If you’re planning a new website for your business, the first question is usually “How much will it cost?” The honest answer is that it depends on what you need, but that’s not very helpful on its own. This guide breaks down real price ranges for 2026 so you can budget with confidence and know what you’re paying for.
Quick answer
For most small businesses, a professional website costs $300 to $1,500 from a freelancer or small studio, or $3,000 to $10,000+ from a larger agency. DIY website builders cost less upfront but charge a monthly fee and take your time. On top of that, budget for a domain name and possibly hosting.
| Option | Upfront cost | Ongoing cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | $0 – $100 | Monthly subscription | Very tight budgets, simple sites |
| Freelancer / small studio | $300 – $1,500 | Domain + low or no hosting | Most small businesses |
| Agency | $3,000 – $10,000+ | Hosting + maintenance plans | Large or complex websites |
| Online store (Shopify) | $1,000 – $5,000+ | Shopify plan + payment fees | Selling products online |
Ranges are typical market estimates in US dollars and vary by country, provider and project size. Platform prices change, so always check the provider’s current pricing.
What affects the price of a website?
1. Number of pages
A one-page site or a simple 4–5 page site (Home, About, Services, Contact) is the most affordable. Every extra page adds design, writing and testing time.
2. Custom design vs template
A lightly customized template is quicker and cheaper. A fully custom design built around your brand costs more but helps you stand out and build trust.
3. Features
Booking systems, online payments, quote forms, galleries, multiple languages and member areas all add to the cost. Make a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves before asking for quotes.
4. Content
If you already have your text, logo and photos, the project moves faster. If you need help writing copy or sourcing images, expect to pay more.
5. SEO and speed
A website that loads fast, works on phones and is set up for Google takes more care to build. It’s worth it, because a site nobody can find doesn’t bring in customers.
The ongoing costs people forget
- Domain name: usually around $10 to $25 per year for a .com.
- Hosting: anything from free (for simple static sites on modern platforms) to $30+ per month for managed hosting.
- Business email: free email forwarding is available, while full mailboxes usually cost a few dollars per user per month.
- Maintenance: updates, fixes and small changes, either pay-as-you-go or a monthly plan.
- Marketing: SEO, Google Ads or social media ads to bring visitors to your new site.
DIY builder vs hiring a professional
Website builders like Wix, Squarespace and Shopify are great tools, and they’re cheaper upfront. The real cost is your time: choosing a template, writing content, sizing images, setting up SEO and fixing things that look wrong on mobile. Many business owners spend weeks on it and still end up with a site that doesn’t bring in enquiries.
Hiring a professional costs more at the start, but you get a site that’s designed to convert visitors into customers, set up properly for Google, and launched quickly so you can get back to running your business.
How much does a Shopify store cost?
With Shopify, you pay a monthly plan fee to Shopify plus payment processing fees on each sale. If you hire someone to set up your store, that’s a separate one-time cost, often starting around $1,000 for a small store and rising with the number of products and customizations. See our Shopify store setup service for what’s included.
How to get the best value
- Get a fixed, written quote that lists exactly what’s included.
- Make sure you own your domain and website, with no lock-in.
- Ask whether SEO basics and mobile design are included, not extra.
- Check what happens after launch: are fixes included, and what do updates cost?
- Look at real examples of their work.
What Crestvia Digital charges
We keep pricing simple and one-time: a Starter Site from $349 USD, a custom Business Site at $849 USD, and a complete Shopify store at $1,099 USD. Every site includes mobile-first design, SEO setup, free hosting setup and 30 days of free fixes, and most launch in 1–3 weeks.
The bottom line
A good small business website doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be built to bring you customers. Decide what you need, compare a few fixed quotes, and choose the option that gives you a fast, mobile-friendly site you own, set up to be found on Google.
Want a personalized estimate? Tell us about your project and we’ll reply with ideas and a clear quote within one business day.