Think getting a website is just a one-time cost? It’s rarely that simple. You’ve got a domain to buy, a place to host your site, and maybe even extra add-ons if you want your business to stand out and run smoothly. Most people are surprised by how those numbers add up.

The big question every small business owner asks: Is it better to go the budget route with a build-it-yourself tool, or hand the job to a pro? Spoiler alert—both choices come with hidden stuff you need to watch out for.

You don’t want nasty price shocks later, right? So it pays to know what you’re getting into before you start. Get familiar with the common fees—like hosting (think of it as renting space online), keeping your domain name registered, and any tools or plug-ins your business needs to attract real customers. Not every website needs all the bells and whistles, but missing basics can hurt you.

Ready to get real about website costs? Let’s look at what actually goes into the numbers and help you make smart choices for your business—and your budget.

• Breaking Down the Real Costs
• DIY vs Hiring a Pro
• Monthly Expenses and Hidden Fees
• Smart Ways to Save Money

Breaking Down the Real Costs

If you haven’t built a small business website before, here’s how the numbers usually stack up. There’s way more to it than just typing your business name into a web builder and hitting publish.

You’ll start by picking out a domain name. Expect around $10–$20 a year if you go with a standard .com address through registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy. Some trendy or premium names cost more, but for most local businesses, the basics work just fine.

Next comes website cost for hosting. Average shared hosting can run $3–$10 monthly on sites like Bluehost or SiteGround. If you prefer a builder like Wix or Squarespace that bundles hosting, you’re looking at $16–$30 monthly for their business plans. Want a faster, more secure site? Managed WordPress hosting or cloud options can cost $30–$100+ a month, but that’s usually overkill for small operations.

Your site’s foundation—and price tag—depends on the tools you use. DIY site builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify charge for their packages (from $16 up to $39 a month, depending on features like online payments). WordPress software itself is free, but you’ll pay separately for hosting, any premium themes ($40–$70 one-time), and plug-ins ($10–$200 per year, depending on what you need). E-commerce stores or booking systems? Plan for extra costs or fees on top of your main platform.

Design is another thing. Free themes are okay, but most serious businesses choose to pay for a custom look. You might pay a freelancer anywhere from $500 to $2,500 for a clean design and setup. If you want a full-blown custom job with special features, it can easily hit $5,000 or more.

So, in real numbers, the first-year price for most small business websites falls somewhere between $200 and $3,500, factoring in domain, hosting, design, and basic content. It all comes down to the choices you make—and the level of polish you want out of the gate.

DIY vs Hiring a Pro

The two main ways to build a small business website come with very different price tags, timelines, and headaches. Doing it yourself (DIY) usually means signing up for a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify. You pay a monthly fee, get access to templates and some drag-and-drop tools, and you’re in the driver’s seat. On the flip side, hiring a pro brings in a web designer or developer to build something custom, often from scratch.

Here’s the quick rundown:

• DIY Website Builders: Think $10–$50 per month for most small businesses. Most plans throw in hosting, security, and sometimes your domain for a year. You’ll trade your money for time—expect to put in several hours fiddling with layouts and settings, even with an “easy” builder.
• Hiring a Pro: Rates vary wildly, but you’re often looking at $1,000 to $5,000 for a basic site. Complex features or eCommerce? That can jump to $10,000 and up. You’ll pay all at once or in big chunks (some designers want 50% up front), and you’ll need to budget extra for changes later on.

Wondering how these two compare for daily life? Take a look:

A lot of small businesses start with DIY just to test an idea fast and avoid a big upfront hit. But if you want to stand out or expect your website to do more than just sit there, a pro can make a huge difference.

One thing people don’t always see coming: even pro-built sites need updates now and then. Paying a designer for updates can run $50–$150 an hour. With DIY, sometimes you can do it yourself for free, but you’re also the one on the hook to figure things out if a button suddenly breaks.

Bottom line? If your budget is tight and you’re willing to learn, try a builder first. If your business depends on looking unique or having custom features, hiring a pro is the smarter play—even if it costs more up front.

Monthly Expenses and Hidden Fees

The price you see on website builder and hosting ads isn't the price you pay—there’s always more under the hood. Most small business owners get tripped up by monthly (or yearly) costs that aren’t obvious upfront. That’s why understanding what you’re really paying for every month is huge if you want to stay on budget.

The main recurring costs include:

• Website cost (your hosting fee): This is what keeps your site online. Shared hosting runs $3–$10/month, but faster options (like VPS or managed WordPress) can bump this up to $20–$50/month or more.
• Domain renewal: Registering a .com usually costs $10–$20/year. Fancy or shorter domains sometimes cost more.
• Email hosting: If you want a professional business email (like [email protected]), expect $2–$6/month per user—unless your host throws it in.
• SSL certificate: Some hosts give it free, but plenty charge $30–$80/year. This gets you that little padlock and helps with Google rankings.
• Plug-ins and extensions: Extra features add up. Premium contact forms, appointment schedulers, or ecommerce tools usually cost a few bucks/month each.
• Website builder fees: Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify have their own monthly costs. Expect $16–$39/month for a real business plan.

It helps to see these costs side by side, so here’s a quick table showing price ranges for some must-haves:

Don’t get blindsided by pricing tricks: lots of providers advertise a super-low rate that jumps way up when you renew. Always check the renewal price, not just the intro offer. Some hosts make you pay extra for “website security” or backups. Before you click ‘buy,’ go over every line in the final checkout—sometimes you’ll see charges you never picked, like added privacy, premium support, or even automatic website builders you don’t want.

Pro tip: Ask support to itemize your costs, and check your bank statement after month one to spot any surprises. The more you know what’s coming, the easier it is to keep your site up without draining your business account.

Smart Ways to Save Money

If you’re running a small business, every dollar counts. The good news is, you don’t need to drain your wallet to get a good website up and running. Here’s how to keep costs low without cutting corners on quality.

First, shop around for web hosting. Don’t just grab the first package you see. Shared hosting plans can start as low as $2.99 a month, and introductory rates from big names like Bluehost, DreamHost, and Hostinger can be a steal in your first year. Just keep an eye on renewal prices—they usually jump after the first term.

Think you need a designer? Many small businesses do just fine with a drag-and-drop website builder. Most major hosts bundle builders like WordPress or Wix in their plans, and some even throw in a free domain for the first year. If you really want custom touches, you can hire freelance help on sites like Fiverr for much less than the big agencies charge.

Watch out for hidden extras. SSL certificates are a must these days for security—look for hosts that include them for free (many do). Skip pricey designer email packages by setting up a free Gmail account tied to your business domain, or use the complimentary email addresses some web hosts offer.

If you want to expand later, pick a platform that lets you add features without upgrading your whole plan. Many small businesses start simple, then add online booking, shopping carts, or galleries piece by piece—most plugins cost between $0-$50 per year, but you only need what helps your business.

• Choose cost-effective hosting with bundled features.
• Use free or low-cost site builders and templates.
• Look for package deals (domain + hosting + SSL included).
• Only pay for extras if they solve a real business problem.
• Take advantage of seasonal or annual sales—hosting discounts are huge on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

If you like numbers, check this out:

Bottom line: You can build a clean, secure small business site for under $100 a year with some smart moves and the right website cost hacks. As your business grows, you can always add more frills—but there’s no need to overspend to get started.