How much does a small business website cost in 2026?
Short answer: a small business website costs about $200 to $1,000 in the first year if you build it yourself on Wix or Squarespace, $1,500 to $5,000 with a freelancer, and $5,000 to $25,000 with an agency. After launch, budget $10 to $15 a year for your domain and roughly $10 to $200 a month for hosting and upkeep, depending on how much help you want.
Prices below were checked in November 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
Website cost by who builds it
| Option | Upfront cost | Ongoing cost | Time to launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself Wix, Squarespace | $200–$1,000 | $17–$159 / month for the plan | 1–2 weeks of your time |
| Freelancer template or custom | $1,500–$8,000 | $50–$200 / month if they maintain it | 2–6 weeks |
| Agency | $5,000–$25,000 | Retainers often higher | 6–12 weeks |
The freelancer range is wide because it covers everything from a customized template to a fully custom design. Most 5-page small business sites from a freelancer land around $3,000 to $5,000.
What DIY builders really cost
Builders look cheap because there is no big upfront bill, but the plan is a cost you pay every year for as long as the site is online. On annual billing in the US:
| Builder | Plans (per month, billed yearly) | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | Light $17 · Core $29 · Business $39 · Business Elite $159 | Paying month to month costs more |
| Squarespace | Basic $19 · Core $29 · Plus $49 · Advanced $99 | 2% fee on product sales on Basic, on top of card fees |
On a mid-tier plan at $29 a month, that is about $350 a year, or around $1,750 over five years, before apps, premium templates or your own hours. DIY is a good fit if you enjoy the work and your site is simple. If your time is better spent running the business, it is often not the cheapest option in the long run.
What drives the price up or down
- Number of pages. A one-page site is the cheapest. Each extra page means more design, writing and testing.
- Custom design versus a template. A template adjusted to your brand is faster. A design built around your business takes longer and costs more.
- Who writes the text. Having your copy ready saves money. Paying someone to write it is common and usually worth it.
- Features. Booking, quote forms, searchable listings, member areas and online stores each add work.
- SEO setup. Page titles, search markup, a sitemap, Google Business Profile and Search Console are basic, but not every builder includes them.
- Moving an old site. Bringing over pages, photos and old links so you keep your Google rankings takes time.
Ongoing yearly costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Domain name | $10–$15 / year |
| Hosting only | $10–$50 / month |
| Hosting plus security, backups, updates and small changes | $50–$200 / month |
| Business email (per person) | varies by provider |
Hidden costs to ask about
- Transaction fees on online sales, charged on top of card processing
- Paid plugins, apps or premium templates
- First-year discounts on domains and hosting that renew at a higher price
- Charges for every small change after launch
- Who owns the site if you stop paying. Make sure the domain and content are in your name.
Three example budgets
A one-page site for a local service
A contractor, groomer or food truck that mainly needs to be found and called. Expect a few hundred dollars from a small studio or freelancer, plus hosting.
A 5-page site for an established small business
Home, services, about, reviews and contact, with a quote or booking form. This is the most common project. Expect about $1,000 to $5,000 depending on who builds it.
A site you update often, or an online store
Menus, listings, inventory or products that change weekly need an easy way to edit them. Adding an online store to a standard site commonly adds $1,500 to $3,000 with a freelancer.
How to keep the cost down
- Have your logo, photos and a rough outline of each page ready before you start.
- Start with fewer pages and add more once the site is bringing in customers.
- Ask for a fixed price in writing, with what is included and how many rounds of changes you get.
- Pick a hosting plan that covers updates and backups, so small problems do not turn into big bills.
What 1c3d charges
1c3d builds fast, hand-coded websites for small businesses, nonprofits and makers, with simple up-front pricing: one-page Starter sites from $450, full Business sites from $1,100, and Pro sites with an easy editor from $2,200. Hosting and care is $25 a month, and you own everything.
See plans and pricingQuestions
How much should a small business pay for a website?
Most small businesses pay between $1,500 and $5,000 to have a freelancer build a 5-page site, and $5,000 to $25,000 with an agency. A do-it-yourself builder costs about $200 to $1,000 in the first year. Simple one-page sites from small studios can start under $500.
How much does it cost to keep a website running each year?
Plan on $10 to $15 a year for the domain and about $50 to $200 a month if you pay someone for hosting, security, updates and small changes. A basic hosting-only plan costs less, often $10 to $50 a month.
Is Wix or Squarespace cheaper than hiring someone?
In the first year, usually yes. Wix plans run $17 to $159 a month and Squarespace $19 to $99 a month on annual billing. But you pay that every year, and you spend your own time building and maintaining the site. Over three to five years, a well-priced custom site with cheap hosting can cost about the same.
Why do website quotes vary so much?
Price follows the work: number of pages, custom design versus a template, who writes the text, features like booking or online sales, and how much SEO setup is included. Agencies also carry more overhead than a solo developer.
What hidden website costs should I watch for?
Watch for transaction fees on online sales, paid plugins or apps, premium templates, email hosting, stock photos, and higher renewal prices after a first-year discount on domains and hosting.