$0$35,000
How much does a small business website cost in 2026?
Anywhere from $0 to $35,000. Here's what you actually get at each price, what it costs to keep running, and how to pick the right option for your business.
Updated · By the Kiosko team
The short answer
Most small businesses pay between $0 and $600 a year if they build the site themselves or use a simple service, $1,500 to $8,000 to hire a freelancer, and $6,000 to $35,000 or more to hire an agency. On top of that, plan for running costs: a domain at around $10 to $20 a year, plus hosting and updates, which can add $600 to $6,000 a year if someone else maintains the site for you.
The right budget depends less on how the site looks and more on one question: what does the website need to do for your business? A bakery that needs its hours, menu and an order button doesn't need the same site as a clinic with online bookings and patient forms.
Small business website costs at a glance
| Option | Upfront cost | Ongoing cost | Time to go live | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free or low-cost simple site (e.g. Kiosko) | $0 | $0 free plan, or $8/month / $96/year | Minutes | It's built for you by chat |
| DIY website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $0 | About $17–$50/month | Days to weeks | You |
| Freelance web designer | $1,500–$8,000 | $50–$350/month for care plans, or ad hoc | 2–6 weeks | The freelancer |
| Web design agency | $6,000–$35,000+ | $500–$2,500/month retainers are common | 1–3 months | The agency |
← swipe the table →
Typical 2026 price ranges in US dollars. Builder prices are for plans billed yearly. Sources: published pricing pages and 2026 industry guides (see "Sources" at the bottom). Country-by-country starting prices from 55 small providers are in our web design prices 2026 report.
Building it yourself with a website builder: $200–$600 a year
Website builders like Wix and Squarespace let you pick a template and edit it in your browser. Paid plans that remove the builder's branding and connect your own domain start at roughly $17 to $19 a month when billed yearly, and go up to $40–$50 a month once you add online selling.
- What you get
- A professional template, hosting included, and full control.
- What it really costs you
- Time. Choosing a template, writing every section, resizing photos, setting up mobile view and learning the editor usually takes a weekend at least, often several. Many small business owners start a builder site and never finish it.
- Good fit if
- You enjoy design, have a computer and a few free evenings, and want to control every detail.
Hiring a freelance web designer: $1,500–$8,000
A freelancer designs and builds the site for you. Simple brochure sites sit at the lower end; sites with booking systems, many pages or custom design sit at the top. Most freelancers then offer a monthly care plan, typically $50 to $150 for hosting, backups and updates, or $150 to $350 with support included.
- What you get
- A site made for your business, and a person to talk to.
- What to watch
- Every change after launch, like a new price, new photos, or opening hours for the holidays, usually means an email and a wait, or an extra fee. Ask before you sign.
- Good fit if
- You need something specific (bookings, many services, a strong brand) and have the budget. If the quotes are above your budget, see our guide to affordable web design.
Hiring a web design agency: $6,000–$35,000+
Agencies bring a team: strategy, design, copywriting, development and often SEO. Boutique agencies commonly quote $6,000 to $20,000 for a small business site, and more once you add custom features, online stores or several languages. Ongoing retainers of $500 to $2,500 a month are common.
- Good fit if
- Your website is a main source of revenue and you want a long-term marketing partner. For most neighbourhood businesses, it's more than you need.
The running costs nobody mentions
Whatever you choose, these are the costs that show up after launch:
- Domain name$10–20/yr
About $10 to $20 a year for a .com. Some builders give the first year free, then charge the normal price.
- Hostingvaries
Included with builders and simple services; billed separately or inside a care plan with freelancers and agencies.
- Updatesfees / waiting
The hidden one. A new price list, a seasonal menu, new photos. If someone else has to make every change, you pay in fees or in waiting time.
- Renewals↑ year two
Introductory prices often rise in year two. Check the renewal price, not just the first-year price.
- Your own timeyour hours
If you build it yourself, your hours are the biggest cost.
Before you pay for a website, check:
A simpler option: a website made by chatting on WhatsApp
If what you need is a clear, good-looking page where customers see what you sell, your prices and how to reach you, there's a cheaper path than all of the above. With Kiosko you start a chat on WhatsApp, answer a few questions about your business, send photos, and your page is live in about two minutes. Changes work the same way: send a message with the new price or photo and it's updated.
It's not a replacement for a custom-built site with bookings or online payments. Kiosko has no cart, online payments or delivery. Customers order through a "Order on WhatsApp" button that opens a chat with you. For a lot of small businesses, that's exactly what's needed.
More on web design for small business.
From the first message to a live page in about two minutes.
Start yoursKiosko plans
Annual
$96/year- Same as $8/month
- Your own domain free for the first year
- Unlimited pages and products
- No Kiosko footer
- Unlimited updates by WhatsApp
- "Order on WhatsApp" button ✓
- Cancel anytime
Monthly
$8/month- Your own domain for $19/year
- Unlimited pages and products
- No Kiosko footer
- Unlimited updates by WhatsApp
- "Order on WhatsApp" button ✓
- Cancel anytime
Free
$0- Forever
- Up to 2 pages, 10 products
- yourname.onkiosko.com
- Kiosko footer on your page
- Unlimited updates by WhatsApp
- "Order on WhatsApp" button ✓
- No email, card or sign-up
$8 a month. Or pay for the year and your domain is on us. Domain renewal from year two: $19/year, billed separately. Compare all website packages.
Own domains require confirming your email within 15 days of registration, a rule set by domain registries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a website for a small business?
Most small businesses spend between $0 and $8,000 to get a website made, depending on who builds it. A DIY builder costs about $200–$600 a year, a freelancer $1,500–$8,000 upfront, and an agency $6,000 or more. Simple chat-built services like Kiosko start free.
How much do web designers charge?
Freelance web designers usually charge $1,500 to $8,000 for a small business site, and many add a monthly care plan of $50 to $350 for hosting and updates. Agencies typically start around $6,000.
Is $1,500 a good price for a website?
For a simple small business site built by a freelancer, $1,500 is at the low end of normal. Check what's included: the number of pages, mobile design, the domain, hosting, and how changes after launch are handled and charged.
How much does it cost to maintain a website for a small business?
Expect about $10–$20 a year for the domain plus hosting. If a freelancer or agency maintains the site, care plans run from about $50 to $350 a month. With a builder or a simple service, hosting is included and updates are up to you or included in the plan.
Can I get a website for my business for free?
Yes. Several services offer a free plan on their own web address, with their branding on the page. Kiosko's free plan gives you up to 2 pages and 10 products at yourname.onkiosko.com, built and updated by WhatsApp, with no sign-up.
Do I need a website if I already have Instagram or WhatsApp Business?
Social profiles are great for reaching people, but a website is what shows up when someone searches for your business on Google, and it gives customers one place for your prices, hours and location. A simple site that sends people to your WhatsApp works well alongside both.
SOURCES
- Squarespace pricing page, checked October 2026 (Basic from $19/month billed yearly).
- Wix plans page, checked October 2026 (Light from about $17/month billed yearly; prices vary by country).
- GruffyGoat, "Small business website costs," updated October 2026 (freelancer, agency and care-plan ranges).
- Pitchsite, "Web design pricing guide 2026" (freelancer, boutique agency and retainer ranges).