Wail Saidani
Founder of DevDream
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In the French market, a contractor website generally costs EUR 800 to EUR 3,000 through a freelancer or small provider, and EUR 3,000 to EUR 10,000 through an established agency. DIY platforms often advertise EUR 0 to EUR 20/month, but platform ownership differs from owning a portable website. At DevDream, a complete contractor website costs a fixed EUR 900, goes live within 24 to 72 hours after content approval, and belongs fully to you on delivery.
This article explains those figures, what changes them and what to check before signing a quote.
What does a contractor website cost in 2026?
Website cost depends heavily on the provider and service model, rather than just the page count. In France, four pricing models coexist: DIY subscriptions, freelancers, conventional agencies and "EUR 0 website" offers tied to long subscriptions. Here are the ranges discussed in this guide.
| Type of provider | Starting price | Actual cost over 3 years | Site owner? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY platform (Wix and equivalents) | EUR 0 to EUR 20/month | Up to EUR 700 | No, you rent the tool |
| "EUR 0 website" with a subscription | EUR 0 at signing | Several thousand euros over 24 to 48 months | Rarely, unless explicitly stated |
| Freelance | EUR 800 to EUR 2,500 | Design plus hosting costs | Yes, if the contract provides for it |
| General-purpose agency | EUR 3,000 to EUR 10,000 | Design plus maintenance | Yes, if the contract provides for it |
| DevDream contractor website | Fixed EUR 900 | EUR 900 plus hosting, without a required platform subscription | Yes, 100% upon delivery |
These figures describe the French providers and industry guides discussed in the original 2026 article. What changes the calculation is what happens after signing, not just the advertised price : who owns the website and what it costs over three years.
What changes the price of a contractor website?
Four practical factors affect the price: custom design or a template, included SEO, useful page count and delivery time. A simple business website with services, contact details and reviews costs less than a larger multi-service site with a blog and online quote requests.
In detail, what weighs on the bill:
- Custom design or a generic template : a template is cheaper to produce, but may resemble a nearby competitor's website.
- Local SEO included : Google Business Profile improvements and a structure for "trade + city" searches, or a business website without a local-search plan.
- Number of pages and features : quote-request form, project gallery or booking.
- Writing the copy : written by a professional or supplied by the contractor.
- Delivery time and responsiveness : a site delivered in a few days often costs less in project management costs than a project spread over two months.
A building contractor does not generally need a ten-page website with an online store. They need a clear, fast website that builds confidence and supports visibility for their trade and area. Paying for unused features is an avoidable expense.
What should you watch for in "free" or subscription websites?
A common trap is a "free" website tied to a 24- to 48-month subscription, without ownership of the website or domain. When the subscription ends, the website can disappear along with the visibility built around it.
Three signals to check before signing:
- Actual ownership of the site and domain name : ask in writing who controls the code and domain if you stop paying.
- Contract term and cancellation conditions : some contracts require several months' notice and renew automatically.
- The actual cumulative cost over 3 years, rather than just the monthly payment highlighted in the advertisement.
In France, CAPEB (the Confederation of Crafts and Small Building Businesses) negotiated an offer with its partner Simplébo at EUR 400 excluding VAT plus EUR 9.90/month excluding VAT, specifically stating that the contractor retains website ownership after cancellation. Even a building trade organization treats ownership as a baseline safeguard.
"A rented site that disappears the day you stop paying is not a website, it is a mortgage on your visibility," says Wail Saidani, founder of DevDream. (Translated from French.)
The subject deserves an article in its own right: why owning your site changes everything details what you actually risk with a rented site, and how to check it before signing.
Freelancer, agency or platform: which suits a contractor budget?
For a limited budget and a local business website, a specialist freelancer or small provider can offer a strong balance of price and practical results. A general-purpose agency can make sense for a larger site or substantial content strategy. For a concrete example, the Velis Assurances case study explains the budget, timing and changes after launch, while my page on website creation in Villeneuve-la-Garenne shows how I work with local businesses. A DIY platform can involve substantial setup time, which may outweigh the savings for a contractor focused on local visibility.
| Criterion | DIY platform | Freelancer or small provider | General-purpose agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting budget | Low | Medium | High |
| Time required from the contractor | High (do it all yourself) | Low | Low |
| Local search | Rarely strong | Variable, to be checked | Often included but charged |
| Site ownership | No | To be negotiated by contract | To be negotiated by contract |
| Suitable for a sole contractor | No | Yes | Often more than needed |
For a sole contractor or small business, I recommend a specialist provider that delivers a website you own, without a required platform subscription. This is the part of the French market where I position DevDream's offer.
Why does DevDream charge EUR 900?
DevDream charges a fixed EUR 900 for a complete business website, published within 24 to 72 hours after content approval, without a required platform subscription, with full ownership on delivery and three months of follow-up. It is neither the lowest nor highest market price: it covers a contractor website without unnecessary paid extras.
What this price actually includes:
- A custom business website, rather than a recycled template.
- Publication within 24 to 72 hours after content approval.
- Full ownership of the code and domain from day one.
- Three months of follow-up to adjust copy, photos and settings.
This operation is detailed on the page contractor web design : the offer, what is included and how a project moves from the first conversation to launch.
Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
| Question | Key point | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| The French-market price ranges in 2026 | EUR 800 to EUR 3,000 with a freelancer or small provider | Paying three to ten times more for an equivalent basic website |
| The real cost | Calculated over 3 years, not on the monthly payment displayed | "EUR 0 websites" with subscriptions costing thousands |
| Ownership | Website and domain ownership in writing on delivery | A rented site that disappears when you stop paying |
| SEO | Considered during the build, rather than added later | An attractive website with little search visibility |
| The DevDream offer | Fixed EUR 900, 24- to 72-hour delivery after content approval, full ownership | None: ownership and scope are stated in writing. |
A contractor website does not have to cost EUR 5,000, but a subscription that makes it disappear can be costly too. Ask three questions: who owns it, what it costs over three years and how it supports local visibility. Comparing quotes and want a candid opinion? Let's talk about your project.
Founder of DevDream, a web and AI workshop for contractors and small businesses in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, near Paris, France (92). I have built websites that bring in customers since 2018 and automate small-business paperwork. Rated 5.0/5 on Google (16 reviews).
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