You're trying to figure out how much a website should cost for your small business. Google gives you answers ranging from "free" to "$50,000." That's not helpful.
I'm a web designer in Louisville, Kentucky. I've built websites for plumbers, restaurants, salons, dentists, and dozens of other small businesses. I'm going to give you real numbers based on what things actually cost, not marketing fluff.
The Short Answer
For a typical small business website (5-10 pages, professional design, mobile-friendly), expect to pay:
That's the quick answer. But the real question isn't "how much does a website cost?"—it's "what do I actually get for my money?" Let me break it down.
Option 1: Hire a Freelancer or Small Agency ($950 - $5,000)
This is what I do. A local freelancer or small agency builds your site from scratch, handles the technical stuff, and delivers a finished product.
What You Get:
- Custom design that matches your brand (not a template that looks like everyone else)
- Mobile-responsive layout that works on phones and tablets
- Basic SEO setup so Google can find you
- Contact forms that actually work
- Someone to call when something breaks
What It Costs:
- Simple brochure site (5 pages): $950 - $1,500
- Standard business site (10-15 pages): $1,500 - $3,000
- E-commerce or complex functionality: $3,000 - $10,000+
I charge $950 for a complete small business website. That includes design, build, and getting you live. My monthly hosting is $150/month, which covers hosting, security updates, SSL, backups, and any small changes you need.
Why the range is so wide: Website costs depend on complexity. A 5-page site for a plumber costs less than a 50-page site for a law firm with custom intake forms and appointment scheduling. More features = more work = higher price.
Option 2: DIY Website Builders ($0 - $50/month)
Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy—these let you build your own website without knowing code. They're cheap upfront, but there's a catch.
What You Get:
- Drag-and-drop templates you customize yourself
- Hosting included in the monthly fee
- Basic features out of the box
What It Costs:
- Basic plans: $15 - $25/month
- Business plans (no ads, more features): $25 - $50/month
- E-commerce plans: $30 - $65/month
The Hidden Cost: Your Time
Here's what the DIY platforms don't tell you: building a website takes time. A lot of it.
Most business owners I talk to spent 20-40 hours wrestling with Squarespace or Wix before giving up. That's a full work week. If your time is worth $50/hour, you just spent $1,000-$2,000 in time for a website that still doesn't look quite right.
Some people enjoy this and have the eye for design. Most don't. Be honest with yourself about which camp you're in.
For a deeper comparison, read my article on Squarespace vs. Hiring a Web Designer.
Option 3: Large Agencies ($5,000 - $50,000+)
Big marketing agencies charge big prices. Sometimes it's justified. Often it's not.
What You Get:
- Account managers, project managers, designers, developers (lots of people)
- Detailed strategy and discovery phases
- Custom everything
- Ongoing SEO and marketing services
What It Costs:
- Small agency: $5,000 - $15,000
- Mid-size agency: $15,000 - $50,000
- Large agency: $50,000 - $200,000+
For most small businesses, this is overkill. You're paying for overhead—fancy offices, account managers, long meetings. If you're a local contractor, restaurant, or service business, you don't need a $20,000 website. You need a $1,500 website that actually gets you calls.
Want a Straight Quote?
I'll tell you exactly what your website will cost. No sales pitch, just numbers.
Call (502) 305-4043The Ongoing Costs Most People Forget
Building the website is step one. Keeping it running is step two. Here's what you'll pay after launch:
Hosting ($20 - $200/month)
Your website needs to live somewhere. Cheap shared hosting costs $5-$20/month but often means slow loading times and poor security. Managed hosting with good performance runs $50-$200/month.
Domain Name ($15 - $50/year)
Your web address (like mybusiness.com). You pay for this yearly. Standard .com domains are $15-$20/year. Premium or industry-specific domains can cost more.
SSL Certificate ($0 - $200/year)
The "https" and padlock that shows your site is secure. Many hosts include this free now. If not, expect $50-$200/year.
Maintenance & Updates ($0 - $200/month)
Websites need updates for security and functionality. If you're on WordPress, plugins need updating. Things break. Content needs changing. You can do this yourself (free but time-consuming) or pay someone ($50-$200/month).
What Drives the Price Up?
Not all websites are created equal. Here's what makes prices climb:
- Number of pages: More pages = more work. A 5-page site costs less than a 20-page site.
- Custom design: Template tweaks are cheap. Custom designs from scratch cost more.
- E-commerce: Selling products online adds complexity (payment processing, inventory, shipping calculations).
- Booking/scheduling: Appointment systems, calendars, and integrations add cost.
- Custom forms: Complex intake forms, quote calculators, or multi-step workflows.
- Copywriting: If you need someone to write your content, that's extra.
- Photography: Professional photos of your work, team, or location.
How to Not Get Ripped Off
I've seen people pay $8,000 for websites that should have cost $1,500. Here's how to avoid that:
- Get multiple quotes. Talk to at least 3 different providers. Prices vary wildly.
- Ask what's included. Does the price include hosting? Maintenance? Updates? A year from now, who do you call?
- Ask to see examples. Every web designer should show you sites they've actually built.
- Watch out for "discovery phases." If someone wants $2,000 just to "understand your needs" before building anything, run.
- Beware of lowball quotes. If someone quotes $300 for a professional website, you're not getting a professional website.
Red flag: Any web designer who can't tell you their pricing upfront is hiding something. I tell people my prices on the first call. No "it depends" games.
Is a Website Worth It?
Here's the math that matters: How much is one new customer worth to you?
If you're a plumber and a water heater installation pays $1,500, then a $950 website that brings you one extra job has paid for itself.
If you're a restaurant and your average table spends $80, then 15 new customers covers the cost of a basic website.
Most businesses get far more than that from having a professional online presence. The question isn't whether you can afford a website—it's whether you can afford to be invisible when 97% of people search online before making a purchase.
What I Charge (Transparency)
Since you're researching prices, here's exactly what I charge for small business websites in Louisville:
- Website Build: $950 (5-10 page professional site, custom design, mobile-responsive)
- Monthly Hosting & Support: $150/month (hosting, security, SSL, backups, small updates)
- Google Business Profile Setup: $150 (if you need help getting on Google Maps)
- Google Ads Setup: $300 (if you want to run paid ads)
No hidden fees. No contracts. You own your website. I'm just the guy who builds and maintains it.
The Bottom Line
A small business website should cost $950-$3,500 to build, with $100-$200/month for hosting and maintenance. That's the realistic range for a professional site that actually helps your business.
Cheaper than that and you're either doing it yourself or getting something that won't serve you well. More expensive than that and you're probably paying for overhead you don't need.
If you're in Louisville or Kentucky and want to know exactly what your website would cost, give me a call. I'll give you a straight answer in 5 minutes.