When planning your business website, the basics such as your domain, hosting, and design are just the start. As your business grows, you may want to add features that make your life easier and your site more valuable to customers.
These add-ons can range from one-time purchases to regular subscriptions.
Here’s what they do, what they cost, and whether you need them now or later.
At a Glance: Common Website Add-On Features
|
Feature |
Cost Estimate |
Best for (Phase) |
|
Online Shop (E-commerce) |
Free – £50/month* |
Phase 1 or 2: If you sell online |
|
Online Booking System |
Free – £20/month |
Phase 1: Service-based businesses |
|
Email Marketing Integration |
Free – £35/month |
Phase 1–2: Building relationships |
|
Membership/Course Area |
£15 – £100+/month |
Phase 2–3: Growing, recurring income |
|
Premium SEO Tools |
Free – £100+/month |
Phase 2–3: Focused on growth |
|
Security & Backups |
Free – £200/year |
Phase 1: All sites (min. level) |
|
Premium Plugins/Themes |
£20 – £250/yr |
Phase 1–2: Custom design/features |
|
Branding & Custom Design |
£100 – £1,000+ |
Phase 1 or upgrade in Phase 2 |
*Most ecommerce platforms also take a small fee per sale.
Feature Details
1. Online Shop (E-Commerce)
Perfect if: You want to take orders or payments from day one.
Cost: Free plugins (like WooCommerce), or £20 - £50 per month for advanced functions.
Can add later if you're not ready to sell right away
2. Online Booking System
Automates client bookings and saves admin time.
Best for: Coaches, therapists, beauty, and events.
Cost: Free basic plans, £10 - £20 per month for full features.
Essential to add early if you take appointments
3. Email Marketing Integration
Collect emails and keep in touch via newsletters.
Best for: Building customer loyalty and repeat business.
Cost: Free for small lists, £10 - £35 per month as you grow
Start simple and upgrade as you need automation or larger lists
4. Membership or Course Areas
Offer gated content, online courses, or communities.
Best for: Businesses selling knowledge, training, or community access.
Cost: £15 - £100+ per month
Usually Phase 2/3—focus on essentials first
5. Premium SEO Tools & Optimisation
Track keywords, competitors, and rankings.
Best for: Business growth and serious search engine traffic.
Cost: Free - £100+ per month
Add as your marketing budget grows
6. Security & Backups
Protects your website and customer data.
Best for: Everyone.
Cost: Free - £200 per year
Some level should be included from the beginning
7. Premium Plugins or Themes
Boosts your design, functions, or user experience.
Best for: Standing out or adding special features.
Cost: £20 - £250
Start with key tools, add more as you grow
8. Branding & Custom Design
Strengthens recognition and trust
Best for: Making your business memorable.
Cost: £100 - £1,000+
Upgrade as your business grows.
My Top Tip
Don’t try to add everything at once.
Start with features that help your customers find you and contact you. As you grow, you can always upgrade.
How I Help
When I build your site, I help you:
- Prioritise the features that matter most now
- Plan what’s best to add later, as you grow
- Choose cost-effective tools for your budget
- Understand any ongoing costs up front
Starter Website packages start from £499
See what's included
Not sure what you need? Let’s have a free, no-pressure chat.
Website Costs Series
This post is part of my Website Costs series:
- How Much Does a Website Cost? - A full breakdown of the real costs to set up your own WordPress site
- Why Website Quotes Vary So Much — What you’re really paying for - what you need to know so you can invest wisely and avoid surprises
- What Features Might Add to the Cost of Your Website - You're Here!
Final Thought
A website is never truly “finished” - and that’s a good thing! It can grow and adapt with your business.
When you’re ready to add new features, see them as investments in making your website work harder for you, not just extra costs.
If you’re unsure, just send me a message on WhatsApp - I’ll help you plan your ideal next steps.
Until next time
Hugs
Sarah x
