How much does a website cost? Short answer: for a professionally designed small business site, published figures cluster in the low-to-mid thousands. Forbes Advisor data cited by Wix puts the average cost of a typical small business site built by an agency or professional designer at $2,000 to $9,000. Do-it-yourself builders cost far less up front, and large or custom e-commerce builds cost far more. The number of pages, the features and who builds it decide where you land.
Cost by how it is built
| Route | Typical up-front cost | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | A monthly subscription, low up front | Brand-new businesses testing an idea | Your time, limited SEO and design control |
| Freelancer | Lower thousands for a simple site | Small brochure sites on a tight budget | Depends heavily on one person’s skills and availability |
| Agency | Mid thousands and up, depending on scope | Businesses that need strategy, design, SEO and tracking together | Higher cost, longer process |
| Custom or large e-commerce | Tens of thousands | Complex catalogs, integrations or custom functionality | Significant investment and ongoing maintenance |
These are general industry patterns, not MPH Marketing quotes. We scope every site individually.
What drives the price
- Number of pages. A five-page site and a fifty-page site are different projects.
- Custom design vs template. A design built around your brand costs more than adapting a theme.
- Copywriting. Someone has to write the pages. If that is the agency, it is part of the cost.
- Photography and video. Original imagery lifts a site and adds to the budget.
- E-commerce. Products, payments, shipping and tax settings add real work.
- Integrations. Booking, CRM, payments, memberships, inventory.
- SEO and redirects. Keeping existing rankings during a rebuild takes planning.
- Accessibility and speed. Doing these properly is extra effort that pays for itself.
The ongoing costs people forget
The build is a one-time cost. Running the site is not. According to WebsiteSetup’s 2026 guide, a domain name renews at around $12 to $25 a year, and basic shared hosting typically runs $40 to $150 a year. Managed hosting, premium plugins, security monitoring and regular updates cost more, and are usually worth it for a business that depends on its site.
- Domain renewal
- Hosting
- Software licenses and plugins
- Security, backups and updates
- Content changes and new pages
- SEO and marketing, if you want the site to be found
WordPress or Shopify?
Most service businesses are best served by WordPress: flexible, strong for SEO and easy for your team to edit. Most stores are best served by Shopify, which handles checkout, payments and inventory in exchange for a monthly fee. The platform changes what you pay up front and what you pay each month.
When a cheap website costs more
- It is slow on mobile, so ads and search traffic bounce
- It was built on a platform you cannot edit or move
- There is no tracking, so you cannot tell what is working
- Old URLs were not redirected and rankings disappeared
- You end up rebuilding it within a year or two
We cover the warning signs in 7 ways a bad website hurts your business.
How to get an accurate quote
Bring these to the first conversation and quotes become comparable:
- Your goal for the site: calls, bookings, sales, credibility
- A rough page list
- Sites you like, and why
- Who will write the content and supply photos
- Any tools it must connect to
- Your timeline and budget range
For how we build, see website design, website development and website redesign. Our pricing page and portfolio show typical ranges and finished work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a small business website cost?
Forbes Advisor data cited by Wix puts a typical small business site built by an agency or professional designer at $2,000 to $9,000. DIY builders cost less and complex or e-commerce sites cost more.
How much does it cost to maintain a website?
At minimum, a domain and hosting each year. Most business sites also need software licenses, security, backups, updates and occasional content changes.
Is WordPress or Shopify cheaper?
WordPress usually has lower monthly platform costs and higher flexibility. Shopify has a monthly fee but includes hosting, checkout and security. The better choice depends on whether you mainly sell services or products.
Why do website quotes vary so much?
Quotes differ in page count, custom design, copywriting, photography, e-commerce, integrations and SEO work. Ask for an itemized scope to compare them fairly.
How long does it take to build a website?
It depends on size and how quickly content and approvals come together. Agree on a timeline with milestones before work begins.
Want a plan built around your business? Request a free consultation or call (248) 702-4382.
