Stop Googling. Here's exactly what you'll pay for a small business website in 2026 — from DIY to full agency builds, plus the hidden costs everyone forgets about.
Key Takeaways
Basic websites cost $1,500-$5,000. That covers design, development, and launch for a standard business site.
DIY builders seem cheap but cost you time. Wix and Squarespace save money upfront but limit growth and SEO performance.
Ongoing costs add up fast. Hosting, maintenance, SSL, and updates run $50-200/month depending on platform.
Custom builds have the best ROI long-term. Higher upfront cost but faster speeds, better SEO, and lower maintenance.
The cheapest option isn't always the cheapest. A $500 site that doesn't convert costs more than a $3,000 site that does.
The Three Price Tiers (What You Actually Pay)
1. DIY Websites: $0 - $500
If you've got time and patience, you can build a basic site yourself using Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com.
- Platform fees: $16-40/month (Wix, Squarespace)
- Domain: $12-15/year
- Email: $6-12/month (Google Workspace or similar)
- Stock photos: $0-100 (Unsplash is free; premium stock costs)
Real cost: $200-500/year, plus 20-40 hours of your time learning the builder, writing copy, and troubleshooting. According to the Small Business Administration, establishing a professional online presence is critical for growth. Good for absolute beginners or hobby sites. Not great if you need custom features, serious SEO, or a design that doesn't scream "template."
Want help with this? Get a free quote from Digitalwiz →
2. Freelancer Builds: $1,000 - $5,000
Hire a freelancer on Upwork, Fiverr, or via referral. You'll get a semi-custom site built on WordPress, Webflow, or a modern framework.
- Design + development: $1,500-3,500
- Domain + hosting: $50-200/year
- Copywriting: $0-500 (most freelancers don't write copy; you do)
- Revisions: Usually 2-3 rounds included
Real cost: $1,500-5,000 upfront, plus hosting. Quality varies wildly — you might get a rockstar or someone who ghosts after payment. Always check portfolios and reviews. Timelines: 2-6 weeks if they're not juggling 10 other clients. Not sure which platform to pick? Read our guide on the best website platform for small businesses.
3. Agency Builds: $5,000 - $20,000+
Full-service agencies handle design, development, copywriting, SEO setup, and strategy. According to Clutch's 2024 survey, 71% of small businesses now have a website, and those who invest in professional builds report significantly higher conversion rates. You get a polished, conversion-optimized site built with your business goals in mind.
- Design + development: $5,000-15,000
- Custom features: +$1,000-5,000 (booking systems, e-commerce, integrations)
- Copywriting: $500-2,000
- SEO setup: $500-1,500
- Branding (if needed): $1,000-3,000
Real cost: $5,000-20,000+ upfront. Timelines: 4-12 weeks depending on complexity. You're paying for expertise, polish, and someone who won't ghost you. Worth it if your website is your main sales tool or you need serious performance.
💡 Digitalwiz Pricing
We build custom small business websites starting at $1,500 — fully responsive, SEO-ready, and designed to convert. No templates, no cookie-cutter crap. You get a real website that looks like it cost 5x more.
What Affects the Price?
Number of Pages
- 5 pages (Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog): Base price
- 10+ pages: Add $200-500 per additional page
- E-commerce (50+ products): Add $2,000-5,000
Custom Design vs Templates
- Pre-made template: Cheaper, faster, looks like everyone else's site
- Custom design: Costs more, takes longer, but you own a unique brand identity
Features & Integrations
- Contact form: Free
- Booking system (Calendly, Acuity): $300-1,000
- E-commerce (WooCommerce, Shopify): $1,000-5,000
- Member portal / login: $2,000-5,000+
- Custom CRM integration: $1,500-3,000+
SEO Setup
Basic on-page SEO (meta tags, alt text, sitemap): usually included. Advanced SEO (keyword research, content strategy, backlinks): $500-2,000 setup, then $300-1,000/month ongoing. Wondering if SEO is worth the investment? Read our honest breakdown: Is SEO worth it for a small business in Charlotte?
💡 Digitalwiz Tip
We build websites for Charlotte-area businesses starting at $1,500. See what we can do for you →
The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About
Hosting: $10 - $50/month
- Cheap shared hosting (Bluehost, Hostinger): $3-10/month — slow, unreliable
- Managed WordPress hosting (WP Engine, Kinsta): $30-50/month — fast, reliable, worth it
- Cloud hosting (Vercel, Netlify): $0-20/month — best for modern sites
Domain: $12 - $15/year
Buy from Namecheap, Google Domains, or Cloudflare. Avoid GoDaddy's upsell spam. Pro tip: Never let your domain expire or someone will snipe it.
SSL Certificate: $0 - $100/year
Most hosts include free SSL (Let's Encrypt). If yours doesn't, switch hosts.
Maintenance & Updates: $50 - $200/month
WordPress sites need plugin updates, security patches, and backups. DIY it or pay someone $50-200/month to handle it. Skipping this = eventual hacks or crashes.
Content Updates: $0 - $500/month
Adding blog posts, updating images, tweaking copy. Either learn to do it yourself (free) or hire someone ($50-100/hour).
FAQ: Website Costs
How much should I budget for a small business website?
Plan for $1,500-5,000 upfront, plus $200-500/year for hosting, domain, and maintenance. If you want e-commerce or custom features, budget $3,000-10,000.
Can I build a website for free?
Sort of. Free plans from Wix or WordPress.com give you a website, but with their branding, a weak domain (yoursite.wix.com), and limited features. Fine for testing; terrible for serious business.
What's the cheapest way to get a professional website?
Hire a freelancer or small agency ($1,500-3,000). You'll get a real site without the DIY learning curve or agency price tag.
Do I need to pay someone to maintain my website?
Depends. If you're on WordPress, yes — updates and backups matter. Modern platforms (Webflow, Vercel) need way less babysitting. Budget $50-200/month for peace of mind. Still not sure if you even need a website? We break that down too: Do I need a website for my small business?
How long does it take to build a website?
- DIY: 1-4 weeks (if you hustle)
- Freelancer: 2-6 weeks
- Agency: 4-12 weeks
Final Thoughts
A website isn't an expense — it's an investment. According to Google research, 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take over 3 seconds to load — speed matters. If your site brings in 2 customers a month and each is worth $500, you've already paid for it.
Don't cheap out on something that represents your business 24/7. But also don't overpay for features you don't need.
Our advice: Start with a solid 5-page site ($1,500-3,000), invest in good hosting and SEO, and scale from there. You can always add features later.
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