The short answer: most small businesses need a site of 5 to 8 pages that looks professional, works on phones and makes it easy to get in touch. Built by a small studio, that's usually a one-off cost in the low thousands, plus a small yearly cost for your domain and hosting. Ours are $1,500 to refresh an existing site and $3,500 for a new one.
Your options, from cheapest to most expensive
| Option | Upfront cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself on a website builder | Lowest. A monthly plan, plus your own time | Brand new businesses testing an idea |
| A template set up for you | Low to medium | Simple sites where looking different doesn't matter |
| A custom site from a small studio | Medium, fixed up front | Most established small businesses |
| A large agency | Highest, often well into five figures | Big companies with complex systems |
What you're paying for
The price of a website is mostly time. The main things that add to it are:
- Design. A layout made around your business, rather than a template with your logo dropped in.
- Words. Writing clear, persuasive copy takes longer than most people expect. If you supply it, the price usually drops.
- Number of pages. Five pages costs less than twenty. Most small businesses need fewer pages than they think.
- Features. Online booking, a shop, member logins or a listings feed all add setup and testing time.
- Setup. Your domain, business email, enquiry forms, Google Business Profile and search basics.
The costs after launch
A website isn't a one-off purchase. Budget for:
- Your domain name, renewed every year or two. Usually a small amount.
- Hosting, which keeps your site online. Sometimes included for a period, then monthly or yearly.
- Business email, if you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, which charge per person each month.
- Changes, like new prices, photos or opening hours. Either you do them, or you pay someone. Our Care Plan covers hosting and up to 5 changes a month for $99.
How to spend less without ending up with a worse site
- Have your words and photos ready. This is the biggest saving, and it speeds everything up.
- Refresh instead of rebuild. If your current site's structure works, a redesign costs a lot less than starting again.
- Start small. Launch with the pages that bring in customers, then add more later.
- Skip features you won't use. A booking link to the system you already use is often better than a custom one.
Red flags to watch for
- The domain isn't in your name. If the designer owns it, they own your web address. Always register it yourself or make sure it's transferred to you.
- Lock-in contracts. Long minimum terms, or a website you can't take with you if you leave.
- No fixed price. An hourly rate with no cap can turn a small job into a big bill.
- Unclear ongoing fees. Ask what you'll pay each year, not just on day one.
What we charge
We keep it simple. The Refresh is $1,500 for up to 5 pages, the Full Build is $3,500 for a new site of up to 8 pages with the words written for you, and the Care Plan is $99 a month if you'd like us to look after it. The price is agreed before we start and doesn't change unless you add to the job. Your domain, design and content are always in your name.
Want this done for you?
Book a free 15-minute call. We'll look at your business first and tell you honestly what would help.