How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in 2026?

"How much does a website cost?" is the first question almost every small business asks me, and the honest answer is that it depends on what the site has to do. That's not a dodge. Here's what actually drives the price, what you'll keep paying after launch, and how to compare quotes that look nothing alike.

What drives the price

• Number of pages and how different they are. Ten pages built from one layout cost less than five pages that each need their own design.
• Features. Contact forms are simple. Online booking, memberships, and stores add real time.
• Content. Writing, photos, and getting final copy approved are often the slowest part of any project.
• Platform. WordPress, a static site, or a store all take different amounts of work. A static site typically takes 30–50% less time to build than the same site on WordPress.
• Integrations. Connecting to a CRM, email platform, or payment processor adds time for setup and testing.

How many hours a website takes

Because I bill by the hour, the honest way to talk about cost is in hours. Every project is different, but these are typical:

• Static sites: as few as 10 to 20 hours, depending on how much content you have and what you need.
• WordPress sites: usually 20 to 50 hours, depending on how many pages there are, what's involved, and whether the site has any dynamic content.
• Complex sites: some of the sites I work on have several dozen pages or more. Those depend entirely on what the project needs, so I scope them one at a time.

Costs after launch

Every website has some ongoing costs: a domain name, hosting, any premium plugin or theme licenses, and someone to keep it updated and secure. For reference, my hosting is $350 a year per site, and my Webcare maintenance plans start at $129 a month. A static site needs far less upkeep, with no plugins and no updates.

Fixed price or hourly?

A fixed price feels safer, but it only works when the scope is fully defined, and changes usually cost extra. Hourly billing is more flexible and only charges for real work, but you need someone who gives you an honest estimate first and tracks time you can check.

How I price websites

I bill every project by the hour, in prepaid blocks: $100 an hour for a 5-hour block, down to $85 an hour at 20 hours. Time is tracked in 15-minute increments, and there's no contract. Before any work starts, I give you an upfront estimate of the hours and answer any questions you have. I'm happy to meet over a video call, or in person depending on where you're located. You own the finished site outright.

The cheapest website is the one you don't have to rebuild in two years. Tell me what you need, and I'll give you a straight estimate. See my rates, or get in touch.