In this article
Updated October 2026
Short answer: in 2026, a small business website costs about $200 to $500 a year if you build it yourself, $1,000 to $5,000 from a freelancer, $2,000 to $15,000 from an agency, or $100 to $500 a month for a plan that handles everything. After that, you pay for the domain, hosting and upkeep.
The ranges are wide because “a website” can mean a three-page site you build on a Sunday or a custom site with service pages, a booking calendar and someone keeping it running. Below is what each option costs, what you get for the money, and what most quotes leave out.
What a website costs, by option
| Option | Upfront | Ongoing | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build it yourself on a website builder | $0 | About $17–$40/month for a business plan, billed yearly | Owners with time who want to start cheap | Your hours, plus a domain bill after the free first year |
| Hire a freelancer | About $1,000–$5,000 (simple sites can be less) | Hosting and upkeep, often extra | A one-time build at a moderate price | Who fixes things after launch, and who holds the logins |
| Hire an agency | About $2,000–$15,000; complex sites $30,000+ | Care plans often $150–$500/month | Bigger sites, custom features, online stores | Paying for more than a local service business needs |
| Monthly website plan | $0 to a setup fee | About $100–$500/month | Owners who want it built and kept running for them | What you keep if you cancel |
Building it yourself. Website builders charge a monthly fee that covers hosting and the editing tools. On yearly billing, Wix runs $17 to $159 a month and Squarespace starts at $19. A basic business site usually fits the lower plans. The real cost is your time: writing the pages, taking photos, and fixing things when they break.
A freelancer. For a simple site of five to eight pages, most freelancers quote between $1,000 and $5,000. The good ones are a bargain. Before you pay, ask who handles hosting, updates and small edits after launch, because that is often not in the quote.
An agency. Agencies charge more for a team, a process and more polish. For a typical local service business, a small agency in the $2,000 to $6,000 range covers what you need. Bigger budgets buy custom features most trades don’t use.
A monthly plan. Some companies build the site and charge a flat monthly fee for hosting, updates and support. You pay less upfront and more over time. It works well if you’d rather never think about the website again.
The costs after launch
The build is the first bill, not the last. Every website has running costs, whoever builds it.
| Cost | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name (.com) | About $10–$25 a year | The wholesale price of a .com rises to $10.97 on November 1, 2026. A $1 first year often renews at $20 or more |
| Hosting | About $30–$200 a year for a basic site | Included with website builders. Low prices usually need a multi-year prepay |
| Security and updates | $50–$300 a month if you pay someone | Free if you do it yourself, but it takes time and know-how |
| Small edits | Often $50–$150 an hour from a freelancer | New hours, prices, photos and seasonal offers add up |
One rule worth following: register the domain in your own name, with your own login. If your web person disappears, the domain is the one thing you can’t easily replace. (More on that in our answer to Who owns my website?)
What pushes the price up or down
- Number of pages. A page for each service and the towns you cover costs more than a single page, but it gives customers a page that matches what they searched for.
- Who writes the words. Sending finished text and photos saves money. Having the designer write it all adds time to the bill.
- Custom design or a template. A template adapted to your brand costs far less than a design built from scratch.
- Features. Online booking, quote forms, website chat and review requests each add setup work.
- Online store. Selling products online is a different, bigger project. Most trades don’t need one.
- Who maintains it. A cheap build with no plan for updates often costs more later, when something breaks during your busy season.
Questions to ask before you pay anyone
- What is the total for the first year, including the domain, hosting and any monthly fees?
- What does it cost each year after that?
- Who owns the domain, and is it registered in my name?
- Who makes small changes, how fast, and what do they cost?
- Who handles security, updates and backups?
- What happens to my site, text, photos and contact list if I leave?
- How many rounds of changes are included before launch?
A good web designer answers all seven in writing before you sign. For more on ownership, see our FAQ answer to Who owns my website?
What we charge, and who it’s for
We publish our price so you can compare. The Website Care Plan is $297 a month plus a $750 one-time setup, month to month. The first year comes to $4,314.
That covers:
- A website built for you: core pages, a page for each main service, and the towns you cover
- Hosting, security and updates, plus unlimited small edits, usually done within 2 business days
- Website chat, automated review requests and lead follow-up
- A monthly check of your forms, call buttons, chat and security
- Your domain registered in your name. Cancel anytime, and you keep the domain, your page text, photos and lead list
It isn’t the cheapest option on this page. If you have the time and only need a simple site, a website builder costs less. The plan fits owners who would rather be on the job and want the website, and the follow-up, handled.
Not sure what your current site needs? Get a free site review and we’ll email you a short, honest review within 2 business days. Or book a free call.
FAQ
How much does a website cost per month?
On a website builder, about $17 to $40 a month for a business plan billed yearly. Monthly plans that include the build and upkeep usually run $100 to $500 a month. Basic hosting alone can cost a few dollars a month.
How much does a 5-page website cost?
For a simple site of up to about eight pages, freelancers often quote $500 to $2,500 and small agencies $2,000 to $6,000.
Can I make a business website for free?
Some builders have free plans, but they show the builder’s ads and don’t let you use your own domain. For a business, a paid plan is worth it.
How much does website maintenance cost?
If you pay someone for security, updates and backups, expect about $50 to $300 a month. Some monthly plans include it.
Is a cheap website worth it?
It can be, if it loads fast on a phone, shows your services and towns, and makes it easy to call. A cheap site that nobody updates often costs more in lost jobs than it saved.