How Much Does a Website Actually Cost?

In today’s digital first world, having a professional website isn’t just a nice to have, it’s essential for small business success because your website often serves as your first impression for potential clients. But one of the biggest questions small business owners face when creating their website is: “How much does a website actually cost?”.

Website design costs in the U.S. can range from a few hundred dollars for a DIY setup to several thousand for a professionally built, custom solution. And while the upfront price tag is a major deciding factor, it’s just part of the picture. There are also ongoing monthly or yearly expenses like hosting, maintenance, and tools to consider that can add up quickly and impact your long-term budget.

In this post, we’ll break down the average website costs small businesses can expect, including the total costs of ownership with both upfront and recurring expenses, compare the pros and cons of building it with DIY platforms vs. hiring a professional, and offer recommendations based on your business goals and budget. We’ll also explain how pay monthly website plans can offer a more flexible and affordable option without sacrificing quality, and may be the smartest move for many small businesses.

Website Design Costs Overview

When planning a website for your business, it’s important to look at the full picture. Website costs generally fall into two main categories: initial setup costs and ongoing monthly or annual costs.

Initial setup costs cover the creation of the website. This includes things like the design, layout, development, content, and basic setup. Depending on how the website is built and who is building it, this could range from a few hundred dollars using a DIY website builder to several thousand dollars for a professionally designed custom website.

Ongoing costs include all the services that keep your website running smoothly after it’s launched. These may include web hosting, domain renewals, software or plugin subscriptions, email services, maintenance, backups, and technical support. These are often overlooked, but they can add up quickly and should always be factored into your budget.

In the next sections, we’ll compare different approaches to building a website and break down what you can expect to pay both upfront and over time.

DIY Website Builders

DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, and WordPress.com offer an affordable and accessible way to get a website online quickly. These platforms are designed for ease of use and include templates, drag and drop editors, and built-in hosting.

💲Typical Costs

• Startup Costs: $0 to $300 (depending on the plan and any premium add-ons)

• Monthly/Annual Costs: $10 to $50 per month (or billed annually)

Some platforms may offer free plans, but these usually come with ads, limited features, or non custom domains like yourbusiness.wixsite.com. Most small businesses will need a paid plan for a more professional appearance and full functionality.

✅ Pros

• Very affordable upfront

• Easy to set up without technical skills

• All in one platform (design, hosting, and support included)

• Large selection of templates to choose from

❌ Cons

• Limited customization and design flexibility

• Can look generic or templated if not customized well

• Less control over SEO and page speed performance

• Takes time to learn and manage, especially for non tech savvy users

🎯 Best For

• New businesses and side hustles with limited budgets

• Businesses that need a basic online presence

• Owners who are comfortable doing the work themselves or don’t mind learning as they go and taking the time to get it done

DIY website builders are a great place to start if your needs are simple and you’re willing to invest your own time. However, as your business grows, you may find these tools too limiting and need to transition to a more custom solution.

Hiring a Professional

Hiring a professional web designer or agency gives you access to custom design, expert guidance, and a more strategic approach to building your website. This option is ideal for businesses that want a polished, results driven website without having to build it themselves.

💲 Typical Costs

• Setup Costs: $1,000 to $15,000+

  Pricing depends on the scope of the project, number of pages, custom functionality, and level of strategy involved.

• Ongoing Costs: $50 to $500 per month

  This can include hosting, updates, backups, security monitoring, and on demand support.

Some professionals offer one time builds, while others provide packages with ongoing maintenance and support included.

✅ Pros

• Fully customized design that matches your brand

• Expert insight on layout, conversions, SEO, and user experience

• Saves time and eliminates the learning curve

• Scalable and flexible to grow with your business

• Higher level of support during and after launch

❌ Cons

• Higher upfront investment compared to DIY

• Ongoing support or updates may come with additional costs

• Quality and reliability can vary widely between providers

🎯 Best For

• Local service businesses that rely on visibility and credibility

• Growing companies that want a scalable, future proof website

• Business owners who want to save time and focus on running their business

• Anyone looking for a custom look, unique features, or professional marketing integration

For small businesses that are ready to invest in their online presence, hiring a professional offers more control, better performance, and long-term value. Many professional web design agencies like Digibot Web now offer flexible options, like pay monthly websites, to help reduce the upfront cost while still delivering quality results.

Breakdown of Ongoing Costs

Whether you build your website yourself or hire a professional, there are recurring costs involved in keeping your site online, secure, and effective. These are often overlooked and underestimated during the planning stage, but should be part of your long-term budget.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common ongoing website expenses:

Cost Type	Typical Range	What It Covers
Web Hosting	$5 – $50/month	Space on a server where your site lives may be included with builders
Domain Name	$10 – $20/year	Your website address (e.g., yourbusiness.com)
SSL Certificate	Free – $70/year	Secures your site with HTTPS; often included with hosting
Website Maintenance	$50 – $500/month	Backups, updates, monitoring, support, and performance checks
Plugins/Apps	$5 – $30/month per tool	Forms, booking tools, SEO tools, email integrations, etc.
Email Hosting	$5 – $15/month per inbox	Branded business email (e.g., info@yourbusiness.com)

Why Ongoing Costs Matter

Skipping or neglecting ongoing care can lead to performance issues, outdated content, and security risks. For DIY websites, this often means manually keeping up with updates and fixes. For professionally built sites, maintenance is typically available as part of a care plan or on an hourly basis as needed.

