Cheap websites in Ireland. A familiar story for many Irish business owners
How many times have you heard a colleague say, “I got my website done for a couple of hundred euros,” only to watch them six months later, arms folded and frustrated because the site is slow, out‑of‑date and doesn’t generate any business? Cheap websites are appealing – the price tag promises speed and savings. But as we have seen again and again with our clients, those early savings often turn into hidden costs that far outweigh what you would have spent on a quality build.
This article isn’t about scaring you away from affordable options. It’s about equipping you with the knowledge to avoid pitfalls and invest wisely. If your goal is to grow your business and convert 3–8% of your visitors into customers over the next eight weeks, the foundations matter. Let’s walk through what “cheap” really costs, and how you can make sure your next website pays you back instead of draining your time and budget.
Why cheap is tempting – and risky
When you’re running a small company, every euro counts. DIY platforms and off‑the‑shelf templates promise a quick and low‑cost route online. You see slick demos and think, “How hard can it be?” The problem isn’t that these platforms exist – it’s that they often hide important trade‑offs:
You may not fully own your site.
Some providers host your site on their proprietary frameworks. If you decide to move, you discover you’re tied into a contract that makes the site itself collateral.
You’re on your own after launch.
Cheap packages rarely include training or ongoing support, which means you need to pay for even minor updates.
They’re built on guesswork.
Without proper user data and strategy, these sites often miss the mark. As Impact Plus notes, many designers build based on assumptions and then hand over the keys.
At face value, it all seems fine. You get a website, it looks passable, and you’ve kept costs down. But the cracks start to show the minute you need to update your hours, improve performance or start marketing.
Hidden cost #1 – Paying For Every Minor Update
Your business evolves; your website should too. New team members join, services change, and special offers come and go. On a bare‑bones platform, these updates aren’t easy. If you need to call a freelancer or agency for every change – whether it’s new pricing or updated opening hours – those fees add up[2]. Suddenly the €300 site becomes a €3,000 headache.
How to avoid this: Choose a platform that gives you control and training. A good developer should hand over a site with a clear content management system (CMS) and show you how to use it. Ask whether you can log in yourself, make simple edits and upload new content without extra charges.
Hidden cost #2 – Long‑Term Contracts And Proprietary Traps
Some agencies lure you in with a low initial fee but lock you into monthly retainers that never end. Worse, they build your site on a framework only they control[1]. If you want to switch providers, you either pay a penalty or start from scratch. You effectively rent your own website.
How to avoid this: Insist on owning your domain, hosting and code. Ask for documentation that confirms you can move your website if you choose. Transparent agencies will host your site on widely supported platforms (like WordPress or Shopify) and let you walk away if you’re not happy.
Hidden cost #3 – Guesswork Over Strategy
Without data, websites are built on hunches. Many low‑budget designers skip user research and analytics[3]. The result? A site that doesn’t align with your customers’ needs, leading to higher bounce rates and fewer conversions. This guesswork is expensive: every bounce and missed enquiry is lost revenue, and you may find yourself paying for another redesign sooner than you think.
How to avoid this: Ask your designer how they collect user data. Do they plan user interviews or look at analytics before making design decisions? Will they measure performance after launch? A small investment in research pays for itself when your site converts better.
Hidden cost #4 – Slower Pages, Lower Conversions
Page speed isn’t a luxury – it’s a conversion killer if you ignore it. Google research shows that the probability of a visitor leaving your site increases by 32 % when load time rises from one to three seconds[4]. A Portent study found that e‑commerce sites loading in one second convert 2.5 × more than those taking five seconds[5]. Cheap builds often neglect optimisation. Large images aren’t compressed, scripts are bloated and mobile responsiveness is an afterthought. These technical shortcuts save pennies at the outset but cost you customers every day.
How to avoid this: Work with developers who prioritise performance. They should compress media, follow best practices for caching and minification, and test the site’s speed. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can show you where improvements are needed. Slow sites not only repel visitors but also hurt your search ranking[6].
Hidden cost #5 – Poor SEO and Ad Performance
Search engines and paid ads reward good user experience. Google’s algorithms now incorporate Core Web Vitals – metrics that measure load time, interactivity and visual stability[6]. If your site is slow or difficult to use, it will rank lower and cost more to advertise. That cheap site forces you to spend more on marketing to get the same results. In some cases, your ads may simply not show because your landing page quality is too poor.
How to avoid this: Ensure your site is built with SEO fundamentals in mind: logical structure, proper header tags, alt text for images, and responsive design. When running ads, direct traffic to pages that match the ad copy and are optimised for mobile. Lower bounce rates improve your Quality Score and reduce cost‑per‑click[6].
Hidden cost #6 – Security Vulnerabilities And Maintenance Headaches
Low‑end builders rarely include proper security. Without SSL certificates, updated plugins or secure hosting, you risk data breaches and site downtime[7]. Fixing a hacked site or recovering lost data is far more expensive than prevention. And because cheap sites often rely on outdated code, they require frequent repairs and may not scale as your business grows[7].
How to avoid this: Choose a development partner who follows security best practices: SSL, regular updates, strong authentication and backups. Ask about ongoing maintenance plans. Spending a little each year on maintenance is cheaper than dealing with a crisis later[8].
What Should a Good Website Offer You?
A website isn’t just a brochure; it’s a 24/7 salesperson for your business[9]. A well‑built site should:
- Load quickly on all devices. Fast pages keep visitors and rank higher.
- Be easy to update. You should be able to change text, images and offers without calling a developer.
- Be secure and reliable. SSL, regular updates and backups protect you and your customers.
- Support marketing and analytics. Integrations with tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Ads Manager let you measure ROI and refine your strategy.
- Reflect your brand. Custom design that speaks to your values and resonates with your Irish audience.
1. Who owns the domain and hosting?
Make sure the assets are in your name.
2. What are the ongoing costs after launch?
Get clarity on hosting, maintenance and support fees[10].
3. Can I update the site myself?
Ask for training or a user-friendly CMS.
4. How do you gather user data?
Good designers base decisions on research, not guesswork[3].
5. What’s your approach to SEO and performance?
Check that they follow best practices and will optimise for speed.
6. What happens if I leave?
Avoid proprietary frameworks that tie you to one provider[1].
7. Do you include security measures?
Secure coding, encryption and regular updates are essential[7].
Bring these questions to your next consultation. An honest agency will welcome them.
A real-world example
One of our clients – a boutique hotel owner – invested in a “budget” website built on a closed platform. When the hotel’s rooms changed and new photos were needed, they discovered they couldn’t edit anything without paying hefty fees. Worse, the site loaded slowly and had no analytics. Visitors dropped off and bookings lagged. After a frank assessment, they chose to rebuild with Evalon. We launched a WordPress site with a flexible CMS, optimised images and proper SEO. Within eight weeks, their direct bookings increased, hitting a 3–8% conversion rate, and they could update prices and special offers on their own schedule. That’s the difference between a cost and an investment.
Final thoughts and next steps
Cheap websites aren’t bad because they’re inexpensive; they’re bad because they usually come with strings attached – hidden fees, poor performance and no support. If you want your website to work as a sales tool rather than a sunk cost, invest in a build that gives you control, speed and a strategy. Review your current site with these hidden costs in mind, and be prepared to ask tough questions when you shop for a new web partner.
At Evalon Digital Media, we specialise in building fast, secure, user‑friendly websites for Irish SMEs – and we teach you how to use them. We don’t lock you into proprietary systems or disappear after launch. If you’re ready for a website that pulls its weight, let’s talk.