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In short: a business website ranges from $0 (you build it yourself on Wix) to over $27,500 for a fully custom agency project. Most professional projects land between $2,200 and $11,000. But that number alone doesn't tell you much. It all depends on what you expect from the site, the technology you choose, how customized it needs to be, and who builds it.
In this article, we break down every cost involved so you can set a realistic budget and actually understand what you're paying for at each price point.
What is a business website?
A business website is a site designed to present your company without selling anything online. No shopping cart, no checkout. Just a showcase — hence the name.
In practice, it serves to:
- Show what you do: your services, products, and expertise
- Build trust with prospects through references, testimonials, and contact information
- Capture inquiries via contact forms, phone, or appointment booking
- Show up on Google when someone searches for what you offer
Typically, we're talking about 3 to 15 pages: home, about, services, portfolio, blog, and contact. Some projects go beyond that, but the principle stays the same: inform and convince.
Business website pricing overview by provider type
Before diving into the details, here's the big picture. Prices vary widely depending on who does the work and how customized the site is:
| Service type | Price range | Average timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (Wix, Squarespace) | $0 – $550 | 1 to 4 weeks | Solo entrepreneurs, proof of concept |
| Freelancer + existing theme | $1,100 – $5,500 | 3 to 6 weeks | Small businesses, tradespeople, independent professionals |
| Agency + existing theme | $3,300 – $8,800 | 4 to 8 weeks | SMBs with quality expectations |
| Freelancer, fully custom | $5,500 – $11,000 | 6 to 10 weeks | Companies with specific requirements |
| Agency, fully custom | $8,800 – $27,500+ | 8 to 16 weeks | Mid-size companies, brands with strong image requirements |
These ranges cover design, development, and launch. Recurring costs (hosting, maintenance, updates) are covered below.
The gap between a $550 website and a $16,500 website isn't just about "quality." It comes down to completely different levels of service and customization. Both can work, depending on your situation.
Factors that affect business website pricing
Pricing isn't arbitrary. It flows from concrete decisions made at every stage of the project.
Design
This is the most visible line item, and the one that varies the most. Here's the breakdown:
- Customized pre-built theme: you start with an existing template and adapt it to your brand. Budget: $550 to $2,200.
- Semi-custom design: mockups created for your project, but built on existing components. Budget: $2,200 to $5,500.
- Fully custom design: a creative director designs every page from scratch. Budget: $5,500 to $13,000, sometimes more.
If you don't yet have a logo or brand guidelines, add $550 to $3,300 to the budget.
Number of pages and features
A 5-page site costs less than a 20-page one — no surprise there. But what really drives the price up is the complexity of the features:
- Basic site (5 static pages + contact form): lower budget
- Mid-range site (blog, filtered gallery, interactive map, advanced forms): moderate budget
- Advanced site (member area, online booking, CRM integration, multilingual): higher budget
The best approach: list what's truly essential at launch. Everything else can be added later, and that will keep your quote from spiraling.
Content writing
This is the line item clients underestimate the most. Your site needs copy, and not just any copy. Well-written content that's optimized for search engines makes a dramatic difference in results.
- You write it yourself: $0, but don't underestimate the time involved
- Freelance copywriter: $165 to $440 per page depending on the topic
- Content agency or SEO copywriting: $330 to $880 per page, keyword research included
For a 7-page site, that's $1,100 to $4,400 in copywriting. It might seem like a lot, but it's the difference between a site that generates leads and one that nobody finds.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
A business website that's invisible on Google isn't doing much for you. SEO can be built in from the start or added later, but either way, it has a cost:
- Technical SEO (site structure, speed, markup): typically included when working with an agency
- On-page optimization (keywords, meta descriptions, site architecture): $550 to $2,200 for a business website
- Full SEO strategy (audit, link building, monthly tracking): $330 to $1,650/month
For more on this topic: our article on key points to optimize for better search rankings.
Mobile compatibility (responsive design)
In 2026, this is no longer up for debate. Over 60% of web traffic comes from smartphones. A site that doesn't display well on mobile loses visitors and gets penalized by Google.
Good news: most providers include responsive design in their pricing. But make sure it's spelled out in the quote. "Adapting for mobile" isn't just shrinking the page — it means rethinking the navigation, layout, and performance.
Which technology should you choose for your business website?
The technology you pick has a direct impact on the price, recurring costs, and how much independence you'll have going forward.
WordPressWordPress powers over 40% of all websites worldwide. It's open source, free, and backed by a massive community. Its library of themes and plugins is virtually unlimited.
The biggest advantage: flexibility. You can start with a simple business site and scale it into a blog, an e-commerce store (via WooCommerce), or third-party integrations without starting over. The downside: it requires maintenance, and performance depends heavily on the quality of the setup.
Typical budget: $1,100 to $27,500+, depending on the provider and level of customization.
WebflowWebflow has carved out a niche with designers and creative studios. It's a visual design tool that generates clean code without traditional development. Design freedom is excellent, native performance is strong, and there are no plugins to maintain.
The trade-off: the ecosystem is more limited, you're locked into the platform, and things get tricky once your needs grow more complex.
Typical budget: $2,200 to $16,500 (design) + $15 to $43/month.
SquarespaceAll-in-one platform: hosting, templates, visual editor, SSL certificate. Squarespace lets you build a polished site without writing a single line of code. The templates are well-designed and the learning curve is gentle.
The trade-off: customization is limited, SEO capabilities are basic, and if you outgrow it, migrating to another tool won't be straightforward.
