Website Packages for Small Business: What Things Actually Cost
Honest breakdown of DIY templates, done-for-you packages, and custom builds. What you get at each price point and which one makes sense for your business.
The pricing for small business websites is all over the map. Some agencies charge $10,000. Some freelancers charge $500. Website builders charge $20/month forever. Free templates exist. How do you make sense of any of this?
Here’s an honest breakdown of what things actually cost, what you get at each level, and which option makes the most sense depending on your situation.
Option 1: Free template (DIY)
Cost: $0 upfront, $0/month
You download a pre-built HTML/CSS template, open the files in a text editor, replace the placeholder content with your own, and upload it to a free host like Netlify or Cloudflare Pages.
What you get:
- A professional, mobile-friendly website
- 4 pages (Home, About, Services, Contact)
- Full control over the code
- No monthly fees, no subscriptions
- Free SSL and free hosting
What you need:
- Basic comfort editing HTML (or willingness to learn)
- Your own photos and written content
- A few hours to customize and publish
Best for: Businesses on a tight budget who are comfortable with basic tech. If you can format a Google Doc, you can edit HTML. It’s just text with some tags around it.
We have 100+ free templates built specifically for local businesses. Here are some of the best ones for small businesses.
Option 2: Website builder (subscription)
Cost: $15-40/month, ongoing
Services like Squarespace, Wix, and GoDaddy give you a drag-and-drop editor. You pick a theme, customize it visually, and they handle hosting.
What you get:
- Visual editor (no code)
- Hosting included
- Built-in features (forms, galleries, basic SEO)
- Templates to start from
What you need:
- Time to learn the builder’s interface
- Monthly budget for as long as you want the site
- Patience with builder limitations
The math: At $25/month, you’ll spend $300 in year one, $600 by year two, $900 by year three. Over five years, that’s $1,500 for a site you don’t own. If you stop paying, it disappears.
Best for: Non-technical business owners who want a visual editor and don’t mind ongoing costs. Just understand you’re renting, not owning.
Option 3: Done-for-you package
Cost: $400-$1,500 one-time
You choose a template or design direction, send the service provider your content and images, and they handle the customization, hosting setup, and domain configuration. You get a finished site delivered to you.
What you get:
- Professionally customized design
- All content placed and formatted
- Hosting configured and live
- A site you own outright
What you need:
- Your content (text, photos, logo)
- A few days of patience (typical turnaround is 5-7 business days)
Best for: Business owners who don’t want to deal with any technical work and want a professional result without paying for a fully custom build.
Our done-for-you packages start at $397. You pick a template, we handle everything else.
Option 4: Custom build
Cost: $3,000-$15,000+
A designer and developer create a site from scratch based on your specific business needs. Unique design, custom features, and functionality tailored to your goals.
What you get:
- Completely original design
- Custom functionality (booking systems, e-commerce, portals)
- SEO strategy and implementation
- Ongoing support options
What you need:
- A clear idea of what you want (or a team that can help you define it)
- Budget for the initial build
- Optionally, a maintenance budget
Best for: Businesses that need specific functionality, have an established brand to match, or are at a scale where the investment pays for itself through better conversion.
We do custom builds starting at $3,000 for businesses that need something beyond a template.
The hidden cost: maintenance
No matter which option you choose, a website needs occasional maintenance:
- Content updates: New photos, updated hours, seasonal promotions. Plan to update your site at least quarterly.
- Domain renewal: About $10-15/year for a .com domain.
- SSL certificates: Free with any modern hosting option.
- Security patches: Only relevant if you’re running WordPress or a CMS. Static HTML sites don’t have this problem.
With a static HTML site (options 1, 3, and 4 above), maintenance is minimal. There’s no database to hack, no plugins to update, no CMS to patch. You edit a text file and re-upload.
Which option is right for you?
Pick the free template if you have more time than money and you’re comfortable learning basic HTML editing. Total investment: a few hours.
Pick a website builder if you want a visual editor and don’t mind paying monthly. Just know you’re renting.
Pick done-for-you if you want a professional site without any technical work and you’re okay with a one-time fee. Best value for most small businesses.
Pick a custom build if you need features that templates can’t provide, like booking systems, member portals, or e-commerce.
The right answer depends on your budget, your timeline, and how much control you want. But the worst option is no website at all. Even a simple four-page site puts your business on the map.
Start with our small business website guide for a complete overview of your options.