How much does a small business website cost?

A small business website typically costs between $300 and $5,000 depending on who builds it and how complex it is. Template platforms like Wix or Squarespace cost $16–$49/month plus setup time. A freelance designer building a custom site ranges from $300 for a simple one-page site to $1,500+ for multi-page sites with custom features.

Is it cheaper to use Wix or hire a web designer?

Wix and Squarespace have lower upfront costs but ongoing monthly fees ($16–$49/month) add up over time. A freelance designer has a one-time project cost and you own the site outright. Over 2–3 years, a custom site often costs less and performs better.

How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business?

This is the most common question I get before a new project starts. And the honest answer is: it depends — but not in the vague way that feels like a dodge. There are real factors that drive the price up or down, and once you understand them, you can make a smarter decision for your business.

The Template Route: Wix, Squarespace, and Showit

If you build a website yourself using a drag-and-drop platform, the upfront cost looks low. But the full picture includes monthly subscription fees that never go away:

Platform	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost
Wix (Core)	$17/mo	~$204/yr
Squarespace (Basic)	$23/mo	~$276/yr
Showit (Basic)	$19/mo	~$228/yr

That's before you factor in your domain name (~$15/year), any paid plugins or apps you add, and — critically — the hours you'll spend building and maintaining it yourself. If your time is worth anything, the DIY route is rarely as cheap as it looks. It also comes with creative limitations: you're working inside someone else's template, and your site will likely look like thousands of others in your niche.

Hiring a Freelance Web Designer

Working with a freelance designer means you get a custom site built for your specific brand — and a professional handling the technical side so you don't have to. Prices vary based on experience, location, and the scope of the project. Here's a realistic range:

Single-page (landing page) site: $300–$800
Multi-page site (3–5 pages): $800–$2,500
E-commerce or complex features: $2,000–$5,000+

At Vannie Designs, a single-page custom site starts at $500 and a full brand package — logo, website, and graphics — starts at $1,000. Those are one-time project costs. You won't pay monthly fees to keep your site alive.

What Makes a Website Cost More?

A few things tend to drive the price up on any project:

Number of pages and how much content each one needs
Custom animations, interactive features, or booking integrations
E-commerce functionality (product listings, checkout, inventory)
Tight turnaround timelines
Starting with no existing brand assets (no logo, no brand colors)

Conversely, a focused single-page site with a clear goal — showcase your work, explain your services, and get people to contact you — is usually the most cost-effective place to start. You can always expand later.

What's Usually NOT Included

Most web design quotes don't include a domain name or web hosting. A domain (yourname.com) runs about $10–$20/year through a registrar like Namecheap or Google Domains. Hosting, if required, adds $5–$20/month. Some designers charge extra for ongoing maintenance or content updates after launch — always ask upfront.

When I build sites with custom HTML, hosting is typically straightforward and inexpensive. I'll always walk you through exactly what you need before a project starts — no surprises.

So What Should You Actually Spend?

For most small businesses just starting out, a clean, well-designed one-page site is enough to establish credibility and start getting inquiries. Budget somewhere between $400–$800 for a freelance-built custom site, and expect to add $10–$20/year for your domain.

If you're ready for a full multi-page site with branding included, plan for $1,000–$1,500 at the indie designer level. That investment typically pays for itself the moment it brings in one solid client — which a well-built site, optimized to convert, absolutely can.

If you're wondering whether a custom site is right for you versus a template platform, I break that comparison down in detail in Squarespace vs. Wix vs. WordPress vs. Custom HTML.

How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business?