If you have searched for a web designer online, you have almost certainly seen the adverts for £99 websites:
- “Professional website for just £99!”
- “Complete small business website for £49!”
- “Cheap £99 website that ranks on Google!”
On the surface, these offers sound ideal for a busy small business owner. Why spend £2,000 on a proper website when someone is promising to build one for less than the price of a night out?
Here is the uncomfortable truth. A £99 website almost never costs £99. Not always upfront, but absolutely once you add in everything that follows.
At Local Web Expertise, we regularly hear from businesses that assumed they were getting a bargain, only to discover that the “£99 website” was simply the beginning of a long list of hidden costs, poor performance issues and avoidable headaches.
This article explains exactly how these offers work and how you can protect yourself.
Why £99 Websites Exist and Why People Buy Them
For many small businesses, especially trades and local service providers, cash flow is often tight. A slick advert offering a “professional website” for less than your weekly fuel bill can be very tempting.
Most low cost offers follow the same model:
- A cheap entry price designed to hook you.
- Ongoing monthly fees, often between £20 and £50.
- Paid add ons for anything beyond the bare minimum.
- Locked in hosting that is difficult or impossible to leave.
- Minimal design effort, usually outsourced.
On paper it looks like a £99 investment. In reality, it is normally a commitment of £600 to £1,200 per year for a website you do not actually own.
And that is before we address the most important issue of all. The quality.
What You Actually Get for £99
Let us be honest for a moment. You cannot get real design work, custom builds, proper SEO and reliable support for £99. The numbers do not add up.
So what is actually included?
1. A basic template thrown together in minutes
Most £99 sites use:
- A pre-made template
- A drag and drop layout
- Completely generic design
- No branding input
A templated approach is not necessarily bad if it is explained clearly. The problem is that it rarely is.
2. No meaningful SEO at all
This is one of the biggest issues.
Most £99 websites include:
- No technical optimisation
- No local SEO
- No page speed work
- No keyword research
- Poorly written content
In simple terms, you get a website no one will ever find.
3. A long list of hidden charges
This is where the business model becomes obvious.
Examples we have seen include:
- £30 per month hosting
- £50 to update a paragraph of text
- £25 per extra page
- £100 or more to move to another provider
- Domains registered in the designer’s name
Some small businesses end up paying £800 or more every year for a website that would cost less if built properly from the start.
4. Poor performance across the board
Cheap sites often:
- Load slowly
- Break on mobile screens
- Use outdated plugins
- Score poorly in Google’s speed tests
A slow website is a lost enquiry. It really is that simple.
The Real Cost of Cheap Web Design
A £99 website is almost never a £99 purchase. The real cost shows up in several ways.
1. Lost enquiries and missed opportunities
If your website:
- Loads slowly
- Looks outdated
- Has technical issues
- Is confusing to navigate
People leave. A poor website can easily cost a local business hundreds of pounds a month in lost leads.
2. Poor visibility in Google
Cheap websites rarely include:
- Meta descriptions
- Page titles
- Keyword targeting
- Speed optimisation
- Local service area pages
Most never rank for anything other than the business name.
3. Being locked into a provider
Many £99 website companies control:
- Your domain
- Your hosting
- Your content
- Your emails
If you decide to leave, you often lose everything and need to start again from scratch.
4. Paying again to rebuild or repair
Many businesses come to Local Web Expertise after disappointing experiences with budget providers. Almost all of them end up needing to:
- Pay for a proper rebuild
- Migrate hosting
- Recover lost SEO
- Replace broken or outdated templates
A £99 decision becomes a £1,000 problem.
Why £99 Websites Keep Failing Business Owners
There are two main reasons.
1. The business model relies on upsells
The provider does not profit from the £99 build. They make their money through:
- Hosting
- Support
- Add ons
- Content edits
- SEO packages
The website is deliberately basic so that you feel pressured to upgrade.
2. The actual work is often outsourced
Many companies that advertise “UK web design” outsource builds overseas for a few pounds per site. This leads to:
- Reused templates
- Poor layouts
- Low quality build processes
- No local insight
The end result is rarely fit for purpose.
Real Examples We Have Encountered
Here are a few examples shared with us by small businesses.
• Hidden long-term contracts
A local tradesman signed up for a “£99 website” and later discovered he was locked into a 36 month contract at £40 per month.
• Domain ownership issues
A tutor attempted to switch hosting providers and was told the designer owned the domain. They would only transfer it for £300.
• Ridiculous editing fees
A café needed its menu updated and was charged £25 per change.
• Plagiarised content
One business had a site that contained copied text and watermarked stock images.
• Extra charges for basic security
A hairdresser was paying £20 per month for an SSL certificate that should have been free.
• Working with someone overseas
Budget providers are often based in places like India, meaning there’s a significant language barrier and time zone differences to contend with.
These are not isolated cases. They are extremely common.
Local Web Expertise: A Smarter Option with Reliable Local Designers
Small businesses deserve websites that:
- Load quickly
- Look professional
- Build trust
- Generate leads and enquiries
- Rank well on Google and Bing
- Are owned by the business
- Do not come with hidden fees
This is exactly why Local Web Expertise exists.
We match you with vetted and trustworthy local web designers, developers, and SEO specialists who:
- Offer clear and fair pricing
- Understand your area
- Deliver quality work
- Want long term client relationships
Your success is their success.
Why Local Web Expertise Saves You Time and Money
Three straightforward reasons.
1. Only proven providers
We do not work with unreliable freelancers or agencies that churn out identical sites. Every partner is carefully assessed and is local to you.
2. Matching by postcode and service
You are paired with someone who is:
- Local
- Relevant
- Able to meet you in person
- Familiar with your market
3. Transparent pricing
Every partner offers:
- Clear costs
- Fair terms
- No surprises
- No ownership tricks
This gives you complete peace of mind.
How to Spot a £99 Website Trap
Use this quick checklist.
- Does the offer seem too cheap?
- Is hosting included?
- Who owns the domain?
- Is there a contract?
- Is SEO included or just mentioned vaguely?
- Are support and updates extra?
- Is the design unique or a template?
- Do they have real examples from UK businesses?
- Can they meet you locally or are they based overseas?
Any red flags are a sign to walk away. Remember, £99 websites are almost always too good to be true.
Final Thoughts: Cheap Websites Are Rarely a Bargain
A £99 website may seem like a quick and budget friendly solution, but it often results in frustration, poor performance, hidden costs and the need for an expensive rebuild.
Local businesses deserve something better.
If you want a website that:
- You genuinely own
- Loads quickly
- Looks professional
- Helps you rank
- Impresses customers
- Is built by a reliable local expert
Choosing a trusted partner through Local Web Expertise is the safest and most cost-effective way forward. Forget £99 websites.
