If you're a plumber in the North East and you've been thinking about getting a website, the first question is always the same: how much is it going to cost me? And honestly, the answers you find online are all over the place. So let's break it down properly with real numbers.
Option 1: DIY with Wix or Squarespace
You could build something yourself for about £10-30 a month. The templates are decent enough and you can get something live in a weekend. The catch? It takes way longer than you think, the result usually looks a bit template-y, and you'll spend hours fighting the editor when you should be out earning. Most plumbers we talk to across Durham, Newcastle, and Sunderland tried this first and gave up halfway through.
Option 2: Hire a freelancer
Freelance web designers charge anything from £500 to £3,000 for a basic site. Quality varies wildly. Some do cracking work. Others deliver something that looks like it was built in 2015 and then vanish when you need a change. The biggest risk is support. If your site breaks in six months, will they even answer the phone?
Option 3: Go to a big agency
Agencies in Newcastle or Leeds will charge £3,000 to £10,000 for a plumber's website. You're paying for their office, their account managers, and their fancy pitch meetings. For a plumber who just needs a clean site that brings in leads, that's money you don't need to spend.
Option 4: A setup fee plus monthly plan
This is what we do at Obrix and we think it makes the most sense for plumbers and tradesmen. You pay a one-off setup fee to get everything designed and built, then a manageable monthly fee that covers hosting, support, security updates, and content changes. No surprises. No hidden invoices. You know exactly what you're paying.
Check out our pricing and plans here.
What should be included?
Whatever route you go, make sure the price covers:
- Hosting. Your site needs to live somewhere. This should be included, not an extra charge.
- SSL certificate. That's the padlock in the browser bar. Essential for trust and Google ranking. Should be included.
- Mobile-friendly design. Most of your visitors will be on phones. Non-negotiable.
- Basic SEO setup. Page titles, descriptions, and local keywords so Google knows you're a plumber in the North East.
- Ongoing support. Someone to call when you need a phone number changed or a new service added.
The real question: what does NOT having a website cost you?
Think about it this way. If you're a plumber in Gateshead or Darlington and someone searches "plumber near me," you're not showing up without a website. How many of those searches happen every day in your area? Even if your website brings in one extra boiler install a month, that's worth more than your website costs for the entire year.
A plumber in Middlesbrough told us he got three boiler enquiries in his first month after his site went live. That's the kind of return we're talking about.
If you're a North East plumber ready to stop missing leads, get in touch and we'll walk you through it.