How much does a small business website actually cost?
Straight numbers for a Michigan small business in 2026: what you’ll pay up front, what you’ll pay every year, and how to tell which option fits you.
The short answer
For a typical local business site (a few pages with your services, photos, and contact info), expect to pay somewhere between $0 and $5,000+ up front, depending on who builds it. That’s a huge range, so here’s what you get at each level.
Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy. Cheap to start, but you build it, you fix it, and the monthly fee never stops.
One person designs and builds it for you. Price depends on pages and features. Ask who owns the site when it’s done.
A team, a process, and usually a monthly retainer. Worth it for bigger companies; overkill for most local shops.
The costs people forget
- Domain name: about $10 to $20 a year for yourbusiness.com. You should always own this in your own account.
- Hosting: $0 to $30 a month. Simple sites can be hosted free on modern platforms; builders include it in their monthly fee.
- Email at your domain: about $6 a month per person if you want you@yourbusiness.com.
- Updates: new hours, prices, and photos. Either you do them, or you pay someone hourly or monthly.
What changes the price
Number of pages. A one-page site with everything a customer needs is the cheapest. Each extra page (services, gallery, about, FAQ) adds design and writing time.
Special features. Online booking, an online store, payments, or member logins add cost, often a lot. Many businesses do fine linking to a booking app they already use.
Who writes the words. If you hand over your text and photos, it’s faster. If the designer has to write everything, expect to pay more or wait longer.
How to avoid overpaying
- Get the price, the number of pages, and the number of revisions in writing before you pay.
- Make sure the domain is in your name and you can get your files if you leave.
- Ask what happens after launch: is there a required monthly fee, or optional help when you need it?
- Ask to see a design before you commit. A good designer won’t mind.
What I charge
My packages are one-time: Starter $250 (one page), Showcase $350 (up to three pages), and Expanded $500 (up to five pages). No monthly fee is required, you own your site, and you see a free mockup of your homepage before you pay anything.
Common questions
Is a $250 website any good?
It can be, if it’s focused. A single well-designed page with your services, photos, reviews, and a tap-to-call button often does more for a local business than a big site nobody updates.
Do I have to pay every month?
Not with a one-time package. You’ll still renew your domain name every year (about $10 to $20). Monthly help with updates is optional.
How long does a small website take?
Usually one to three weeks, mostly depending on how quickly your text and photos come together.