"How much does a website cost?" is the question we hear more than any other. The honest answer is "it depends," but that's not very useful when you're trying to plan a budget. So here's what actually goes into the price, what's worth paying for, and what to watch out for.
The three costs every website has
No matter who builds your site, you'll pay for three things:
- The build. Designing the pages, writing or placing the text, adding photos, and making it all work on phones. This is usually a one-time cost.
- Hosting. The server that keeps your site online 24 hours a day. This is a monthly or yearly cost for as long as the site is live.
- The domain name. Your web address, like yourbusiness.com. A .com usually runs somewhere around $10 to $25 a year.
If someone quotes you a price, ask which of these three it covers. A low build price with an expensive monthly plan can cost more over a year than a higher build price with cheap hosting. Always add it up over 12 months.
Your options, from cheapest to most expensive
1. Do it yourself with a website builder
Tools like Wix, Squarespace or GoDaddy's builder let you make a site yourself for a monthly subscription.
- Good for: owners who enjoy this kind of thing and have the time.
- Watch out for: the time it takes. Most people underestimate it. You'll also be the one fixing it when something breaks, and many DIY sites end up looking fine on a computer but awkward on a phone.
2. A freelancer or a small local company
This is where most small businesses land. Prices vary a lot, from a few hundred dollars for a simple site to a few thousand for something bigger.
- Good for: businesses that want a professional site without agency prices, and want a real person they can call.
- Watch out for: who owns the site when it's done, and what happens if the person disappears. Ask both questions before you pay.
3. A larger agency
Agencies can do custom design, branding, video and big marketing campaigns. They usually charge accordingly, often several thousand dollars or more.
- Good for: businesses with bigger budgets and bigger needs.
- Watch out for: paying for features you'll never use.
What makes a website cost more?
The price goes up with:
- Number of pages. A 3-page site (Home, About, Contact) is much less work than a 15-page site.
- Online payments and bookings. Taking money or appointments online adds setup and testing.
- An online store. Products, photos, shipping and sales-tax settings take real time, especially if someone loads the products for you.
- Custom design. A layout designed from scratch costs more than one built from a proven starting point.
- Writing. If you need someone to write all your text, that's extra work.
- Revisions. More rounds of changes means more hours.
The costs people forget
These are the ones that surprise people later:
- Updates and fixes. Websites need care. Software updates, broken links, new photos and changed hours all take time. Find out if that's included or billed separately.
- Security and backups. If your site gets hacked or breaks, can it be restored? Make sure backups are part of your hosting.
- Email. A professional email address (you@yourbusiness.com) is often a separate monthly cost.
- Getting found. A website alone doesn't bring traffic. Showing up on Google takes a filled-out Google Business Profile, good reviews, and sometimes SEO or ads.
So what should a small local business expect to pay?
For most small businesses (a contractor, salon, restaurant or shop), a simple, professional site with a few pages, a contact form, a tap-to-call button and your hours and map is plenty to start. You can always add pages, booking or a store later.
Here's how our own pricing works, so you have a real example to compare with:
- Basic website: $125 one-time. 3 pages, mobile-friendly, contact form, click-to-call, Google Maps and hours. You own the finished site.
- Starter + CMS: $299. Up to 5 pages, plus an admin panel so you can edit your own text and photos.
- Business Pro: $559. 8–10 pages with online payments and a booking tool.
- Online stores start at $899.
Website packages include a 12-month hosting plan, starting at $55 a month, which covers hosting, SSL (the padlock in the browser), backups and uptime monitoring. Full details are on our pricing page.
We share this not to say we're the only option, but because a real price list makes it easier to compare quotes.
Questions to ask any web designer before you pay
- What's the total cost for the first year, including hosting and domain?
- Who owns the website and the domain when it's done?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
- Will it work well on phones?
- What happens if something breaks? Who fixes it, and is there a charge?
- Are backups included?
- Can I make small edits myself, or do I have to ask you every time?
If you get clear answers to all seven, you're in good shape, whoever you hire.
The bottom line
You don't need to spend thousands to get a website that works. For most local businesses, the best first website is simple: clear about what you do, easy to use on a phone, and easy to call from. Spend your money on getting that right, then grow from there.
Have a quote you're not sure about, or want to know what your business actually needs? Send us a message and our team will give you a straight answer. No pressure.