What a small business site costs

The honest answer: it depends on what you need. A one-page site for a local barber is a very different job to an online shop with hundreds of products. Here is how the main options compare, and what to ask before you pay anyone.

Your three main options

Do it yourself with a website builder

Builders like Wix and Squarespace charge a monthly subscription. The real cost is your time: you do the design, the writing and the setup. Your site also lives on their platform, so leaving usually means rebuilding.

A freelancer or small studio

Prices vary widely, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Ask exactly what is included, how many changes you get, and who owns the site at the end.

An agency

Agencies often charge $3,000 or more for a small business site. This is a typical market range and prices vary. You usually get a team, a longer process and more meetings.

What changes the price

• Number of pages. One page costs less than ten.
• Features. Booking, online ordering or a shop add work.
• Writing and photos. Someone has to write the words and supply good images.
• Changes. More rounds of changes means more time.

Ongoing costs

• Domain name: about $20 a year for most addresses. It should be registered in your name.
• Hosting: anything from free to a monthly fee, depending on the site and the host.
• Updates: either your own time, or a care plan with whoever built the site.

Questions to ask before you pay

• Who owns the finished site and the domain?
• What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
• How many rounds of changes do I get?
• Are there ongoing fees, and can I cancel?
• Can I see the design before I pay?

Where Black Crest sits

Our One Page sites are $300, a Full Website (up to about 5 pages) is $700, and the care plan is optional at $30 a month. You see a free concept homepage before you pay anything, and you own the finished site. See our pricing for the details.