“How much does a website cost?” is the first question almost every client asks us, and the honest answer is: it depends. A simple site can cost a few hundred dollars, while a custom online store can run to tens of thousands. This guide breaks down what you are actually paying for, the typical price ranges in 2026, and how to work out the right budget for your business.
Three ways to get a website
Most small businesses take one of three routes. The ranges below are typical for a 5 to 10 page business website.
Do it yourself ($300 to $1,000). Website builders like Wix let you put a site together yourself. Wix’s premium plans currently run from about $17 to $160 a month, billed yearly, and you add templates, apps and a lot of your own time. This works for a simple site, but you are the designer, writer and support team.
Hire a freelancer ($1,500 to $5,000). A good freelancer can build a professional site at a reasonable price. The trade-off is capacity: one person handles design, development and support, so timelines and availability can vary.
Work with an agency ($5,000 to $15,000). An agency brings a team, a defined process and ongoing support. You pay more, but you usually get more strategy, more polish and someone accountable when things need fixing.
What drives the price
Two websites that look similar can have very different price tags. These are the factors that make the biggest difference:
- Size: the number of pages and page layouts that need designing.
- Custom design or template: a design built around your brand takes longer than adapting a ready-made theme.
- Features: online booking, multiple languages, memberships or custom calculators all add work.
- Selling online: an online store typically costs $3,000 to $10,000 with a freelancer and $10,000 to $25,000 or more with an agency.
- Content: professional copywriting and photography can be a significant part of the budget.
- Integrations: connecting your site to a CRM, accounting or email marketing tool.
One-time vs ongoing costs
The build is only part of the picture. Every website also has running costs:
- Domain name: about $10 to $20 a year.
- Hosting: about $10 to $30 a month for most small business sites.
- Plugins and apps: from free to $200 or more a year, depending on the features you need.
- Maintenance: updates, backups, security checks and small fixes, done either by you or through a care plan.
When you compare quotes, always ask what happens after launch. A cheaper build with no support can end up costing more than a slightly higher quote that includes it.
Why the cheapest option is not always the cheapest
A very low quote is tempting, but it often leaves important things out. Common gaps include a site that is slow or awkward to use on phones, no basic search engine setup, no training, so every small change becomes a paid request, and no backups or updates once the site is live. Fixing these problems later usually costs more than doing them properly the first time.
At the same time, a big budget does not guarantee results. What matters is that the price matches the scope, and that you understand exactly what you are getting for it.
How to set the right budget
- Start with your goals. Is the site meant to bring in enquiries, take bookings or sell products? The answer shapes everything else.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Launch with what matters most, then add features as the site starts paying for itself.
- Budget for content. Great design cannot save weak text and poor photos.
- Compare quotes on what is included, not just the price: design revisions, training, support and who owns the site at the end.
Get a clear quote
At Skarnix we quote every project based on what your business actually needs, and we are happy to suggest a smaller first step if that makes more sense. Tell us about your plans and we will come back with a clear scope and price.
Price ranges are based on published industry guides and official pricing pages as of October 2026, and will vary by project and region.
