How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
A realistic breakdown of website costs in 2026 — from free DIY options to professional builds.
2 min read · Updated 2026-04-15
Short answer
A basic small business website costs $0–$500/year if you build it yourself, or $1,500–$10,000+ if you hire a web designer. Ongoing costs (hosting, domain) run $100–$500/year regardless.
DIY website costs
| Platform | Monthly cost | Annual cost | |----------|-------------|-------------| | Wix | $17–$35 | $204–$420 | | Squarespace | $16–$49 | $192–$588 | | Shopify (eCommerce) | $29–$299 | $348–$3,588 | | WordPress + Bluehost | ~$3–$10 | $36–$120 |
Add $10–$20/year for a domain name from Namecheap or Google Domains.
Hiring a web designer
- Freelancer: $500–$3,000 for a basic 5-page site
- Local agency: $2,000–$10,000+
- Ongoing maintenance: $50–$200/month if you want someone to manage updates
What actually drives the cost up
- Custom design — templates are cheap; custom design is expensive
- eCommerce — selling products adds significant complexity
- Number of pages — a 3-page site vs a 30-page site
- Copywriting — someone has to write the words
- SEO setup — a properly optimized site costs more upfront but pays off
The honest verdict
For most local businesses (restaurants, salons, consultants), a $16–$35/month Squarespace or Wix site is all you need. Don't pay $5,000 for a custom website before you know whether your business model works online.