So you want a simple, professional website for your small business…

A homepage, about page, contact form, maybe a gallery or menu, blog if you’re feeling fancy. You want it mobile-friendly, fast, and not something that looks like it was built on GeoCities. Respect.

But now you’re stuck asking the most annoying question in web design: “How much should this actually cost?!”

Let’s break it down like a human, not like a sales pitch.

What Are We Actually Talking About Here?

You’re not asking for a SaaS platform, custom web app, or $20K e-commerce monstrosity. You’re asking for a clean, simple, informational site that helps people:

  • Find your business
  • Trust your business
  • Contact your business

So let’s talk about the real-world costs, not the Reddit comment extremes (“$19 a year” vs “$10K or GTFO”).

The Real Price Range

Depending on how you go about it, here’s a realistic breakdown:

✅ DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

  • Platforms: Wix, Squarespace, Carrd, WordPress.com
  • Cost: $10–$50/month + domain ($10–$20/year)
  • Total Yearly: $150–600
  • Pro: Cheap, decent templates, no coder needed
  • Con: Your time is not free. And if you’re not design-savvy, it may still look like a hot mess.

✍️ Freelancer or Solo Developer

  • Cost: $500–$3,000 (one-time)
  • Includes: Custom design, setup, maybe basic SEO
  • Hosting: Usually $100–200/year (separate)
  • Maintenance: Optional $50–100/month if you want help with updates

🏢 Small Agency or Design Studio

  • Cost: $3,000–$8,000+
  • Pros: Strategy, branding, project management, higher polish
  • Cons: Higher cost, longer timelines

TL;DR: If you hire a decent freelance website developer, expect to spend $1,000–2,500 all in.

Hidden or Recurring Costs to Expect

  • Domain name: $10–20/year
  • Web hosting: $5–$20/month (or included in builder)
  • SSL certificate: Usually free these days (Let’s Encrypt FTW)
  • Maintenance: Optional, but smart — especially if you use WordPress
  • Email: If you want [you@yourdomain.com], budget $5–15/month

Red Flags When Hiring

  • “I’ll build it for $99!” — Cool, and your logo will be made in MS Paint
  • No contract or clear deliverables
  • Won’t give you access to your own domain/hosting
  • Won’t show previous work
  • Won’t explain anything they’re doing (“Just trust me”)

You want a WordPress developer near me? Great. Just don’t end up with a ghost or a scammer.

Example: Let’s Price This Out

Say you hire me (hi 👋) to build a site for your local bakery:

  • Custom homepage, about, contact page with form, menu gallery
  • Mobile-friendly, optimized for local search, fast as hell
  • Launched on your domain with WordPress

My rate? Around $1,800. Hosting + domain: ~$150/year. Maintenance optional.

And yes, you get full access. It’s your site, not mine.

The Smart Play

If your budget is $0, use Squarespace or Wix. You’ll be fine. If your budget is ~$1K+, hire a freelance website developer who knows what they’re doing. If your business matters to you, treat your website like your front window. Make it good.

Need a Website That Doesn’t Suck?

I’m Maksym Marko. I do custom WordPress development for small businesses who want to look legit online without breaking the bank.

👉 Book a Free 15-Minute Chat With Me

I’ll tell you what you need (and what you don’t).

Want more clarity on pricing? Check out my earlier post: $5,000 for a Website?! Here’s What You Should Pay (And What You Get for It).