How much does it cost to build a website for a small business?

Small business websites typically range from $0–$500/yr for DIY builders like Wix or Squarespace, $1,500–$5,000 for a freelancer, and $5,000–$20,000+ for a custom agency build. The right tier depends on your industry, growth goals, and how much of your business runs through your site.

What are the hidden costs of a small business website?

Beyond the design fee, budget for annual hosting ($100–$300/yr), a domain name ($15–$20/yr), professional photography, and ongoing maintenance. These recurring costs can add $500–$1,500 per year on top of your upfront build cost.

Is it cheaper to build my own website or hire someone?

DIY is cheaper upfront but costs you time, and the result often shows it. Hiring a professional typically pays for itself within 1–2 years through better conversions, SEO, and credibility — especially if your website is a primary sales channel.

Do I need to pay monthly for a website?

Yes — hosting, domain registration, and any premium plugins or platform fees are recurring costs. Expect to pay $50–$150/month depending on your platform, or a smaller annual fee if you pay upfront.

Web Design

How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in 2025?

Name: The Site Baker
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

By The Site Baker October 14, 2025 7 min read

If you've ever tried to get a straight answer on what a website costs, you've probably hit a wall of vague ranges like "$500 to $50,000." That's technically true — and completely useless.

Let's break it down by what you actually get at each level, so you can make a real decision for your business.

The DIY Route: $0–$50/month

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Google Sites let you build a site yourself for free or close to it. If you have time, a good eye, and a simple business, this can work.

What you're trading: your time (usually 10–30 hours to do it decently), a somewhat cookie-cutter look, and some technical limitations that can bite you later — especially with SEO.

Best for: very new businesses testing an idea, or service providers who just need a basic online presence.

Template-Based Freelance: $300–$1,500

A freelancer or small agency builds your site using a theme or template. They handle the setup, plug in your content, and hand it over. Fast and affordable.

What you're trading: you won't get something truly custom. Most of these sites look similar, and there's often little strategy behind the structure or copy.

Best for: small local businesses — restaurants, salons, contractors — who need a clean, functional site without a big budget.

Custom Design: $2,000–$10,000

This is where strategy comes in. A good web designer at this level isn't just making something pretty — they're thinking about who visits your site, what they need to see, and what action you want them to take. At The Site Baker, this is our sweet spot.

You get a unique design, copy that actually converts, proper SEO setup, and a site built to grow with you.

Best for: established small businesses, service businesses with real revenue, and anyone who's lost customers to a bad website.

Agency Work: $10,000–$50,000+

Large agencies, enterprise-level CMS platforms, custom web applications. If you need e-commerce at scale, a custom booking system, or a site that integrates deeply with your business software — this is where you land.

For most small businesses, this is overkill. You're paying for project management overhead and brand-name markup.

Hidden Costs People Forget

Whatever you spend on the build, budget for:

Hosting: $10–$50/month for quality managed hosting
Domain: $12–$20/year
Professional photos: $200–$800 (easily the best ROI of anything on this list)
Ongoing maintenance: Plugin updates, security patches, backups
Copywriting: If you're not writing your own, budget $300–$1,000 for good copy

What's the Right Number for You?

Honestly? It depends on what your website is supposed to do. A $400 template site is fine for a neighborhood handyman who gets all his work by word of mouth. It's not fine for a restaurant trying to compete on Google.

If your website is a real customer acquisition channel — or should be — treat it like a real investment. A well-built site that brings in one extra customer a month pays for itself quickly.

Not sure what makes sense for your situation? We're happy to give you a straight answer with no sales pressure. That's kind of our thing.

Want to see examples of what's possible at different price points? Browse our portfolio or check out our services page for more detail on what we offer.

pricing small business web design

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