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Do you want to know how much it costs to build a custom WordPress theme?
Creating a custom theme gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility regarding the layout and design of yours WordPress site. However, many people don’t opt for a custom theme because they think it will be expensive.
In this article, we’ll tell you how much a custom WordPress theme costs and some tips on how you can save money and avoid overpaying.
What is a custom WordPress theme?
A custom WordPress theme has a unique design, layout and feature set that is made specifically for your business needs.
There are many free and premium WordPress themes available, but a custom WordPress theme helps your business or brand stand out with a unique look.
The advantage of getting a custom WordPress theme is that you are not limited by the limitations of a pre-existing template or layout. You have complete freedom to customize your website and build any specific functionality into your theme.
Create custom themes Using a plugin vs. hiring a designer
Now you have many options to choose from when creating a WordPress theme. There are DIY theme designers that you can use yourself or you can hire a freelance designer and agency to create a WordPress theme.
Let’s take a closer look at what is better, using a plugin or hiring a professional.
Using the WordPress Theme Builder plugin
When you want to create a custom WordPress theme, you no longer have to depend on someone who can design and code your theme for you.
SeedProd it is WordPress site builder which made it very easy to create a custom theme from scratch without coding. It offers pre-made templates that you can use to get started quickly or use a blank template create a custom theme.
With DIY drag-and-drop page builders, you can easily customize every element of your theme.
Easily add and remove blocks from your theme, rearrange their order, edit color, size, font, background image, add your logo and change anything in the template.
Using SeedProd is the best choice if you want to create your own custom theme on a budget.
Hire a designer and developer to create a custom theme
On the other hand, you may be able to find an individual who can design and develop a website based on your needs. However, it is difficult to find a person who is great at both design and coding.
When you go with a full-service agency, it’s a one-stop shop because they have designers and developers on their team. This is also the reason that agencies are usually more expensive. Alternatively, you can hire an individual freelance designer and developer separately and manage the project yourself.
However, design and development is a creative process, so project costs vary based on expertise, experience in the field, and creativity.
Reputable WordPress development agencies can cost more than an individual developer or freelancer. A well-known WordPress developer can sometimes charge even more than an agency. Additionally, placing change orders to revise a theme can result in more expensive development.
Keep costs low with a clear project scope
Whether you decide to hire a professional or choose a theme builder plugin, a pro tip for keeping costs low is to have a clear project scope.
For example, when you are building a house, you usually have a list of features you want, such as 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a living room, etc.
You need to make a similar list for yours WordPress website and list all the things you would like to have, such as:
- Editable homepage with testimonials slider and list of services
- Contact page for contact form and a Google map with searchable directions
- Gallery space for the presentation of work
- Blog section with social media sharing buttons
Having a detailed list will make it easier for someone to give you an accurate quote. It also helps limit corrections or allowances for change orders and helps you stay within your budget.
Factors that affect the price of a custom WordPress theme
As each custom WordPress theme is built specifically for each client, project costs vary based on requirements.
Below are some factors that will affect the cost of your custom WordPress theme:
Features, functionality and expectations
Adding more features and functionality to a custom theme will increase development time and cost. Usually, clients have higher expectations than their budget allows.
Quality work with custom features will take longer and therefore cost more.
Similarly, you can claim a premium WordPress plugins to get the functionality you need for your website. This will increase the cost of custom theme development.
Change and revision orders
If you change the scope of your custom WordPress theme project in the middle of the process, it can significantly increase your costs.
While minor changes are fine, freelancers and agencies often charge a change order fee for larger change requests.
Hosting, maintenance and support
A custom WordPress theme does not include WordPress hostingmaintaining the website or offering post-project support.
Some agencies and freelancers may offer these services for an additional fee.
How much does a custom WordPress theme actually cost?
It used to be extremely difficult to explain how much a custom WordPress theme costs in fixed numbers because there were multiple factors to consider.
However, if you choose a drag-and-drop WordPress page editor, the cost of creating a custom WordPress theme is significantly reduced.
for example SeedProd offers its theme builder in the Pro plan starting at $199.50 per year. Simply use the plugin to create your own custom WordPress. Plus, if you add that to the cost of web hosting, a domain, and an SSL certificate, you can easily make a custom theme for under $500.
Nowadays, even many freelancers are now using drag and drop page builders to create custom WordPress themes as it helps them build custom websites faster.
You can see our detailed guide at how much does it really cost to build a WordPress website for more details.
On the other hand, when you hire a freelancer or agency, a custom WordPress theme for a business/personal website can cost between $1,500 and $5,000. A custom WordPress theme with additional built-in features or accompanying plugins can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000.
If you have a complex enterprise-level project, then it is not uncommon for custom project prices to exceed $30,000.
That’s why we highly recommend using a page builder to create a custom theme because the overall cost will be lower and you won’t have to spend a lot of money on freelancers and agencies.
How to avoid overpaying for a custom WordPress theme?
With over a decade of experience in the WordPress industry, we have some tips to help you avoid overpaying for a custom WordPress theme.
Look for live examples of websites for inspiration when possible
Sticking to a detailed scope and inspiration list really helps with the design process.
You can have a list of websites and list what you like on each one.
This gives the designer a clear idea of what you are looking for, reducing revisions and overall costs.
Use premium plugins versus custom built features
Most reputable WordPress experts will always choose a premium WordPress plugin compared to building from scratch because it is more efficient and saves costs.
However, as a customer, we always recommend that you do your own research as well. Often, the developer you choose may have other suggestions, and it’s important to understand why they chose to choose one plugin over another.
Customize premium themes vs. building from scratch
One way to significantly reduce costs while still having a custom look and feel is to find an existing theme that contains 90% of what you want. While this cheats the concept of a custom theme, it can significantly reduce the overall cost.
Powerful drag and drop WordPress site builders like SeedProd, Beaver Builder and Wild have given birth to a whole new industry of website builders. They come with different templates so you can easily choose one and customize it to your needs.
Professional website builders use existing WordPress plugins combined with a drag-and-drop page builder to create a custom WordPress website for you at a much more affordable price.
Find the right custom WordPress theme developer or agency
Due to its ease of use and low barrier to entry, there is a wide range of people and companies offering custom WordPress theme services.
Finding a developer or agency with the right experience and skills can be a bit tricky. Especially since many ‘website builders’ also call themselves developers.
Here are some places where you can find experienced developers for your custom WordPress theme project.
Coded – This is our pick no. 1 in finding high-quality WordPress developers vetted by a professional team. You can post your project there and get a free estimate.
WPHired – This is a job board where you can post your WordPress jobs. Developers can then apply for a job and you can discuss your project with them. You will need to look for developers with relevant experience and skills.
WordPress Jobs – Another WordPress-specific job board where you can post jobs and interview developers.
Upwork – An online freelance site where you can post your work and interview developers from around the world. This would allow you to find developers with lower rates. It is a huge community with designers and developers of various skills and experience.
With a custom WordPress theme, your website can stand out with its unique design and custom features. However, not all beginners and small businesses can afford it right away.
If you are just starting out, you can use the page builder as is SeedProd or a a premium multipurpose theme to create your own website theme for a fraction of the cost.
With a custom theme, you get unique branding, custom design, and customized functionality to help you grow your business faster and give you an edge over your competitors.
We hope this article helped you understand how much a custom WordPress theme costs and how you can avoid overpaying. You may also want to check out our guide on the best free business name generator and how to register a domain.
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