How to make the right choices?

With this article, you will:

• understand the stakes of creating a website when launching or developing a business in Luxembourg;

• know when and how to engage a professional service provider;

• identify best practices, common pitfalls, and indicative budget ranges.

Introduction: key questions to ask yourself

Before launching your web project, take a step back and answer these five questions clearly:

1. Will I own my website and have full access rights?
2. Will my website be clear and usable on mobile?
3. Can a client understand within seconds what I offer?
4. Do I know how people will find me online?
5. If you cannot answer these clearly, you risk creating a beautiful… but ineffective website.

If you cannot answer these clearly, you risk creating a beautiful… but ineffective website. Creating a website is not just about choosing a design. Without these fundamentals, even the most attractive site will fail to deliver results.

Thinking about visibility in the age of AI

With the growing integration of artificial intelligence into search engines and everyday platforms (Google, Siri, YouTube, Amazon…), your website remains a primary reference source feeding these tools (traditional search engine optimisation, or SEO).

In practical terms, it is no longer only about appearing in a list of search results, but about being understood, cited, and recommended when clients ask questions online — whether in writing, verbally, or through digital assistants (often referred to as GEO, optimisation for AI-based engines and assistants).
A clear, structured, and useful website increases your visibility across all channels.

Building your website yourself: for whom and under what conditions?

Thanks to tools such as WordPress, SiteW, Webflow, and others, building your own website has become much more accessible.

A simple, well-designed website can become a real business lever: generating revenue from launch, clearly presenting your services, and maintaining flexibility in your communication.

For what purpose?

Before starting, ask a simple question: what should your website achieve?

• Showcase website: ideal for freelancers or micro-service businesses.
• Business-oriented professional site: for a more structured activity.
• E-commerce site: if you sell online.

EIS tip: your website must align with your strategy — not the other way around.

What should you anticipate?

Building your website yourself means managing your domain name and hosting, configuring forms and email systems, integrating payment solutions if needed, and ensuring updates and security.

As a rough indication, expect annual costs between €250 and €500, excluding your own time investment.

Working with a professional: design studio or agency?

If your brand image is strategic, if time is limited, or if your website is more complex, outsourcing may be highly relevant. However, service providers differ significantly.

Design studio vs. communication agency

In practice, both models are complementary. Agencies often collaborate with studios as creative partners. The right choice depends on your priorities and budget.

How much does a website cost (and how long does it take to get one)?

Budget depends largely on the provider, rates, complexity, and specific features (e-commerce, client portals, internal tools, etc.).

The main cost drivers are not project size alone, but the level of customisation, finish quality, and technical complexity.

Indicative budget ranges in Luxembourg:

• Basic “business card” page: from €300 excl. VAT
• Complete landing page: from €1,500 excl. VAT
• Showcase website: from €4,000 excl. VAT (depending on number of pages
• E-commerce website: from €7,000 excl. VAT (depending on features)

Timelines range from several weeks to several months depending on the project. Plan ahead and contact multiple providers early.

Good to know

A website project for a small local business, valued between €3,000 and €25,000 excl. VAT, may under certain conditions qualify for co-financing under the SME Package Digital, with up to 70% of the final invoice covered by the State. Some sectors are excluded, but most retailers and artisans are eligible. Contact your professional chamber for details.

Special attention for e-commerce

Launching an online shop does not end at publication. An e-commerce site requires ongoing effort and budget: increasing visibility, improving customer experience, optimising purchasing journeys, and adapting the offer based on feedback. Your service provider should guide you in making informed decisions over time.

Expert insight from EIS

“Creating a website is not about ‘building a showcase,’ but about constructing a coherent tool aligned with your values and identity that works for you daily. My first advice is to start with the business objective: what do you concretely expect from your website? Quote requests, bookings, sales, calls, credibility? Without clarity, you risk getting lost in design, pages, and features.

Next, simplify as much as possible: a clear structure, a value proposition understandable in 10 seconds, and a user journey designed primarily for mobile. Today, most visitors arrive via smartphone. A slow-loading site or one that forces users to ‘search’ for information will lose clients before you have the chance to convince them.

Enfin, ne négligez pas le contenu et la visibilité. Un site peut être très bien conçu et rester invisible sans un minimum de stratégie SEO, et sans des contenus qui répondent aux questions réelles de vos clients. Finally, do not overlook content and visibility. A website can be very well designed and still remain invisible without a minimum SEO strategy and without content that genuinely answers your clients’ real questions. » — Olivier Kohnen, Co-founder of creative studio Lunivers.