Why “Per Page” Pricing is Dead.
In 2025, you aren't paying for pages of HTML. You're investing in a Semantic Knowledge Graph Asset. Stop comparing generic packages. Start calculating ROI.
Loading calculator...
What is the Average Cost of a Website in South Africa?
Website costs in South Africa range from R2,500 for basic template sites to R150,000+ for enterprise Next.js solutions. The average small business website costs R15,000-R45,000. However, the true cost includes ongoing maintenance (R500-R2,000/month for WordPress), hosting fees, and lost revenue from poor performance. A Next.js site at R35,000 with zero maintenance often delivers superior 3-year ROI compared to a R15,000 WordPress template that requires monthly plugin subscriptions and loses conversions due to slow load times.
Real Market Rates: Architecture vs. Templates (2025 Analysis)
Stop comparing page counts. Start comparing technical architecture and long-term value.
| Asset Tier | Typical Cost (ZAR) | The Hidden Cost | 3-Year TCO | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Template | R 2,500 - R 8,000 | Slow LCP (3-5s), No SEO Authority | R 14,500+ | Hobbyists / Test Projects |
| DIY Builder (Wix/Squarespace) | R 1,500 - R 5,000 | Platform Lock-In, Limited SEO | R 18,000+ | Personal Projects |
| Standard Agency (WordPress) | R 15,000 - R 45,000 | Plugin Bloat, R500-R2,000/month Maintenance | R 33,000 - R 117,000 | Small Business (Budget-Conscious) |
| Next.js Entity Asset | R 25,000 - R 75,000 | None (Zero Maintenance) | R 27,000 - R 79,000 | Market Leaders / Growth-Focused |
| Enterprise Custom | R 75,000 - R 150,000+ | Custom Integrations, Scalability | R 81,000 - R 156,000+ | Large Corporations |
The 3 Factors That Actually Dictate Website Pricing
Competitors quote by “number of pages.” We price by technical architecture that drives search rankings and conversions.
1.Rendering Engine & Performance Architecture
Are you buying a slow PHP database query system (WordPress) or a pre-computed static edge delivery system (Next.js)? WordPress sites load in 3-5 seconds, requiring expensive caching plugins and monthly optimization. Next.js Server Components deliver HTML in under 200ms, eliminating the need for plugins and ongoing performance work.
Cost Impact: WordPress requires R500-R2,000/month for maintenance and optimization. Next.js requires zero maintenance due to built-in optimization. The 3-year savings offset the higher initial investment.
2.Entity Density & Knowledge Graph Integration
Cheap sites use keyword stuffing (repeating “Johannesburg” 50+ times). Premium assets use Knowledge Graph ID (KGMID) linking to connect your brand to authoritative entities in Google's database. This establishes topical authority beyond keyword optimization.
Cost Impact: Entity-based SEO requires upfront engineering investment but delivers long-term ranking advantages that competitors cannot replicate. This is a one-time cost that compounds in value over time.
3.Self-Healing Architecture & Automation
Does your site automatically redirect broken links, manage its own sitemap, and enforce canonical URLs? Or do you need monthly manual updates? Self-healing architecture requires upfront engineering investment but eliminates ongoing maintenance costs and prevents SEO disasters from broken links.
Cost Impact: Automation saves R6,000-R24,000 over 3 years in maintenance fees. It also prevents revenue loss from broken links and SEO penalties that cheap sites frequently experience.
Why “Per Page” Pricing Doesn't Work in 2025
The Flawed Logic
Competitors quote “R2,500 for 5 pages” or “R6,500 for 10 pages.” This assumes every page costs the same amount of time and expertise to build. But that's false.
- ✗A homepage with hero sections, CTAs, and conversion optimization takes 8-12 hours
- ✗A simple contact page takes 1-2 hours
- ✗An e-commerce product page with variants and integrations takes 4-6 hours
Pricing by page count incentivizes quick, low-quality work. It doesn't reflect the technical complexity or business value of each page.
Our Approach: Value-Based Pricing
We price by technical architecture and business outcomes, not page count:
- ✓Core Web Vitals Performance: Every site targets 100/100 scores
- ✓Semantic SEO Architecture: Built-in Knowledge Graph integration
- ✓Conversion Optimization: Every page designed for lead generation
- ✓Zero Maintenance: Self-healing architecture eliminates ongoing costs
Transparent Pricing: What You Actually Get
Business Landing Page
R 15,000 - R 25,000Single-page, conversion-focused site for service businesses. Includes Next.js architecture, semantic SEO, Core Web Vitals optimization, and self-healing URL structure.
