How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?

When a business owner asks me how much a website costs, my answer is simple: it depends on what you need. I give every website a tailored fit price. That means the price fits the work your business actually needs, not one fixed price for everyone.

That answer can sound like I'm avoiding the question, so this article explains it. You'll see what makes a website cost more, what you pay after it goes live, and what to ask before you pay anyone. That includes me.

01Why one price can't fit every business

Two business owners can both ask for "a website" and mean very different things.

One needs a few pages that say who they are, what they do, and how to reach them. Another needs online booking, a sign-up form, and a page for every service they sell, so customers can find each one on Google.

If I gave them the same price, one would pay too much. The other would get too little.

So I start with what your business needs. The price comes after.

02What makes a website cost more

More pages. Each page needs its own design and its own words. A five-page site is less work than a twenty-page site.

Writing the words. Someone has to write what your website says. If you already have your words ready, that part is done. If not, writing them is part of the work.

Booking, forms, and payments. Every tool your site uses has to be set up, connected, and tested. A contact form is quick. Online booking or taking payments takes more time.

Moving an old site. If you already have a website, your pages, words, and photos have to come over to the new one. Each old web address also has to point to its new page, so you don't lose the visitors Google already sends you.

Getting found on Google and AI search. Helping Google and tools like ChatGPT understand your business takes extra work: the right words on each page, clear page titles, and labels that tell search engines what your business is. It also takes patience. Google's own starter guide says some changes show up in search within hours, and others take months.

03What you pay after your site goes live

The build is not the only cost. Plan for these too.

Your domain name. This is your web address, like yourbusiness.com. The U.S. Small Business Administration says getting your business online starts with registering a domain name, and that you need to renew it regularly.

Hosting. This is where your website lives online so people can visit it.

Care and updates. Small changes, fixes, and keeping your site safe and fast.

Website builder apps work differently. Squarespace and Wix both charge a monthly fee for their plans. Both cost less per month if you pay for a full year at once, and both include a free domain with yearly plans. You keep paying as long as your site stays on their app.

When I build a website, you own the code, the domain, and the hosting. There are no monthly fees to me unless you choose a care plan.

04Ask these questions before you pay anyone

Whoever you hire, ask these first:

Can you show me sites you've built? Look at real work, not just promises.

What will I own when it's done? You should own your website, your domain, and your words. If you leave, they should leave with you.

What will I pay every month after launch? Get the full number, not just the build price.

What results can I expect, and when? Google suggests asking this in its guide to hiring help with search. The same guide warns: "No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google." If someone promises you the top spot, don't hire them.

05Where my prices start

Because every site gets a tailored fit price, my prices are starting points. The final price depends on how many pages you need and how much each one has to do.

Right now, I'm offering founding-client prices while I grow my portfolio. My website builds are 50% off for websites I build through December 2027. The prices below already include the 50% off. For example, Start Fresh will later start at $3,594. Until then, it starts at $1,797.

Start Fresh, from $1,797. A brand-new website with up to 5 main pages, for a business starting from zero.

Rebrand, from $2,397. A full rebuild of the site you already have. Your content moves over, and you keep your domain.

Managed Migration, from $9,997. For businesses that get most of their customers from Google. It moves your site without losing those visitors. This one is a custom quote.

SEO & AI add-on, $2,000. Extra work so Google and AI search can find you from day one. It's already part of Managed Migration.

You pay half to book and half when your site goes live. You can see everything each plan includes on my website pricing page.

Not sure what your business needs yet? Start with a website audit. The quick 60-second scan is free. The full audit is $57, and it counts in full toward a website build if you start within 30 days.

Tell me what your business needs first. Then I'll give you a clear price that fits.