Simplifying with a Pay Monthly Plan

One way many small businesses manage these ongoing costs more easily is by choosing a pay monthly website package, where everything, including hosting, support, updates, design, and development of your website is bundled into one predictable monthly price. This eliminates the need to juggle multiple services and keeps your site in top shape without surprises.

Which Website Approach is Right for You?

There’s no one size fits all answer when it comes to building a website. The best approach depends on your business goals, available time, and budget. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which path might be right for you:

Business Type	Recommended Approach	Why It Works
New business with a tight budget	DIY Website Builder	Affordable and easy to launch quickly
Local service provider	Hire a Professional	Better design, credibility, and local SEO optimization & strategy
Businesses planning to scale	Hire a Professional	Flexible structure, scalable design, and future-proofing
Personal brand or Side Hustle	DIY Website Builder	Simple setup with limited features needed
Established business ready to grow	Hire a Professional	Scalable solution with room for future updates and growth
Businesses needing simplicity & flexibility	Pay Monthly Website Plan	Spreads out cost into an all in one price, includes ongoing care, and no large upfront investment

The Middle Ground: Pay Monthly Website Plans

If you’re not sure where to start or don’t want to make a large upfront investment, a pay monthly website plan offers a balanced middle ground. This approach is ideal for small businesses that want professional results without a big upfront cost while still getting the benefits of working with a professional web design professional on a custom design, SEO strategy, support, and ongoing updates. This makes it easier to manage your cash flow while still benefiting from a website that helps grow your business.

Real World Cost Scenarios

To help you better understand what you might actually spend, here are a few realistic examples based on common small business website needs. These estimates include both the setup and ongoing costs.

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Scenario 1: New Business Using a DIY Website Builder

• Business Type: Solo service provider or freelancer

• Platform: Squarespace or Wix

• Design & Setup: Done in house using a template

• Estimated Costs:

  • Initial: $0–$200 (premium template or app upgrades)

  • Ongoing: $16–$40/month

• Total First Year: ~$200–$700

• Pros: Quick launch, low cost

• Cons: Generic design, time consuming to manage, learning curve can be difficult for non technical business owners

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Scenario 2: Small Business Hiring a Professional

• Business Type: Local contractor or boutique shop

• Provider: Freelance designer or small agency

• Includes: Custom design, SEO setup, contact form, basic content

• Estimated Costs:

  • Initial: $2,000–$5,000+

  • Ongoing: $50–$250/month (hosting, updates, maintenance)

• Total First Year: ~$2,600–$8,000+

• Pros: Branded, strategic, hands off

• Cons: Higher upfront cost

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Scenario 3: Pay Monthly Website Plan

• Business Type: Growing business needing professional design without large upfront investment

• Provider: Web design agency offering all inclusive plans

• Includes: Design, hosting, updates, SEO setup, support

• Estimated Costs:

  • Initial: $0

  • Ongoing: $150–$300/month (all inclusive)

• Total First Year: ~$1,800–$3,600

• Pros: Professional site, predictable monthly payments, no large startup cost, dedicated web team relationship

• Cons: Long-term cost may exceed DIY if kept for many years

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These examples show how flexible website pricing can be. The key is choosing the option that aligns best with your budget, time constraints, and business goals.

Tips for Getting the Best Value

No matter what approach you choose for your website, there are smart ways to stretch your budget and make sure you’re getting real results from your investment. Here are some tips to help you get the most value from your website project:

1. Be Clear About Your Goals

Before you build anything, know what you want your website to achieve. Is it to generate leads? Get phone calls? Drive online sales? Inform potential customers about your business or services? Clear goals help guide the design and keep the budget focused on what matters.

2. Don’t Cut Corners on Essentials

Skipping things like mobile optimization, SEO, or security may save money short term, but it can hurt your visibility, credibility, and user experience in the long run.

3. Plan for Ongoing Support

A website isn’t a one and done project. It needs to be maintained, updated, and protected. Whether you do it yourself or work with a professional, be sure there’s a plan in place to keep your site up and running smoothly.

4. Consider a Pay Monthly Website Plan

For small businesses looking to balance quality and cost, pay monthly website plans are one of the best values available. These plans bundle everything you need from design, hosting, support, updates, and even SEO strategy into one predictable monthly price with no large upfront fees. This approach gives you a professionally built website without the financial stress of a major investment, and you get ongoing help along the way from a team invested in your website and businesses success.

It’s a smart solution for businesses that want to look professional, stay competitive, and avoid dealing with multiple services or surprise bills.

Invest in a Website That Works for Your Business

A well-designed website is one of the most mportant investments you can make in your business. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve your online presence, knowing what to expect in terms of cost and ongoing care puts you in a better position to make the right choice.

DIY builders can be a good place to start if you’re working with a limited budget and have time to learn the platform. Hiring a professional gives you a more custom, strategic website that can better support your long-term goals.

For many small businesses, a pay monthly website plan offers the ideal balance. You get professional design, ongoing support, and everything you need to run your website, all for a predictable monthly cost without a large upfront investment.

At Digibot Web Design, we help small businesses launch custom websites that look great, perform well, and are easy to manage because we take care of everything for you. Our pay monthly website plans include everything you need to succeed online, with no minimum contracts or hidden fees. Just a partner you can count on.

Contact us today to get started. Let us handle your website, so you can focus on running your business.