A small business website costs money in three places: building it, the yearly basics like a domain and hosting, and keeping it updated. Doing it yourself costs the least money but the most time, a designer or agency usually costs the most up front, and a monthly plan spreads the cost out. With Porchlight, the Website and Social Membership is $399 a month with no upfront website cost, or you can buy a website outright for $1,800 to $2,500.
What Are You Actually Paying For?
Every website, cheap or expensive, is made of the same parts. Knowing them makes it much easier to compare quotes.
- Domain name. Your address on the web, like yourbusiness.com. Usually about $10 to $20 a year for a .com (needs checking with your registrar).
- Hosting. The service that keeps your site online. It's often bundled with a website builder or a monthly plan.
- Design and writing. The layout, the words and the pages. This is where most of the cost and most of the value lives.
- Photos. Real photos of your business build trust. Stock photos are cheaper, but they look like everyone else.
- Upkeep. Updates, fixes, new hours and seasonal changes. A site that never changes slowly falls behind.
What Does Doing It Yourself Cost?
Website builders charge a monthly subscription, and the price changes depending on the plan and features you need, so check the current pricing before you choose one. The money is usually the smallest part, however.
The real cost is your time. Picking a template, writing every page, taking photos and figuring out the settings can take many evenings. Then someone has to keep it updated. For some owners, that trade is worth it. For most busy owners, the site gets built once and then forgotten.
What Does Hiring a Designer or Agency Cost?
Designers and agencies usually quote by the project or by the hour, and prices vary widely depending on the number of pages and features. A custom site is often a sizable one-time cost, and changes after launch are frequently billed separately.
If you get a quote, ask exactly what's included: the number of pages, who writes the words, whether photos are included, who hosts the site and what each future change will cost.
What About a Monthly Plan?
A monthly plan spreads the cost out and includes the upkeep, so the site keeps working after launch. The tradeoff is an ongoing bill, so it matters what the monthly price includes and whether you own your domain and content.
Porchlight offers both. The Website and Social Membership is $399 a month with no separate website purchase: it includes your website with hosting and upkeep, Google Business Profile updates, up to 8 social posts a month and a monthly report. Or, buy your website outright for $1,800 to $2,500 and add the $399 Local Marketing Plan if you want ongoing help. You own your domain and content either way. See what's included.
What Should Every Small Business Website Include?
No matter which option you choose, make sure your site has the basics that turn visitors into customers:
- A clear headline that says what you do and where.
- Your phone number and a button to call, visible on a phone.
- Your services, hours and service area.
- Real photos of your business and your people.
- A simple contact or booking form.
- Fast loading on a phone. Google's SEO Starter Guide is a good free reference for the basics.
How Do You Avoid Overpaying?
- Own your domain. Register it in your business name, or make sure your provider transfers it to you.
- Ask about upkeep. A low build price can come with expensive changes later.
- Read the contract. Know the minimum term and how to cancel.
- Ask who to call. When something breaks on a Friday, you want a real person.
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Manage Your Business guide, which covers marketing, is also worth a read as you plan your budget. If you want a second opinion on your current site, a Free Visibility Check takes 15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a basic small business website cost?
It depends on whether you build it yourself, hire a designer or use a monthly plan. Do-it-yourself builders cost a monthly subscription plus your time, designers usually charge a one-time project fee, and monthly plans like Porchlight's $399 Website and Social Membership include the website and the upkeep.
Do I need to pay for hosting separately?
Sometimes. Website builders and monthly plans usually include hosting. If a designer builds your site, ask who hosts it and what it costs each year.
Should I own my domain name?
Yes. Your domain should be registered to you or your business, so you can keep it if you ever change providers.
Is a Facebook page enough instead of a website?
Usually not. A Facebook page helps, but a website is yours, shows up in Google search and makes it easier for customers to call or book.
Sources
This guide is general information for small business owners. Prices and platform rules change, so check the linked sources for the latest details.