This is the #1 question I get from small business owners: "How much is a website going to cost me?" And honestly, it's a fair question — the range online is insane. You'll see everything from $50 Wix templates to $50,000 agency quotes.
Here's the real answer for a small business.
The agency problem
Big agencies charge $3,000-$15,000+ for a small business website. Why? Because they have account managers, project managers, designers, developers, QA testers, and an office in a nice part of town. You're paying for all of that overhead — not just the website.
The actual work of building a 5-page small business site? That's not $10,000 worth of work. Not even close.
The DIY trap
On the other end, you've got Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress.com. They look cheap upfront — $15/month, build it yourself! But here's what they don't tell you:
- You'll spend 40+ hours fighting the builder. Your time has value.
- It'll look like a template because it is one. Your competitors probably picked the same one.
- You'll need plugins for basic stuff and those have monthly fees that add up.
- It'll be slow. Page builders add bloat. Google notices, and so do your customers.
- You won't know SEO. So you'll build something that looks okay but doesn't rank.
What a website should actually cost
For a typical small business — a plumber, a barber, a bakery, a landscaper, a tutor — here's what you actually need:
$350-600 gets you:
- 3-5 pages (home, about, services, contact, maybe a gallery)
- Mobile-friendly design that looks good on phones
- Contact form that actually works
- Basic SEO so Google can find you
- Fast loading speed
- You own everything when it's done
That's it. That's a real, professional website that will serve you well.
When it costs more
Some businesses need more, and that's fine:
- E-commerce (selling products online) — more complex, more pages, payment integration
- Booking systems — appointment scheduling, calendar integration
- Custom features — AI chatbots, client portals, member areas
- Ongoing content — regular blog posts, SEO campaigns
These push the price up, but a basic business website? A few hundred dollars from someone who knows what they're doing.
What to watch out for
Red flags when someone quotes you for a website:
- Monthly payments that never end. Some companies charge $200/month forever. After 2 years you've paid $4,800 and you still don't own it.
- Long contracts. You shouldn't need to commit to 12 months for a website.
- Vague pricing. If they can't give you a number, that's a problem.
- Upselling everything. "You need social media management, SEO retainer, content creation, brand strategy..." Maybe. But probably not right now.
My approach
I give you one clear price upfront. 50% before, 50% when it's done. You own everything. No monthly lock-in, no surprise fees. If you want ongoing help after, I offer a retainer — but it's optional, not required.
Simple as that.