website bill are fixed and which are provisional sums?

The fixed items on a website bill are the yearly hosting and the domain, while the provisional sums are the hours the firm spends on photos and checking. Hosting stays at $119 annually, while the domain varies by ending, and around 400 endings are on offer so the address can suit the firm's market. Design and copywriting, which normally make up the bulk of a web quote, are already covered because the builder drafts every page. The provisional sums vary with the firm, since a builder with good project photos ready will spend far less time than one starting from nothing. Checking the services page against the work the firm really does is another short task that only the directors can complete. Laid out this way, the fixed costs are small and certain, and the variable costs are under the firm's own control.

How does a projects page win tenders that a brochure cannot?

A projects page wins tenders because it shows finished work in a form that clients can inspect, share and return to while they decide. Our sample firm, Stonebridge Builders, presents a two storey extension built to match an existing home, along with a page of completed projects and what clients said about them. A homeowner or a developer comparing contractors can see the quality of the finish and the scale of past jobs before asking for a price. Unlike a printed brochure, the page can be updated the week a project is handed over, so the evidence is always current. Our construction company website example with a projects page shows how services, projects and enquiries sit together, and the whole site was generated in 50 seconds. Each well documented project strengthens the next bid, so the projects page usually returns more than any other part of the site.

What should a builder spend on proof of licences, insurance and safety?

A builder should spend time rather than money on proof of licences, insurance and safety, because the details already exist and only need presenting clearly. Clients want to know that a firm is properly registered and insured before they let it on site, and a short, factual section answers that question. Membership of a trade body, safety training and warranty terms are worth stating in plain words, provided every claim can be backed up on request. Overstating credentials is a risk, so the firm should list only what it holds and keep the section current when certificates are renewed. Rules on what builders must display differ between countries, so the directors should check their own regulator or licensing body. A calm, accurate statement of credentials reassures clients at almost no cost.

Where do construction firms lose money on websites they never update?

Construction firms lose money on websites they never update, because a stale site suggests a firm that has stopped trading or stopped caring. Old projects, outdated phone numbers and services the firm no longer offers all send serious clients to competitors. Reviews deserve care as well, and the UK Competition and Markets Authority explains in its announcement on the new consumer protection regime that posting or commissioning fake reviews is now banned, with fines of up to 10% of global turnover. An unpaid domain renewal is a further trap, because once the address expires the website and the office mailboxes go dark at the same moment. A short monthly check of projects, contact details and reviews prevents these losses almost entirely. Keeping the site current therefore costs a few minutes, while neglecting it can cost whole contracts.

Frequently asked questions

Can a builder add a new project without calling a designer?

A builder can add a new project without calling a designer, because every page remains editable in the editor for the life of the website. Photos, a short description of the work and the client's comments can be added on the day of handover. There is no charge for these updates, and they keep the projects page as fresh as the firm's latest job. Should the firm want help drafting something new, such as an article on planning an extension, it can spend credits worth about $0.65 apiece. For ordinary updates, however, the site stays entirely in the firm's hands.

Does a commercial contractor need a different website from a home builder?

A commercial contractor does not need a different kind of website, although its pages should speak to developers and businesses rather than to homeowners. The sample firm covers homes, commercial buildings and renovations on one site, with each kind of work described on the services page. A commercial contractor might lead with completed commercial projects, capacity and safety records, while a home builder leads with extensions and renovations. The structure stays the same, and only the emphasis and the language change. One clear website, written for the right audience, serves either kind of firm well.

What is the full first year outlay for a building firm's website?

A building firm's first year online comes to $119 of hosting, one domain registration and some of the directors' evenings. The firm registers its domain at launch, paying whatever its preferred ending costs. A day spent gathering project photos and checking the services and credentials completes the preparation. As new contracts come in, adding each finished job and confirming the contact details once a month keeps the site in step with the firm. When the firm is ready, you can build a construction company website with AI from the firm's name and a short summary of the work it takes on. Set against the margin on a single extension or fit out, the yearly cost of a construction website is barely a rounding error.