How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost? A Complete Guide

Want a dedicated website for your small business but worried about the website development costs? You’ve landed at the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss in detail how much a small business website costs, along with the factors influencing its pricing. So, let’s begin!

As a small business, you have an entire list of expenses to tick off regardless of your industry – right from your office space to staff remunerations to equipment costs to insurance and bills. While those expenses are pretty clear & upfront, there is an air of confusion around the cost of small business websites. 

That’s because, like each business, every website project is different. Moreover, website development companies or independent developers hardly disclose a flat fee. Add to that the standard assumption that website development cost is expensive for small business owners, often running into hundreds and thousands of dollars.

The result is many small businesses refrain from having a website altogether. If you’re one of them, let’s first look into why you must have a website before we break down the small business website cost for you.

Why Do You Need a Website For Your Small Business?

#1 Acts as the face of your business

About 47% of people visit the company’s website before buying its products/services, notes KPMG research. Besides, around 97% of people indulge in an online search to find a business nearby. That indicates the need for small businesses to have a strong online presence to thrive in real marketplaces. And having a website is only a vital part of it.

#2 Helps attract new customers

Once your small business website is up on the internet, anyone from virtually any part of the world can connect with you. That significantly increases your chances of acquiring new customers, helping you grow your business.

#3 Gives your business 24/7 visibility

What if an eager prospect tries to reach you after you’ve closed shop for the day? Assuming you don’t have a website, you’ll lose a potential customer right away. On the contrary, if you have got a website, that prospect can leave an enquiry, note your working hours & come back later, or you could follow up with them the next day.

A website lets you run your business round the clock, acting like your 24/7 lead magnet while you’re away.

#4 Boosts your credibility

In the digital era that we live in, having a small business website is a necessity. It allows you to put all the information consumers may need about your business in one place. That not only encourages them to trust your business but also boosts your credibility.

Now that we know the importance of having a website, it’s time to explore the cost of building a website for a small business.

How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?

There are multiple aspects involved when it comes to determining small business website design costs. It all begins with your requirements for your website, such as its design, content, as well as the type of website you want. Many web development companies charge based on the website type you choose. So, let’s explore the price point from that perspective.

Types of Website

We can divide websites into four primary types:

#1 Single-page website

As the name suggests, a single-page website features different pages of your website as separate sections on a single page. For example, the home, about, contact and services pages would all be accessible on one page simply by scrolling.

This type of website is simple in both design & development. Besides, it is comparatively easier to develop on your own, too, since there are many free templates available out there.

Cost: It can be as low as $100 & can increase with your distinct requirements.

#2 Business website

A business website is nothing but a virtual representation of your company. From providing information about your business to promoting your brand to explaining your products/services, it covers it all for your clientele and investors. A business website can be a one-page website, or it can run into several pages.

It is more complex than a landing page/single-pager but requires less effort than an online store.

Cost: It can cost anywhere between $500 – $50,000.

#3 E-commerce website

If you plan to sell products online, you will need to set up your e-store similar to Amazon, Flipkart, or eBay. Such websites are extensive and require a lot of effort and time. In fact, building an e-commerce store can take anywhere from 3-6 months. The cost of e-commerce websites hence, often runs into thousands of dollars.

Cost: Its prices range from $1,500 to $250,000.

#4 Blog

Think of a blog as a website requiring regular updation with photos, videos and/or articles. Blogs usually revolve around specific topics and, thus, require less effort on the development part and more on the content writing aspect. Interestingly, you can set up a blog for free within a few hours on platforms like WordPress using ready templates.

Cost: Free on many platforms, including WordPress, Blogger.com, Tumblr, Substack, & Medium. For a custom domain & design, you may have to subscribe to a paid plan, costing about $10 to $100.

Now let’s compare these prices if you outsource or hire someone to work from India to develop a website for your business or store.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Small Business Websites

Let’s take a closer look at the components determining small business website costs:

Domain name

Since domain names are the virtual identity of businesses, they tend to be expensive. Especially if you opt for a .com or .in one with a custom and popular keyword in the URL.

Domain name registrations come in annual subscriptions. And there are multiple noted registrars, including GoDaddy, BlueHost, and Domain.com, offering starting pricing of $0.19, $12.99 & $9.99 per year for domain registrations.

However, the cost of premium domains can be $60 or more.

Web hosting

For your website to be accessible by visitors, you need to host the website with a web hosting platform. And that requires a separate fee. However, many platforms like GoDaddy offer a combined domain + web hosting plan with a multi-year subscription period.

But considering it as a distinct expense, expect the hosting plan to cost anywhere between $10 – $50 a month. A dedicated hosting plan can cost higher than that.

Content Management System (CMS)

Also known as website builders, CMSs pack in drag-and-drop features to speed up & simplify the small business website development process. Think of platforms such as Squarespace, WordPress, Shopify, and Wix. They offer free plans with basic features, which is a great option, for start-ups and small businesses to create websites on their own.

But if you want the perks of domain and website design customizations, you will have to opt for their paid plans. Such plans cost between $100 – $500 per year.

Web design & development

The cost of website design for a small business varies from company to company, given the unique set of requirements & resources needed for each project. The same is applicable to website development services. Many web development agencies offer both these services in their plans, combined with website maintenance, which can cost around $1,000 to $40,000.

Luckily, you can hire independent website designers & developers, too, if you’re on a budget. They charge on an hourly basis or upfront. The hourly rates range from $20 to over $100 based on their expertise and experience. You can also hire them on a retainer basis to simplify consistent maintenance & updation of your website.

Add-ons, content & SEO

Your website often needs additional plug-ins to offer better functionality & user experience. It can be a newsletter subscription form, a testimonial panel, integrated social media feeds, or an SEO tool. Such add-ons come in both free and paid plans; their annual subscription starts from $50, and goes upwards of $200.

You may also need to hire professionals for your website’s content & SEO requirements, costing you an additional $200 to $5,000 per month.

Website updates & maintenance

If you have neither signed up with a web development company nor contracted a developer for regular maintenance, you’ll have to spend extra money every time you want to update, edit, or maintain the website. Depending on the requirements, it can cost around $200 to $50,000 annually.

Hourly Costs For Small Business Website Development

The pricing landscape in this case can look as below:

Web designing cost: ranges from $15-$80 per hour
Web development cost: starts from $20/hr, can go up to $100/hr
Content writing cost: starts from $15 per hour
SEO cost: starts from $70/hr, can go upwards of $100/hr
Website maintenance cost: $20-$30 per hour

What’s important to note is that these hourly rates can increase based on the expertise and experience of the web development company in the domain as well as the region they are based in.

Conclusion

A website can pave the path to growth for small businesses. As we discovered, you can hire a professional or develop your own website using platforms like Shopify, Wix, or WordPress based on your budget. If you’re starting out, use any website builder to create a simple website. And as your business grows, opt for professional web development services. It’s an important investment for your business you will never regret.