- ✓ Next.js 15 Server Components
- ✓ Knowledge Graph ID linking
- ✓ LCP <1s optimization
- ✓ Mobile-first responsive design
- ✓ Contact forms with conversion tracking
Small Business Website
5-10 pages, full service showcaseMulti-page site with service pages, about page, blog functionality, and lead generation forms. Includes everything in Business Landing Page plus internal linking optimization and topic cluster architecture.
- ✓ Everything in Business Landing Page
- ✓ Dynamic blog with SEO optimization
- ✓ Service page cluster architecture
- ✓ Internal linking with TF-IDF optimization
- ✓ Google Analytics & conversion tracking
E-Commerce Store
Product catalog, cart, checkout, payment integrationFull online store with product management, shopping cart, payment gateway integration, inventory management, and order tracking. Built on Next.js for superior performance and SEO.
- ✓ Everything in Small Business Website
- ✓ Product catalog with variants
- ✓ Payment gateway (PayFast, Stripe, etc.)
- ✓ Order management dashboard
- ✓ Shipping calculator integration
Enterprise Solution
Custom features, CRM/ERP integration, multi-tenantCustom-built solution with CRM/ERP integrations, advanced user management, custom dashboards, API development, and enterprise-grade security. Tailored to specific business requirements.
- ✓ Everything in E-Commerce Store
- ✓ CRM/ERP system integration
- ✓ Custom API development
- ✓ Advanced user roles & permissions
- ✓ White-label solutions
What's Included (And What's Not)
✓Included in All Packages
- • Next.js 15 architecture & deployment
- • Semantic SEO with Knowledge Graph IDs
- • Core Web Vitals optimization (100/100 target)
- • Mobile-responsive design
- • Self-healing URL architecture
- • Google Analytics setup
- • SSL certificate (free with hosting)
- • 30 days of post-launch support
✗Not Included (Quoted Separately)
- • Domain registration (R200/year)
- • Hosting (R200-R500/month depending on traffic)
- • Content writing (R500-R2,000/page)
- • Stock photography (R50-R200/image)
- • Logo design (R2,000-R5,000)
- • Custom illustrations
- • Ongoing SEO services (R2,000-R5,000/month)
- • Monthly maintenance (typically not needed for Next.js)
Frequently Asked Questions About Website Pricing
Why do Next.js websites cost more than WordPress sites?
Next.js websites require custom engineering, server-side rendering optimization, and semantic SEO architecture—specialized skills that command higher rates. WordPress sites use templates and plugins, reducing initial build time. However, the total cost of ownership over 3 years often favors Next.js: WordPress requires R500-R2,000/month maintenance, while Next.js requires minimal ongoing costs. Additionally, Next.js sites convert better due to faster load times, offsetting the initial investment through increased revenue.
Can I get a website for under R10,000?
Yes, but with significant trade-offs. Template-based sites from freelancers start at R2,500-R8,000 but typically have slow load times (3-5 seconds), limited SEO capabilities, and require ongoing maintenance. DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace) cost R1,500-R5,000 but lock you into their platform with limited customization. If you need a professional Next.js site with proper SEO, expect R15,000-R25,000 minimum. We recommend budgeting based on 3-year ROI, not just initial cost.
What payment options do you offer?
We offer flexible payment terms: 50% deposit to start, 50% on completion. For larger projects (R50,000+), we can arrange milestone-based payments. Unlike monthly subscription models that lock you into ongoing fees, our one-time pricing gives you full code ownership with no recurring charges beyond hosting (R200-R500/month depending on traffic).
How long does it take to build a website?
Business Landing Pages: 2-4 weeks. Small Business Websites: 4-8 weeks. E-Commerce Stores: 8-12 weeks. Enterprise Solutions: 12-20 weeks. Timeline depends on content delivery, revisions, and integration complexity. Rush projects can be accommodated at a 20-30% premium. We provide detailed timelines with milestones during consultation.
Do you offer maintenance packages?
Next.js sites require minimal maintenance due to static architecture and built-in optimization. We offer optional maintenance packages starting at R500/month for security updates, content changes, and performance monitoring. However, most Next.js clients don't need ongoing maintenance—the architecture is designed to be self-sustaining. This is a key differentiator from WordPress sites that require constant plugin updates and security patches.
Ready to Invest in a Digital Asset, Not Just a Website?
Get a custom quote based on your business goals, not arbitrary page counts. Let's discuss your requirements and calculate the true ROI.
Related Content
Website Development Services
Modern Next.js 15 development with entity-based SEO and architectural supremacy
Read More →Web Design Firm Services
Professional digital architecture firm engineering Next.js enterprise solutions
Read More →Custom Web Development
Enterprise solutions with transparent pricing and full code ownership
Read More →The True Cost of a Website in Johannesburg
Comprehensive guide to website pricing, including hidden costs and total cost of ownership
Read More →