What are the options?
- A DIY builder such as Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify for stores. The cheapest, but you do the work, and the design and search setup depend on you.
- A freelancer or small studio. Custom work, faster, with one person to talk to.
- An agency. A bigger team and more process, at a higher price.
What drives the price up?
- The number of pages.
- Custom design instead of a template.
- Writing the words and taking the photos.
- Booking, payments, or online ordering.
- How much search setup is included.
What are the ongoing costs?
- A domain name, usually about $10 to $25 a year.
- Hosting: included with builders, or roughly $5 to $30 a month elsewhere.
- Email at your own domain, if you want it.
- Updates and fixes, by you or someone you pay.
What does a small business website need?
A clear headline, your service and town, a tappable phone number, a booking or contact form, reviews, and fast loading on a phone. Here is the full small business website checklist.
Is a cheap website ever fine?
Yes, if it is fast, clear, and kept up to date. A simple site that answers what you do, where, and how to reach you beats an expensive one nobody updates.
Common questions
Do I need a website if I have a Google profile and Instagram?
Most businesses still benefit. A website is the one place you fully control, it helps Google trust your profile, and it gives ads and emails somewhere to send people.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A few pages can be live in one to three weeks. Bigger sites with booking, payments, or online ordering take longer.
Who should own my website?
You. Make sure the domain is registered in your name and that you can log in to the hosting, whoever builds it.