How Much Does a Website Cost? Here’s What I Found Out…

Written by: Stephanie Trovato
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When I set out to build a website for one of our product lines, I was ready to tackle the copy and layout. But then I hit a roadblock — website design costs. Quotes were all over the place. Some were just a few thousand dollars, while others were sky-high. One freelancer even said a “simple site” would take 80 hours. Was that normal?

At first, I thought I could save by going with a website builder. But then the add-ons began stacking up — hosting fees, premium themes, plugins. The budget I thought I had under control suddenly skyrocketed. I had to figure out what was truly necessary and where we could afford to cut costs without sacrificing quality.

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After talking with experts and diving deep into research, I learned that website pricing isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Costs depend on a variety of factors like website size, features, customization, and who you hire to build it.

In this article, I’ll break down those costs and share tips on saving money while still getting the site your business needs. If you’ve ever wondered how much a website costs, you’re in the right place.

Table of Contents

How much does a standard website cost?

How much does a website really cost? Well, that depends on your needs and the type of provider you hire. Website builders, freelancers, and agencies all offer different options, and the prices can vary a lot. Here’s what to expect for each.

Website Builders: $0 to $50/month

Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress let you build a site without knowing how to code. They’re great for small businesses on a budget, with plans averaging around $25/month. But be careful — those costs can climb fast once you add premium themes and plugins.

Freelancers: $2,000 to $15,000

Freelancers give you more flexibility and personal attention — usually at a lower price than agencies. For small business websites, they’re often a smart choice. Just keep in mind their availability can depend on their workload. I think freelancers are often a cost-effective choice for small businesses. Hourly rates for freelancers generally range from $25–$49/hour on platforms like WordPress or Wix.

Agencies: $10,000 to $145,000

Agencies offer a full suite of services — strategy, design, development, and ongoing support. They’re a great fit if your business needs a complex or large-scale website with advanced features like ecommerce, interactive elements, or database integrations. Because of the depth of expertise, agencies tend to charge between $100 and $149 per hour, depending on their experience and location.

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Costs by Business Type

  • Small business: $2,000 – $15,000. Basic websites for small businesses usually include core pages (home, services, contact) along with functional features like SEO setup and contact forms.
  • Mid-size business: $15,000 – $60,000. These sites often need more features, like lead capture forms, dynamic content, and CRM integration with platforms like HubSpot. Custom development typically adds to the price.
  • Enterprise-level website: $50,000+. Enterprise websites come with complex needs, such as ecommerce functionality, multilingual capabilities, and database integration. These projects are best handled by agencies with experience in large-scale custom solutions.

Breakdown of Expenses

Here’s a breakdown of essential website cost components:

Component

Cost Range

Description

Domain

$10 – $50/year

Your website’s unique URL

SSL Certificate

$0 – $200/year

Adds security to protect sensitive user data

Hosting

$300 – $3,600/year

Server space for your website

Design & Development

$2,000 – $50,000+ (one-time)

Customizing your site’s design and functionality

Maintenance

$250 – $12,000/year

Routine updates, backups, and performance checks

website design cost example

Factors That Affect Website Costs

The price of a website can fluctuate based on several factors. I learned that knowing what drives costs can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and prioritize features that matter most to your business.

Website Size and Complexity

How big and complex your website is plays a huge role in determining the overall cost. A simple site with a few core pages might only run you between $2,000 and $5,000. But, a 100+ page ecommerce site with features like advanced product filtering and internal search could cost over $50,000.

Here’s a breakdown of how page count affects pricing.

  • 1 to 10 pages: $1,000 – $2,000.
  • 10 to 50 pages: $2,000 – $6,500.
  • 150+ pages: $6,500 – $10,000+.

More pages and features mean more time spent on design, development, and testing — so prices increase accordingly.

Custom vs. Template Design

One of your biggest design choices will be whether to use a pre-built template or create a custom design. I think there are benefits to both.

  • Template designs are a faster, more affordable option. Platforms like WordPress offer thousands of customizable themes, perfect for businesses that don’t need complex designs. Expect to pay $60 to $300 for premium themes, plus setup time.
  • Custom designs are built from the ground up and tailored to your brand. While this approach gives you full creative control, it requires a lot more development time and typically costs between $2,000 and $15,000+. Custom work is ideal if your business has unique design or functionality requirements.

Features and Functionality

Advanced features can quickly increase your budget. I found some of the most common — and costly — features include:

  • Ecommerce capabilities, like payment gateways and product catalogs.
  • Booking and reservation systems.
  • Secure client or member login portals.
  • Interactive media, like animations or custom dashboards.

