How much does a website cost?

In short: What a website costs depends on how many pages it needs, what it has to do, who writes the words and takes the photos, and who looks after it once it’s live. Most small business websites come with two kinds of cost: a one-time cost to build the site, and an ongoing cost for hosting, updates and support. The fairest way to know your number is to get a written quote that lists exactly what’s included.

What affects the cost of a website?

Two websites can look alike and still cost very different amounts. These are the things that make the biggest difference:

• The number of pages. A five-page site for one service costs less to plan, write and build than a site with a page for every service and every town you serve.
• Custom design or a template. A ready-made template is quicker to set up. A design made for your business takes more time, but it fits your brand and your customers better.
• What the site has to do. Online booking, payments, quote forms, member logins or an online store all add work beyond a simple brochure site.
• The words and photos. If you supply them, the build is simpler. If the content has to be written, or photos taken or licensed, that’s extra work.
• SEO from the start. A site built with clear pages for each service and area, fast loading and proper page titles takes more planning than one that just looks nice.
• Moving an old site. Bringing over old pages, blog posts or products, and making sure old links still work, adds time.
• Hosting and care after launch. Hosting, security, backups, updates and help when something needs changing are ongoing costs, whether you pay someone or do it yourself.

One-time costs and ongoing costs

It helps to split the cost of a website into two parts.

The build is the one-time cost of planning, designing, writing and launching the site. It’s usually quoted up front once the scope is clear.

The ongoing cost covers what keeps the site running: hosting, your domain name, security, backups, software updates and support. Some businesses handle these themselves. Others pay a monthly plan so someone else looks after it. A website isn’t finished the day it launches. The software behind it needs regular updates, and a site that isn’t looked after can slow down, break or be hacked.

Why website prices vary so much

Ask five companies for a price and you may get five very different answers. That’s usually because they’re quoting different things. One price might include writing, SEO and a year of support. Another might cover only the design, with hosting, content and changes billed separately. Some low prices come with long contracts or a site you don’t fully control.

When you compare quotes, compare what’s included, not just the total.

DIY website builders vs hiring a company

Website builders like Wix and Squarespace let you build a site yourself for a monthly fee. That can make sense if you have the time, you’re comfortable with the tools and you only need a simple site. The real cost is your own time, both to build the site and to keep it up to date.

Hiring a company costs more up front, but you get someone who plans the site around your customers, builds it properly for Google and phones, and is there when something needs fixing. Many small businesses find that the time they save, and a site that brings in calls, matters more than the lowest price.

Hidden costs to watch for

• Long contracts that lock you in for a year or more.
• Charges for every small change, like updating your hours or adding a photo.
• Not owning your domain name. Some companies charge a fee to hand your domain name over, or won’t give it up at all, which makes it hard to move your site later.
• Plugins and tools billed separately, such as booking or form software.
• Costs to leave, such as fees to get a copy of your site.
• Setup or renewal fees that weren’t mentioned in the first quote.

A good quote spells out what’s included, what isn’t, and what happens if you decide to leave.

Questions to ask before you hire someone

• Is the build a one-time cost, and what does it include?
• What does the monthly cost cover, and is there a contract?
• Who writes the words and supplies the photos?
• Will the site be built with SEO in mind?
• Who owns the domain name and the website?
• How quickly are changes made, and do small changes cost extra?
• Can I make changes myself if I want to?

Want a straight answer on cost?

Comparing quotes, working out what’s really included and watching for hidden fees takes time, and it’s hard to know what you’re paying for until the bills arrive. We keep it simple.

• A written quote, up front. We learn what you need, then tell you exactly what the build includes and what the monthly plan covers. Every business needs something different, so we don’t push a one-size package.
• One team for all of it. Your build, hosting on our managed servers, updates, security, backups and support. No separate bills from a designer, a hosting company and an SEO agency.
• No hidden fees. You’ll know what you’re paying before we start.
• Your domain stays yours. If we register your domain name for you and you’d like it transferred to you, we transfer it at no cost.
• No lock-in. Your website build is a one-time cost. Monthly plans are month to month, and you can cancel any time with 30 days’ notice.
• A real person, anytime. Call or text us at (786) 383-0616. If you’d like to make changes yourself, we’ll show you how.

Read more about our website design work and our care and hosting.

Frequently asked questions

Why don’t you list your prices?

Because the right website depends on your business. A one-page site and a site with dozens of service and town pages are very different jobs. A written quote means you only pay for what you need.

Is a cheap website worth it?

It can be, if it does what you need. But a low price sometimes leaves out things that matter, like working well on phones, SEO basics, security or support. Check what’s included before you decide.

Do I have to pay every month for a website?

Every website needs hosting and a domain name, so there’s some ongoing cost either way. A monthly plan also covers updates, security and support, so you don’t have to handle them yourself.

How much does it cost to redesign a website?

It depends on how much changes. A fresh look on the same pages is a smaller job than a full rebuild with new pages, new content and an old site to move. A quote after a short look at your current site will tell you where you stand.

Should I own my website and domain name?

Yes. Your domain name should belong to your business, so you stay in control of it whoever builds or looks after your site. You can register it yourself, or have the company that builds your site register it for you. If they do, ask up front whether they’ll transfer it to you when you ask, and whether there’s a fee. Be careful with any company that charges to hand over your domain name or won’t give it up. At Troia Digital LLC, if we register your domain name for you and you’d like it transferred to you, we transfer it at no cost.

Get your free quote. Tell us about your business below, or call or text (786) 383-0616. A real person on our team reads every request and gets back to you.