Great question, Tasha—and one that trips up a lot of entrepreneurs.
The truth is, a business website can cost anywhere up to $50,000+, depending on what you need. But here’s the kicker: the price tag alone doesn’t tell you if you’re getting a good deal. Let’s break it down.
First … remember that you will ALWAYS pay for your domain name registration and your hosting. So the cost of your website will never be zero. Some companies wrap that all up in a monthly fee that you pay the forever; I never recommend going this route. See why I recommend you always own your domain and hosting here.
🆓 The “Free” Website Trap
Yes, there are offers out there for free websites. I’ve seen them on Facebook and other social media and of course I checked them out to know what’s up.
Here’s what they often don’t tell you:
Bait-and-Switch: Some companies advertise free websites to collect your information. Very few people actually get a free site – and they do say this directly on their website if you scroll down and find the fine print; most are upsold into paid plans or services. They frame it as an exclusive opportunity you have to “apply” for, but it’s really just a sales tactic. (You notice I don’t do this, because it’s just icky, and we like Vicky but we don’t like icky.)
Portfolio Builders: Others offering free sites are often novices looking to build their portfolio. They offer the free build in exchange for a testimonial and something to put in their samples. While everyone starts somewhere, entrusting your business’s online presence to someone without experience can be risky. Very risky (I have a story below).
Hidden Costs: Even if the initial build is free, you might end up paying for essential features like custom domains, hosting, or necessary plugins. Or, you may end up paying a monthly fee forever (and see the link I shared above about why this may not be the best option – there’s examples noted.)
In short, “free” often comes with strings attached—and those strings can tangle your business.
💸 The $500 Website: You Get What You Pay For
A $500 website might seem like a bargain, but consider this real-world example:
An entrepreneur I know paid $500 for a website, and came to me months later for help. The content was poorly written, appearing to have been written by someone not fluent in English. The company had a New York address, which was one of the things that made this entrepreneur comfortable using them since they were US-based, but it turned out they were overseas and that was nothing more than a mailbox.
Communication was nearly impossible, when she would ask for a change or have a question, they didn’t understand her and she ended up going back and forth multiple times just for something simple, then after about the first 6 weeks they simply stopped responding at all. After six months, her very basic site was still incomplete and she couldn’t get them to finish it or make further updates.
In this case, the low upfront cost led to lost time, frustration, and additional cost to fix the mess since she had to then pay me to fix it, but we had the basics rewritten, updated, and all fleshed out within two weeks. This isn’t a case of just having to pay more than initially paid … her website was dead in the water for six months.
💰 The $15,000+ Website: Worth It When Done Right
On the middle of the spectrum, a $15,000 website isn’t inherently overpriced, especially for complex needs like larger e-commerce. However, higher price doesn’t guarantee quality.
I worked with a client who paid $15K for a large e-commerce site. The web designer they hired had never built a website before (and told them that, but they were okay since they were getting the website cheaper than other quotes they had received).
What they ended up with was a site that took four minutes to load. Yes, I timed it.
Worse, the designer accidentally requested Google to deindex the site, erasing decade-plus of SEO juice that had been built up. Sales plummeted to zero for a year until we stepped in to fix it. Yes, that did mean that they then had to pay us for the fix on top of what they had already paid the other person (I actually recommended they request a refund, but they decided not to).
Now we are at the maintenance stage, their site performs significantly better—but it cost them dearly to recover. They would have been better off spending that $15K with us … it would have been right the first time.
This example also isn’t about having to pay more than initially expected when someone else needs to step in and make a fix. They had ZERO sales for a year, and their website is still having to recover from being delisted by Google for over six months. Some mistakes cost more than just dollars.
💰💰 The $50,000+ Website: Large, Complex Business
If a business needs advanced functionality—like multi-vendor e-commerce, custom portals, member dashboards, booking logic, multilingual content, or heavy backend automation—a $50,000+ website isn’t unreasonable.
At this level, you’re not just paying for design. You’re paying for strategy, integration, scalability, security, and a team that knows how to architect systems that support real business operations.
These builds are like hiring a full-time employee who works 24/7 without a paycheck. But make no mistake: if you’re paying this much, you should expect ROI and long-term support—not just a flashy brochure with a price tag.
📊 What Should You Expect to Pay?
DIY Platforms (like Wix or Squarespace): $100–$500/year
I never recommend these. They’re cheap for a reason—limited flexibility, poor SEO, and nearly impossible to scale without running into headaches or paying more and more annually for the add-ons to increase functionality. If your business is more than a hobby, you’ll outgrow them fast.
Freelancers: $1,000–$5,000 for a basic custom site
This can be a great option if you find someone experienced, responsive, and clear about what’s included (and not). Just be cautious of pricing that seems too good to be true; it usually is. At the lower end, don’t expect a lot of functionality but just a basic “digital business card” site, which I rarely recommend.
Experts: $5,000–$30,000+ depending on complexity
This range covers strategy, design, development, and real business functionality. A good agency doesn’t just build you a website, they help you build the systems behind it that support growth, sales, and marketing.
Remember, these are general ranges. The right investment depends on your business goals, the functionality you need, and the quality of service provided.
Don’t Pay for Pretty—Pay for Performance
A beautiful website is nice, but if it doesn’t convert visitors into customers, it’s not serving your business. Focus on:
Clear Messaging: Does your site communicate your value proposition effectively?
User Experience: Is it easy for visitors to navigate and find information?
Functionality: Does it integrate with your business processes (e.g., booking systems, e-commerce, CRM)?
SEO: Can potential customers find you through search engines?
For more on this, check out our article: Is Your Website Designed to Make You Money or Just Cost You Money?
Bottom Line:
Invest in a website that aligns with your business goals and provides a return on investment.
Cheap or free options usually cost you more in the long run through lost opportunities and additional fixes.
It’s not just about having a website; it’s about having the right website for your business.
Vicky
