The honest answer is “it depends” — but that is not helpful when you are trying to budget. So here are real ranges for a small business website in 2026, and the handful of things that actually move the price.

The three price tiers

• DIY website builders (Wix, Squarespace): $15–$50/month. Cheapest up front, but you build and maintain it yourself, and you are renting the platform.
• Freelancer: $1,500–$5,000 one-time. Good for a simple brochure site; quality and reliability vary widely.
• Agency / custom build: $4,000–$15,000+ one-time. A designed, conversion-focused site you own outright, usually on WordPress, often bundled with SEO and lead tools.

What actually drives the cost

Two “5-page websites” can differ 5x in price. The real drivers are:

• Custom design vs. template. A custom website built around your brand costs more than a theme, but it does not look like three competitors down the road.
• Functionality. A contact form is cheap. Online booking, e-commerce, or CRM and automation add real work.
• Content. Copywriting and photography are often the hidden line item. Good words and images are what convert.
• SEO foundation. A site built to rank (clean structure, fast load, local pages) is worth more than a pretty site nobody finds.

What to actually budget for

For most local service businesses, a professional, lead-generating site lands in the $4,000–$8,000 range to build, plus hosting and maintenance. The cheaper routes can work, but factor in your own time and the cost of a site that does not bring in work.

The better question than “what does it cost” is “what will it return.” A site that books two extra jobs a month pays for itself quickly. We cover that math in our post on the ROI of professional web development.

Not sure which tier fits your business? Book a free consultation and we will walk your site with you.