Typical budget: $0 to $550 (DIY) + $12 to $44/month.
WixWix is the most popular platform among beginners, thanks to its highly intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Hundreds of templates, a free plan, and an App Market for adding features.
The main problem: the generated code is heavy, which shows in page load speed. SEO falls short compared to WordPress. And if you ever want to migrate to another solution, be prepared to start from scratch.
Typical budget: $0 to $330 (DIY) + $0 to $35/month.
Custom developmentFor projects with demanding performance or interaction requirements, Next.js development or React offers total freedom. No CMS, no software constraints — the architecture is built to fit your exact needs.
The price of that freedom: a high budget, longer timelines, and the need to find developers who can maintain the solution. If you don't have an in-house tech team, this is rarely the right choice for a business website.
Typical budget: $11,000 to $55,000+.
Technology comparison table
| Criteria | WordPress | Webflow | Squarespace | Wix | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | $1,100 – $27,500 | $2,200 – $16,500 | $0 – $550 | $0 – $330 | $11,000 – $55,000+ |
| Monthly cost | $5 – $440* | $15 – $43 | $12 – $44 | $0 – $35 | Variable |
| Customization | Very high | High | Medium | Low to medium | Total |
| Ease of use | Medium | Medium | Easy | Very easy | Difficult |
| SEO performance | Excellent | Good | Decent | Limited | Excellent |
| Scalability | Very high | Medium | Low | Low | Very high |
| Independence | High | Medium | High | High | Low |
* WordPress monthly cost corresponds to hosting. It varies widely depending on the type you choose — we cover this in our hosting guide.
Freelancer, agency, or DIY: which provider should you choose?
Technology is one thing. But who handles it significantly changes the budget — and the outcome.
Building your own site (DIY)
Platforms like Wix or Squarespace make it possible for just about anyone. In a few days, you can have a live website for minimal cost.
The catch: the result is often generic (the same template as thousands of others), the learning curve is real, and there's nobody to guide you on strategy. If the site is a secondary tool for you, that might be enough. If it's a real business driver, you'll hit the limits fast.
Hiring a freelancer
A freelancer is often the best value for money for small and mid-size businesses. Direct communication, competitive rates, fast turnaround.
The risk: skills sometimes limited to a single area. A great developer isn't necessarily great at SEO, and vice versa. And you depend on one person — which raises questions if they go on extended leave or change careers.
Before signing, check their portfolio, reviews, and ask the question that matters: how do they handle maintenance after launch?
Working with an agency
An agency brings a full team to the table: project manager, designer, developer, copywriter, SEO specialist. It's the most expensive option, but also the one with the most strategic perspective.
The budget is higher (overhead costs get passed along), and timelines can be longer. But when your site plays a real commercial role, the investment pays off — and it's possible to measure the return concretely.
Recurring costs you shouldn't overlook
The creation cost is the visible part. But a business website generates annual expenses that are worth knowing about upfront.
Domain name
Your address on the web (e.g., yourbusiness.com). Expect $10 to $55 per year depending on the extension. Some premium extensions cost more.
Important point: register it yourself (through Namecheap, Google Domains, GoDaddy, etc.) to retain ownership. Too many businesses discover one day that their former provider owns their domain.
Hosting
Hosting is what keeps your site accessible 24/7. The price depends on the server type:
- Shared hosting: $5 to $33/month, sufficient for most business websites
- VPS: $33 to $110/month, a good balance of performance and cost
- Dedicated or cloud: $110 to $440/month, for high-traffic sites
Hosting has a direct impact on page load speed and therefore on your search rankings. A $3/month hosting plan can cost you far more in lost visibility. More details in our guide on choosing web hosting.
Maintenance
A website isn't something you launch and forget. It needs regular upkeep: updates, backups, performance monitoring, bug fixes.
Expect $55 to $330 per month. Without maintenance, a WordPress site can become a security liability within months. It's a cost many people ignore — until the repair bill lands.
Updates and content
Your site will evolve with your business. Plan a budget for content changes, new features, and a redesign every 3 to 5 years — because every site eventually shows its age.
If you're already thinking about a redesign, check out the steps to get it right.
Annual recurring costs summary
| Item | Estimated annual budget |
|---|---|
| Domain name | $10 – $55 |
| Hosting | $60 – $5,300 |
| Maintenance | $660 – $3,960 |
| Content updates | $0 – $2,200 |
| Feature upgrades | $0 – $5,500 |
| Estimated total | $730 – $17,000/year |
A "cheap" website that costs $2,200 a year in patches ends up more expensive than a site built right from the start. Think total cost of ownership, not sticker price.
How to get the best value for your money
Write a detailed project brief
The clearer your requirements, the more accurate the quote. Spell out your goals, the pages and features you need, examples of sites you like, and your constraints (budget, timeline, whether content is ready or not).
A vague brief means back-and-forth that gets expensive. A detailed project brief saves you budget.
Get at least 3 quotes
Price gaps easily run five to one. Compare what's included, the working process, maintenance terms, and past work. The cheapest option isn't always the right one.
Prioritize
Separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves. Launch with the essentials, then add the rest over time based on user feedback.
Invest in content
A beautiful design with mediocre copy doesn't convert. Content is what your visitors come to read. It's often the investment with the highest return.
Think in 3-year terms
The cheapest site today isn't necessarily the cheapest to run. Factor in maintenance, hosting, and updates. And ask yourself: if I switch providers, can I easily take my data with me?
