How Much Does a Website Cost in Switzerland?
2025 guide for small businesses
In today’s digital-first world, a professional website is no longer optional for Swiss small businesses: it’s your business card, shop window, and sales tool all in one. But one question comes back all the time: what is the average cost of website design for a small business in Switzerland in 2025?
The truth is: it depends. Website design prices can range from under CHF 500 if you build it yourself with a template, to CHF 10,000+ for large e-commerce websites with advanced features. The final website creation cost depends on the complexity and size of your project, the platform you choose, and whether you work by yourself, with a freelancer, or an agency.
Typical website design prices in Switzerland (2025)
DIY Website Design
If you’re just starting out with a very small budget, a DIY website on platforms like WordPress or Squarespace can cost as little as CHF 200 per year. Running a Shopify store starts at a minimum of CHF 300 per year. This option is affordable but requires a lot of time and patience to learn the tools available.
The biggest drawback is that, without SEO knowledge, many small businesses miss out on organic traffic. In other words, the website exists but doesn’t actually get found by potential clients. (See my upcoming article on SEO for more about this).
Website Design by a Freelancer: the best option for SMEs
For most small and medium-sized businesses, the most cost-effective choice is to work with a freelancer. The cost to build a website with a freelancer usually falls between CHF 2,000 and CHF 10,000+, depending on the scope of your project.
A freelancer can create a tailored showcase website or an e-commerce shop, handle SEO basics, and integrate useful features like booking forms, newsletters, or blogs. This option makes the most sense for cafés, boutiques, consultants, lifestyle brands, or local service providers that need a professional online presence. This gives you the best balance between price and quality, with a personal touch and more flexibility than an agency.
Website design by an agency: when does it make sense?
Agencies usually start at CHF 10,000–15,000 and are best suited for corporates or very complex e-commerce projects. Their strength is in providing big teams and fully custom solutions: developers who can build advanced features from scratch, designers for unique branding systems, project managers to coordinate large-scale launches, and sometimes even in-house photographers or copywriters.
This makes sense if you’re a corporate with multiple stakeholders, if you need a platform with very specific integrations (ERP, custom booking systems…), or if you’re building a large-scale e-commerce with hundreds of products. For the majority of small businesses, however, this level of complexity isn’t needed and a skilled freelancer can deliver a professional, high-performing website at a fraction of the cost.
What impacts the price?
Vitrine vs e-commerce: a showcase site is simpler to build, while an e-commerce site requires setting up product pages, payment gateways, inventory systems.
The number of pages: a 5-page site takes less time to build and costs less than a 30-page multilingual website.
The design approach: using templates save time and money, while custom design costs more.
Features: multilingual setups, bookings, SEO optimizations, blog… each adds to the budget.
Content: if the freelancer/agency also writes copy or produces visuals, it will cost more than creating it yourself.
Maintenance: a website is never “done”. It needs updates, ongoing hosting, and fixes which incur recurring costs.
Don’t forget ongoing costs
Beyond the initial development, there are recurring website costs you should plan for:
Domain name → ~CHF 15–30/year
Hosting → CHF 200–500/year (depending on the platform you choose)
Maintenance & updates → CHF 500–1,500/year if outsourced
Marketing (SEO, ads, newsletters) → scalable depending on your goals
How to choose the right option for your website design in Switzerland
Small budgets / starting out: DIY platforms (Wordpress, Squarespace) can work, but be ready to invest a lot of time and accept limited flexibility. Often, these sites don’t generate much traffic because SEO work is missing.
Small to medium-sized businesses: freelancers are usually the best option, giving you professional results, tailored to your needs, at an affordable price. Perfect for cafés, boutiques, lifestyle brands, consultants, and local businesses.
Corporates or complex e-commerce projects: agencies make sense when you need a full team for advanced custom features, large product catalogs, or projects involving many stakeholders. For most small businesses, this level of website design investment isn’t necessary.
Final thoughts
So, what is the average cost of website design for small businesses in Switzerland in 2025?
Most small businesses can expect to invest between CHF 2,000 and CHF 6,000 for a professional, well-built showcase website. For an e-commerce project, the price is usually CHF 3,500 to 10,000 depending on features needed.
The most important thing: your website should be seen as an investment, one that works for you 24/7, brings you visibility, and supports your business growth.
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Hi, I’m Sophie!
I design websites that reflect your brand, attract your audience, and support your growth.
Are you ready to discuss your project? Book a free consultation with me and let’s build a website that makes your brand shine!