Adding features like ecommerce can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $25,000, depending on your business size and the level of customization.

Dynamic and interactive features can significantly drive up costs. These include things like animations, video embeds, and secure client portals. The price for these features also range from $2,000 to $25,000, depending on the complexity of your requirements. These elements require additional development time and often call for specialized expertise.

Content Creation

Who creates your website content can have a big impact on the overall cost. If you already have your text, images, and videos ready, you can save a lot on content creation fees.

However, if you need professional copywriters or designers to handle it, you’re looking at around $100 to $300 per page for writing, plus additional costs for visuals. Depending on your content needs, this could add several thousand dollars to your project budget.

SEO and Mobile Optimization

Optimizing your website for both search engines (SEO) and mobile users may require extra time and money, but it pays off in long-term performance. With over 69% of global web traffic coming from mobile devices, Google prioritizes sites that are mobile-friendly and fast-loading.

Basic SEO is usually included in web design packages and might cover:

  • Clean URL structures.
  • Proper heading hierarchy.
  • Meta tags and descriptions.
  • Image optimization.
  • Mobile responsiveness.

If you need ongoing SEO services like keyword optimization or link building, you’ll likely need to invest in a separate package.

Tips for Making an Affordable Website

Here are my practical tips to help you control costs, maximize ROI, and build a website that fits your needs. By planning ahead and focusing on smart investments — in other words, with strategic web design — you can create a professional site without overspending.

Tip 1: Use a website builder for simplicity.

For businesses with a limited budget, I find website builders like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace offer an affordable starting point. These platforms come with pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop tools, so you can create a polished website with little to no technical expertise. Plans often start as low as $25 per month, but keep an eye on extra costs like premium plugins or ecommerce add-ons.

Pro tip: Start with a basic plan that covers your immediate needs. As your business grows, you can gradually upgrade instead of locking yourself into expensive plans from the start.

Tip 2: Prioritize must-have features.

Know your priorities. I recommend figuring out what features are essential for your business and which ones can wait. For instance, an ecommerce site can’t function without secure payment options and checkout pages, but you might not need advanced analytics right away. A service-based business might prioritize appointment scheduling or a contact form instead.

By focusing on the must-haves, you can stretch your budget further and avoid unnecessary development costs upfront.

Tip 3: Provide your own content.

Hiring a professional copywriter or photographer can be pricey. If you have the time, create your own content to cut costs. Start by writing your own copy for core pages (like your homepage, about page, and services page) and gather images or videos that showcase your business. If writing feels overwhelming, I think tools like Claude, ChatGPT, or Grammarly are great options to help you draft and polish your content.

Pro tip: Use these tools to generate first drafts, then revise the content to match your business’s voice and style. A solid DIY effort can save you thousands in agency fees.

Tip 4: Get quotes from multiple providers.

Don’t go with the first option you find. Collect quotes from various freelancers, agencies, and website builders to get a clearer picture of pricing. Pay attention to what’s included in each proposal — some providers may offer extras like SEO setup or maintenance, while others charge separately for these services.

I also recommend asking for portfolios or case studies to evaluate their past work and reliability.

Red Flag Alert: Be cautious of quotes that seem too good to be true. Extremely low prices might hide extra fees or reflect a lack of experience.

Tip 5: Invest in scalable solutions.

A short-term fix may seem tempting, but if your business is growing, scalability matters. Platforms like WordPress and HubSpot CMS offer flexibility with extensive plugins and built-in features. This means you won’t have to rebuild your website from scratch as your needs evolve — saving you time and money in the long run.

I’ve learned that choosing scalable tools lets you start small and expand over time without major disruptions to your site.

What I Learned About Website Costs

After digging into website pricing and speaking with experts, one thing became crystal clear: There’s no universal price tag. The cost of a website depends on a mix of factors — like the size of the site, the features you need, and who you hire to build it. But here’s the good news: With the right strategy, you can control your expenses and still get a high-quality site.

I found that focusing on essential features and handling content creation in-house can cut down costs significantly. On top of that, investing in a scalable platform like WordPress or HubSpot CMS gives you room to grow without needing expensive rebuilds down the line.

For business owners, a strategic budget is everything. I recommend you start by defining your goals and must-have features. Then, gather quotes to find the right provider that fits your needs and budget. Taking these steps will help you build a website that works hard for your business — without draining your bank account.

HubSpot's Free Website Builder

Create and customize your own business website with an easy drag-and-drop website builder.

  • Build a website without any coding skills.
  • Pre-built themes and templates.
  • Built-in marketing tools and features.
  • And more!
Topics: Website Design

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