One of the most common questions we get from small business owners is: “How much does a website cost?” The honest answer: it depends on what you’re building, who builds it, and what “done” means to your business.
In 2026, website costs range from $0 (DIY on Wix) to $500,000+ (enterprise custom platforms). For small to mid-sized businesses, the realistic range is $1,500 to $15,000 for most professional websites.
Here’s a clear breakdown of what different types of business websites actually cost — and what drives the price.
Option 1: DIY Website Builders ($0 – $500/year)
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly let you build a site yourself using drag-and-drop tools.
Best for: Solopreneurs, very early-stage businesses, personal portfolios.
Limitations: Limited customization, generic designs, poor SEO out of the box, no professional email, limited scalability.
Hidden costs: Premium templates ($50–$300), apps/plugins ($10–$50/month each), custom domain ($15/year).
Option 2: WordPress with a Template ($500 – $2,500)
You hire a freelancer or agency to set up WordPress with a premium theme, customize it, and add your content.
Best for: Small businesses that want a professional look without a massive budget.
What you get: Custom logo placement, your brand colors, 5–8 pages, contact form, basic SEO.
Ongoing costs: Hosting ($10–$40/month), domain ($15/year), maintenance ($50–$300/month if you hire someone).
Option 3: Custom Business Website ($2,500 – $8,000)
A professional web development team builds a site from scratch or heavily customizes a platform to match your exact needs.
Best for: Established businesses that want a competitive online presence and conversion-focused design.
What you get: Custom design, up to 15 pages, contact forms, SEO setup, Google Analytics integration, mobile optimization, speed optimization.
At MVP Projects, our Professional website package starts at $4,500 and includes all of the above plus CRM integration and 90 days of support.
Option 4: E-commerce Website ($5,000 – $15,000)
If you’re selling products online, you need more than a brochure site. You need inventory management, payment processing, shipping integrations, and more.
Best for: Retail businesses, product brands, service businesses with online booking.
Platforms: Shopify (easier to manage), WooCommerce (more flexible), or custom solutions.
What drives the price: Number of products, payment gateways, tax automation, inventory integrations, custom checkout flows.
Option 5: Web Application ($12,000+)
Not a website — a software product. Think customer portals, booking platforms, SaaS tools, or any site with user authentication and database interactions.
Best for: Businesses with complex workflows, SaaS startups, healthcare portals, real estate platforms.
What drives the price: User roles, database complexity, API integrations, security requirements, compliance (HIPAA, PCI-DSS).
What’s NOT Included in Most Website Quotes
Watch out for these common extras that many agencies don’t include in the initial price:
- Copywriting (budget $1,500–$5,000 for a full site)
- Professional photography ($500–$3,000)
- Logo design ($300–$2,500)
- Ongoing SEO ($500–$2,000/month)
- Hosting and maintenance ($50–$500/month)
- Ongoing updates and changes
How to Get the Best Value
The cheapest option is rarely the best value. A $500 website that doesn’t convert visitors into leads is worth $0 to your business. The best investment is a site that:
- Loads fast (under 3 seconds)
- Ranks on Google for your target keywords
- Converts visitors into leads or sales
- Is maintained and secure over time
At MVP Projects, we build all of this in. Our packages include performance optimization, basic SEO, and real support — not just a pretty design and a goodbye email.