How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
What a small business website really costs: DIY builders, freelancers and agencies compared, the ongoing costs people forget, and how to get a fair quote.
A small business website can cost very little if you build it yourself on a website builder, or a significant one-off investment if a freelancer or agency designs it for you. On top of that, every website has ongoing costs: a domain name, hosting (or a builder subscription), and someone to keep it updated.
There’s no single correct price, because “a website” can mean a simple five-page site or a custom online store. Rather than quote numbers that change by country and go out of date quickly, this guide explains what you’re actually paying for, the three main ways to get a site built, and how to compare quotes fairly.
The three ways to get a website
| Option | Upfront cost | Ongoing cost | Your time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | Lowest | Monthly or yearly subscription | High | Very small budgets, simple needs |
| Freelancer | Moderate | Hosting plus optional care plan | Medium | Most small local businesses |
| Agency | Highest | Hosting, care plan, often marketing retainers | Low | Bigger budgets, complex sites, ongoing marketing |
Option 1: Build it yourself
Website builders like Wix, Squarespace and others let you build a site with templates. Your main cost is the monthly or yearly subscription, plus a domain. Check each builder’s current pricing page, as plans and prices change.
Hidden cost: your time. Many owners spend many evenings and weekends on it, and the result can still look like a template. Our comparison of Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress helps you choose a platform.
Option 2: Hire a freelancer
A good freelance web designer can build a professional site for a local business at a price well below most agencies. Quality varies a lot, so look at their past work, ask who owns the site afterwards and check reviews.
Option 3: Hire an agency
Agencies bring a team: designer, developer, copywriter, SEO. That costs more, but can make sense if you need a complex site, a strong brand or ongoing marketing.
What drives the price up or down
- Number of pages: five pages costs less than fifty.
- Custom design vs template: a unique design takes more time.
- Copywriting: do you write the words, or do they?
- Photography: your own photos, stock photos or a photographer?
- Features: booking systems, quote calculators, online payments, member areas.
- Online store: e-commerce adds products, payments, shipping and more testing.
- SEO setup: proper page titles, service pages and Google setup take time to do well.
- Integrations: linking to your CRM, booking or accounting software.
- Revisions and speed: more rounds of changes and tight deadlines cost more.
Ongoing costs people forget
| Cost | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Your web address (yourbusiness.com) | Renewed every year; keep it in your own name |
| Hosting or builder plan | Where the site lives | Monthly or yearly |
| Business email | you@yourbusiness.com | Often a separate subscription |
| Maintenance | Updates, backups, security, small edits | Essential for WordPress sites |
| SSL certificate | The padlock (https) | Often included free with hosting |
| Plugins, apps or themes | Extra features | Some charge yearly |
If someone offers a website for an unusually low price, check what’s included after launch, and whether you’ll own it.
Questions to ask before you pay anyone
- Who owns the website and domain when it’s done? It should be you.
- What exactly is included? Pages, copywriting, photos, SEO setup, forms.
- What are the ongoing costs for hosting and maintenance?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
- Will it work well on phones and load quickly?
- Can I edit it myself later, or do I have to pay for every change?
- What happens if I leave? Can I take the site with me?
- Can I see similar sites you’ve built, and talk to those clients?
How to get a fair quote
- Write a short brief: who you are, what you sell, who your customers are, what pages you need, and two or three sites you like.
- Get at least three quotes for the same brief.
- Compare what’s included, not just the total.
- Ask for the price in writing, broken into one-off and ongoing costs.
What a small business website actually needs
You probably need less than you think. For most local businesses:
- A homepage that says what you do, where, and how to contact you
- A page for each main service
- An about page with real photos of you and your team
- Reviews or testimonials
- A contact page with phone, email, form and service area
- Fast loading and a great experience on phones
See our full list of what pages a small business website should have.
Is a website worth the money?
A website that brings in even one or two extra customers a month often pays for itself quickly, especially for higher-value services. A website that nobody finds, or that confuses visitors, is wasted money at any price.
If you’re still deciding whether you need one at all, read does a small business still need a website?.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheap website worth it?
It can be, if it’s clear, fast, mobile-friendly and you own it. Problems usually come from cheap websites built on templates that look generic, load slowly, have no proper page titles, or are locked to the designer’s account. Ask exactly what’s included and what happens after launch.
Should I pay monthly for a website instead of upfront?
Some designers and agencies offer a monthly plan that includes design, hosting and updates, instead of a big upfront fee. It can help cash flow, but check the minimum contract length, the total you’ll pay over time, and whether you own the site and domain if you cancel.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A simple site can be built quickly if the content and photos are ready. In practice, the biggest delay is usually gathering the words, photos and decisions from the business owner. Have your service list, about information, reviews and photos ready before work starts.
Do I need to pay for SEO on top of a website?
Every website should include basic SEO setup: page titles, descriptions, a sitemap, mobile-friendly design and Search Console. Ongoing SEO work, like new content, reviews and links, is a separate service. Ask what’s included in the build, and see how much SEO costs if you’re comparing quotes.
Can I update the website myself after it’s built?
You should be able to change basic things like text, photos and opening hours. Ask before you hire anyone whether you’ll get training or simple instructions, and whether there’s a charge for small edits.
Summary
- DIY builders cost least upfront but take your time.
- Freelancers are the sweet spot for many local businesses.
- Agencies cost most and suit complex sites or ongoing marketing.
- Always budget for domain, hosting, email and maintenance.
- Own your domain and website, and get every quote in writing with clear inclusions.
Pay for a website the way you’d pay for any business tool: based on what it will bring back, not just on the lowest price.