How Much Does a Website Cost?

Most small business websites cost between $3,000 and $10,000 to design and build, plus roughly $400 to $1,000 a year to keep online and cared for. The exact number depends on how many pages you need, whether the design is custom or templated, and what the site has to do — a five-page brochure site sits at the low end, an online store or a flagship brand-and-site engagement at the high end.

Quick answer: budget around $3,200–$7,500 for a professional custom small business site, then 10–15% of that each year for hosting, security, and updates.

What actually drives the price

“How much does a website cost” has a wide answer because you’re really paying for four things, not one:

• Design — a custom design built around your brand costs more than dropping your logo into a template, and it’s the difference between looking like everyone else and looking like you.
• Number of pages and features — a contact form is cheap; e-commerce, online booking, member logins, and custom integrations add real hours.
• Copywriting and images — words and photos that sell take time, whether you write them or someone does it for you.
• Who builds it — a DIY builder, a freelancer, and a studio all land at different price points for different reasons.

Typical price ranges in 2026

Here’s what you can expect to pay depending on the route you take:

• DIY website builder (Wix, Squarespace): $0–$50/month, but you do all the work and the design is limited.
• Freelancer: $500–$5,000 for a small site — quality and reliability vary widely.
• Web design studio: $3,000–$10,000+ for a custom site with strategy, copy help, and support built in.
• Online store: $6,000–$25,000+ depending on the catalog and the moving parts.
• Full brand + website engagement: $15,000–$75,000+ at a boutique studio — brand identity, custom site, content, and launch handled end to end.

A DIY builder looks cheapest until you count the hours you spend learning it and the sales you lose to a site that doesn’t convert. A studio costs more upfront and saves you both.

The costs people forget

The build is a one-time number. A website is a living thing, so plan for the recurring pieces too:

• Domain name: $10–$20 a year.
• Hosting: $5–$50 a month for most small business sites.
• Maintenance: updates, backups, security, and small content changes. We break this down in what website maintenance actually costs.
• SSL certificate: usually included with good hosting (it’s what puts the padlock in the address bar).

How to set a budget you won’t regret

Start with what the site needs to do, not with a number. A site that books appointments while you sleep is worth more than a digital business card, and it should be funded like it. Ask yourself what one new customer is worth, then look at the build cost as the price of a system that brings those customers in for years.

A fair quote spells out exactly what’s included — pages, revisions, who writes the copy, and what happens after launch. If a quote is vague, that’s the real expense. You can read more about reading a quote in our guide to questions to ask before hiring a web designer, and if you’re weighing doing it yourself, see whether to build your own site or hire a pro.

FAQ

Can I get a website for free?

You can build one on a free plan, but you’ll usually have ads, a builder-branded address, and limited features. For a business, a paid plan or a professional build pays for itself quickly.

Why do web designers charge so differently?

Price reflects scope and risk. A $500 site and a $5,000 site are rarely the same product — the difference is custom design, strategy, copy, support, and whether it’s built to load fast and rank.

Is it cheaper to redesign or start over?

It depends on the bones. If the content and structure are solid, a redesign is cheaper. If the site is slow, dated, or hard to edit, a fresh build often costs less than fighting the old one.

What will a NerdForge website cost me?

Our prices are flat and published — a Simple Website is $3,200, a Complex Website is $5,900, an eCommerce store is $7,400, and our white-glove Forge Signature engagement is $18,500. No haggling and no surprise add-ons: our prices don’t move, our scope does. See the full breakdown on our pricing page.

Want a real figure for your project instead of a range? See what we build or request a free, no-pressure quote.