"How much does a website cost?" has an annoying but true answer: it depends on who builds it, what it has to do, and what's included after launch. The same five-page site can cost very different amounts from a DIY builder, a freelancer, an agency or a managed plan, and a restaurant with online ordering needs more than a plumber's brochure site.
This guide breaks the cost down in a way you can use to check a quote. One caveat first: the ranges below are rough, commonly quoted ranges, not survey data. Prices vary a lot by region, scope and provider. Where we quote an exact price, we link to the page it came from and the date we checked it.
The four ways to get a small business website
| Option | Upfront | Ongoing | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | Little or no money, but your time | Monthly plan, plus domain and any paid apps | Simple sites, owners who like doing it themselves | Time spent, design limits, and keeping it updated |
| Freelancer | Commonly several hundred to a few thousand dollars for a small brochure site | Hosting, plus hourly or retainer fees for changes | A custom look on a modest budget | Who owns the site and logins, and availability after launch |
| Agency | Often several thousand dollars and up; custom builds with integrations can reach five figures | Maintenance or marketing retainers | Larger scopes, many pages, custom features | Long contracts and paying for features you won't use |
| Managed plan / subscription | Often low or none | Monthly fee covering the site and some services | Owners who want it handled without managing a project | What happens to the site if you cancel |
A real example of DIY pricing: when we checked Squarespace's pricing page on October 26, 2026, its plans were listed from $19 to $99 a month billed annually, or $25 to $139 a month billed monthly. Other builders price differently, and plans with selling features cost more. Check the provider's own page for current prices.
What drives the price up (in any industry)
- Number of unique pages. Ten service pages cost more to write and design than a one-page site.
- Who writes the copy and supplies photos. Professional copywriting and photography are often the biggest hidden costs.
- Integrations. Online ordering, booking, POS sync, payments, CRM, listing feeds.
- Selling online. Product catalogs, inventory, shipping and tax rules add setup and upkeep.
- Languages. A second language is close to a second set of pages.
- Custom design or animation. Templates cost less than custom layouts, 3D or scroll effects.
- Ongoing changes. Menus, prices, seasonal hours and promotions that change every month.
Website cost by industry: what each type usually needs
Instead of inventing dollar figures per industry, here's what typically adds cost for each type of business and which outside costs to budget for. Use it to check that a quote covers what you actually need.
| Industry | Features that add cost | Third-party costs to budget for |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants, cafes, bakeries | Menu pages that are easy to update, online ordering, POS sync (Clover, Square, Toast and others), reservations, catering forms | Ordering or reservation platform fees, payment processing, delivery fees |
| Salons, barbers, spas, med spas | Online booking, service menus with prices, staff pages, galleries | Booking software subscription; med spas should have treatment claims reviewed |
| Plumbers, HVAC, roofers, contractors, cleaning | A page per service, service-area pages, quote request forms, license and insurance details, project photos | Call tracking or scheduling tools, if you use them |
| Dentists, chiropractors | Appointment requests, insurance and new-patient information, provider bios | If forms collect health information, a form or scheduling provider suited to it (ask your compliance advisor) |
| Law firms, accountants | Several practice-area pages, attorney or staff bios, intake forms, more written content | Copywriting; law firms should check their state's attorney advertising rules |
| Real estate | Property search and listing pages, agent pages, lead capture | Listing feeds (IDX) usually need a paid provider and MLS approval |
| Retail and online shops | Product catalog, cart and checkout, inventory, shipping and tax setup | Payment processing (for example, Stripe's standard US rate is 2.9% + 30¢ per successful domestic card transaction), shipping apps |
| Car detailing, auto repair | Package or service pricing, booking or quote forms, before/after photos, service areas for mobile work | Booking software, if used. See what to include on a car detailing website. |
One-time costs vs ongoing costs
Many quotes only show the build price. Budget for the whole first year:
- Domain name: a yearly fee to your registrar. Renewal prices are often higher than first-year promo prices.
- Hosting and security certificate (SSL): included with builders and most managed plans, a separate fee elsewhere.
- Business email: often a separate per-user subscription.
- Software subscriptions: booking, ordering, reservations, forms, email marketing.
- Payment processing: a percentage plus a fixed fee per transaction if you take payments online.
- Updates and maintenance: your time, an hourly rate, or what a monthly plan covers.
- Content: photos, copywriting, translations.
What you don't need to pay for
- A Google Business Profile. Google describes it as a free Business Profile. You can pay someone to manage it, but there's no fee to have one.
- Guaranteed rankings. They don't exist. Google's own guidance on hiring an SEO says "No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google." If a quote includes a ranking guarantee, treat it as a warning sign.
- Reviews. Buying reviews breaks Google's policy and the FTC's 2024 rule. See Google's review policy for businesses.
Questions to ask before you pay anyone
- Who owns the domain, the website files and the logins?
- If I stop paying or leave, can I take the site with me, and at what cost?
- How many pages, and how many rounds of changes, are included?
- Who writes the text and supplies photos?
- Does "SEO" mean basic setup (titles, descriptions, speed, mobile) or ongoing work? What exactly is done each month?
- Which third-party subscriptions will I need, and who pays for them?
- How long is the contract, and what's the notice period to cancel?
- Will the site work well on phones, and load quickly?
How to choose, quickly
- Tiny budget, time to spare, simple needs: a DIY builder.
- Want a custom site you own, with occasional changes: a freelancer or a one-time package.
- Large scope, custom features or many locations: an agency, with a clear written scope.
- Want the website, Google profile and reviews handled for you: a managed plan. Read the cancellation terms first.
Still deciding whether you need a website at all? Read do you need a website if you have a Facebook page?
Where Buildzaro fits
Our prices are published on our pricing page, so you can compare them with other quotes. At the time of writing, one-time website packages are Basic $499, Premium $1,299 and Premium 3D $2,999, and you own the website. Monthly plans are Starter $129, Managed Growth $249 and Managed Pro $449 a month, with Premium from $799 a month. Monthly plans include a website while you're subscribed; if you cancel, the site goes offline unless you buy it at the one-time package price. Third-party fees (such as booking software and card processing) are paid to those providers, and we don't guarantee search rankings. See buying a website once, managed plans, or compare options. You can also try a website for 30 days before deciding.
Sources
- Squarespace pricing (checked October 26, 2026)
- Stripe pricing (checked October 26, 2026)
- Google Business Profile (google.com/business)
- Google Search Central: Do you need an SEO?
General information, not legal advice. Platform policies and laws change; check Google's current policies and the FTC's guidance before acting, and talk to a lawyer about your specific situation.
Related guide: Accountant website pricing guide