Pay monthly websites for UK small businesses

What a pay monthly website is

The traditional way to get a website is to pay a designer a one-off fee for the build, then sort out hosting, email and updates separately, often with different people. A pay monthly website rolls all of that into one subscription. You get the design, the hosting and the ongoing care for a single monthly price, and there's no large sum to find before you start.

Providers do it differently, though. Who owns what, which changes cost extra and how you leave can all vary, so it's worth checking those things before you sign up anywhere. That includes with me, which is why everything is set out plainly on this page.

What's included for £14.99 a month

• A custom-designed website of up to 20 pages. It's designed around your business, your customers and the way you talk, not picked from a template gallery.
• Managed hosting. Your site lives on hosting I set up and look after.
• SSL certificate. The padlock in the browser, so visitors (and Google) know the connection is secure.
• Up to 10 branded email addresses on your own domain, for example you@yourbusiness.co.uk.
• An AI chat assistant trained on your business. It answers common questions about opening hours, services, prices and how to book, using information you've approved.
• A text edit portal. After launch you can update your own wording whenever you like.
• An AI chat console. See what people are asking your assistant, and adjust what it knows.
• Your domain, connected for you. You buy and own your domain, and I connect it to your site and email.
• Ongoing maintenance and support. Small and occasional changes (text, photos, opening hours) are included.

You're billed monthly by card through Stripe, and your subscription starts on the day your site launches. I'm not VAT-registered, so there's no VAT to add: the price is simply £14.99 a month.

What isn't included

• Large online shops or complex database systems. They're outside what I build, and I'd rather say so now than disappoint you later.
• Big changes after launch. Redesigning a page or adding new sections or features is charged for my time. I'll always tell you the cost before I start, so nothing appears on a bill unexpectedly.
• The domain name itself. You buy it from a registrar in your own name, so it's always yours. I'll connect it for you, and if you haven't bought one yet I'm happy to help you choose. My guide to domain names explains what they typically cost.

Pay monthly or pay up front?

There are three common ways to get a small business website. None of them is right for everyone, so here's an honest comparison.

For typical price ranges for each option, see how much a website costs in the UK.

What it costs over time

Plain arithmetic, with no small print. At £14.99 a month, a year comes to £179.88, two years to £359.76 and three years to £539.64. There's no setup fee before that.

To be fair about it: if you want a site that never changes and you're happy to manage hosting yourself, a one-off build can work out cheaper over several years. What the monthly fee pays for isn't just the build. It's the hosting, SSL, email, the AI chat assistant, maintenance and having someone to ask when you need a hand. For many small businesses that's the part that matters, but it's your call.

Who owns what

Your domain is always yours. You buy it and it's registered in your name from day one.

Your website. While you subscribe, I host it and look after it for you. If you'd ever like to stop the hosting service, you can buy the finished website outright for a one-off £199. I'll transfer the files to you, you can host them wherever you like, and the monthly fee ends. If you cancel without buying it, your site stays live until exactly one month after your last payment, and then it's deactivated.

The full details are in my terms of service.

How it works

1. Tell me your idea. It doesn't matter whether you've got it all planned out or just a rough feeling for what you want.
2. I design a first draft. The first design is usually quick, so you see a real design early on, not just a description.
3. We get it right together. Tell me what you'd like changed and I'll action it quickly. Design tweaks are free until launch, and we take as long as you need.
4. Launch. Your site goes live when it's 100% how you want it, and your subscription starts that day. After that you can update your text in the edit portal, or just ask me.

There's no fixed deadline. Your site is ready when you're completely happy with it.

Who builds your site

I'm Lea Dean, a solo web designer trading as UptoData. When you work with me, you deal with the person who actually designs and builds your site, from the first draft to the changes you ask for months later. I work with clients wherever they're based, because everything happens online, and I usually reply within 24 hours.

I use modern tools, including AI, to work efficiently, and I put that saving into the price rather than cutting corners on design.

Examples of what I can build

These are demo sites I've designed to show different styles and features. They aren't client websites.

• Stucco on Trend (demo): a Venetian plastering specialist
• Needle and Thread (demo): a luxury tailoring and alterations atelier
• Luxe Mobile Valet (demo): a premium mobile car valeting service
• Beats Live Showroom (demo): a motion showcase with carousel, animated text and physics interactions

Is a pay monthly website right for you?

It's likely to suit you if you want a properly designed site without a large upfront cost, you'd rather not deal with hosting and updates, and you like having one person to ask when something needs changing. It works well for trades, coaches and therapists and other service businesses.

It may not be the best fit if you need a large online shop, or if you want to manage your own hosting from day one. Even then, you can always buy the finished site outright later.

Frequently asked questions