Getting a Website Built: What You Need to Know
Why a Professional Website Is Essential
Your website is often the first point of contact with potential customers. Within seconds, a visitor decides whether to stay or go back to Google. A professionally designed site signals trust, competence, and quality — before a single word is read.
On top of that: without a solid website, you're practically invisible online. Anyone searching for a product or service today starts with Google. If your website doesn't show up — or looks unprofessional — you're losing business to the competition.
Getting a website built isn't an expense — it's an investment in your visibility, credibility, and ultimately your revenue.
Getting a Website Built — Your Options
When you want to get a professional website built, you have four main paths:
Website Builders (Wix, Squarespace, Jimdo)
- Advantage: Affordable, quick start, no programming skills needed
- Disadvantage: Limited design options, restricted SEO capabilities, generic look. Rarely enough for a professional appearance.
Freelancer
- Advantage: Often cheaper than agencies, personal contact
- Disadvantage: One person = one single point of failure. If they're sick, overbooked, or move on, you're left without support. Quality varies widely.
Web Agency
- Advantage: Full service from strategy to design, development, and SEO. Long-term partner with team backup.
- Disadvantage: Higher costs than freelancers. Not every agency is transparent about pricing and deliverables.
WaaS (Website as a Service)
- Advantage: Everything included at a fixed price — design, hosting, maintenance, support. No tech stress, predictable costs.
- Disadvantage: Less suitable for highly complex custom projects with specialized backend logic.
For most SMEs in Switzerland, the combination of agency quality and predictable costs — in other words, WaaS — is the sweet spot.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Website Built?
The costs for a professional website in Switzerland vary significantly. Here's a realistic overview:
Simple website (1–5 pages)
Business website (5–15 pages)
Complex website (shop, portals)
Ongoing maintenance (per month)
What Influences the Cost?
- Scope: Number of pages, languages, features (contact form, blog, shop)
- Design: Template vs. custom design — individuality costs more but differentiates you
- Technology: Static site vs. CMS vs. web application
- SEO: Basic optimization is standard; a comprehensive SEO strategy costs extra
- Content: Copywriting, photography, and image editing are often not included in the web design price
Find more details in our comprehensive cost guide.
What to Look for When Choosing an Agency
Not every agency fits every project. These five points help you make the right choice:
1. Portfolio and References
Look at what the agency has done before. Do the projects match your style and industry? Look for real case studies, not just pretty screenshots.
2. Technology and Performance
Ask about the tech stack. Modern technologies (e.g., Next.js, Tailwind CSS) deliver faster, more secure, and more maintainable websites than outdated WordPress themes. Load times under 3 seconds should be standard.
3. SEO Expertise
A website without SEO is like a shop without a sign. The agency should understand technical SEO (meta tags, schema markup, Core Web Vitals) as a given — not as an expensive add-on.
4. Support and Availability
What happens after launch? Is there ongoing support? How quickly are changes implemented? A dedicated contact person is invaluable — especially when things go wrong.
5. Transparent Pricing
Generic statements like "starting from CHF 2,000" without a concrete list of deliverables are a warning sign. Good agencies are upfront about what's included and what costs extra.
DIY vs. Agency — When Does Each Make Sense?
Cost
Time investment
Design quality
SEO
Performance
Support
Scalability
Bottom line: DIY makes sense for hobby projects or if you have web design experience yourself. For your business — especially if you want to win customers online — professional implementation is the better investment.
WaaS: The Smart Alternative
Website as a Service (WaaS) combines agency quality with predictable costs. Instead of a large upfront investment, you get everything in one package — design, development, hosting, maintenance, and support.
Our WaaS Plans at a Glance
One-time
Monthly
Pages
Custom design
Basic SEO optimization
Hosting & SSL
Updates & maintenance
Adjustments included
Full SEO + Schema
Blog add-on
What's Included in Every Plan
- Custom design — no templates, but a design that fits your brand
- Basic SEO optimization — meta tags, clean structure, fast load times from day one
- Swiss hosting & SSL — GDPR-compliant, fast load times in Switzerland
- Ongoing maintenance — updates, security patches, monitoring
- Content adjustments — change text and images at no extra cost
- Personal contact person — direct communication, no ticket system
The big advantage: you have predictable costs and don't have to worry about anything technical. Your website is always up to date, secure, and performant.
See all details about our WaaS plans →
Conclusion
Getting a website built is one of the most important investments for your business. The right website makes you visible, builds trust, and generates inquiries — around the clock.
Which path is right depends on your budget, time, and goals. For most SMEs in Switzerland, WaaS offers the best balance of quality, cost, and convenience.
Ready to get your website professionally built? We'll advise you for free and with no obligation — and show you which model fits best.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Webdesign
The most important answers about Webdesign and what you should know.
In Switzerland, professional websites cost between CHF 1,500 and CHF 15,000+, depending on scope, design, and functionality. With WaaS (Website as a Service), you pay a small one-time fee starting at CHF 1,750 plus a fixed monthly fee — with no hidden costs.
A simple business website takes 2–4 weeks. More complex projects with custom design, multiple languages, or integrations take 4–8 weeks. With WaaS, it's often faster because the process is standardized.
Website builders like Wix or Squarespace work for hobby projects but hit limitations with SEO and customization. Freelancers are cheaper, but if they're sick or overbooked, you're left without support. Agencies offer full service and long-term support — ideal for SMEs that want to focus on their core business.
WaaS stands for Website as a Service. Instead of a large upfront investment, you get a custom-designed website at a fixed price — including hosting, maintenance, SSL, basic SEO optimization, and ongoing adjustments. No tech worries, predictable costs.
Ready for the next step?
Let's build a website together that doesn't just look great — but also performs.