How much does it cost to build a website? Options for any budget

In this day and age, when you want to know more about a person, brand, product, or service, you Google it. So, if you want to make finding your art portfolio, clothing line, or architectural services easy for all your future clients, it’s important to have a professional website.

Sure, starting a website may seem like a formidable task with plenty of boxes to check. What style should you use? How much information should you include? Which images should you post? Do you need an online store? And let’s not forget about the real stinger: How much will website creation cost?

Our advice is to take it one step at a time. Start by assessing your business’ needs and determining the demographic your website needs to reach and what it needs to do.

If you have a clothing line, for example, you’ll likely need product pages and aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-navigate sections. If you’re an artist, you’ll want to list your upcoming shows and provide information so that collectors can contact you about buying your work. If you’re an architect, you’ll want to showcase your roster of past projects.

Once you determine what type of website you need and you’ve defined your target audience, you’re ready to roll. Read on to find out how much the dream of having an incredible site will cost and how you can save when you’re just starting out.

What are the options for building a website?

Creating a site can also sound daunting if you have no professional web skills. The good news is that these days, generating a website is fairly easy no matter which route you take.

If you want to take on the task on your own, there are user-friendly website builders to help. Or you can hire help and sit back and relax while a professional make your dream site a reality. Here’s a bit more information about the options you have:

• Using a website builder: Website builders like Wix, Squarespace and WordPress make creating a site easy, with packages that cover domains and hostings (more on all that in a bit) and free and premium themes that help beginners feel like pros.
• Hiring a website developer: A professional web developer can help you make a site that looks good and is easy for viewers to navigate. You won’t have to lift a finger in the creation process, which designers often bill on a freelance basis.
• Hiring a web designing agency: Web design agencies offer “turnkey” services that include development and design. At the end of the process, you’ll have a completely functional site that’s ready to use.

How much does a website cost (really)?

If you know how to code, own a domain, and have a cheap hosting option, making a website can be next to free. But that isn’t the case for most. Here’s what you can expect to pay based on the type of development process you choose.

1. Using a DIY website builder

Custom website builders are an economical option for small businesses, freelancers, and startups. These platforms not only make creating a site easy, they also charge reasonable monthly or yearly fees to keep your site up and running. You’ll have to do the website design, which may be challenging for some, but templates and drag-and-drop tools on these platforms aim to make the process as painless as possible even if you’ve never studied how to build a website. They even facilitate the purchase of a domain (your personalized web address). Here are some website builder prices from the top platforms:

• Squarespace: $23-$65 per month
• Wix: $16-$500 per month (higher website building prices integrate professional services or premium features)
• WordPress: $15-$40 per month

2. Hiring a website developer

The average cost for building a website with a developer ranges greatly (anywhere from $200 to $2,500) based on your geographical area, the complexity of your site, and the level of experience of the professional. But even if you pay a bit more upfront in website development costs than you would if you’d made a site on your own, you’ll save yourself the work of designing a site.

3. Hiring a web design agency

Web design agencies cater to big businesses and can charge anywhere from $500 to $10,000 for a site. But you get a lot for your money. These agencies will design your website content, ensure a great user experience, maintain your page, and take care of backend tasks for seamless functionality.

What will you be paying for?

Let’s break down the costs of making your own website. Unlike with other types of creative work, you’re not just paying for the design costs that go into creating aesthetically pleasing projects. Here are the fees behind a website.

• A domain name: You’re going to need to purchase your space on the web – that is, an internet address (aka a domain). You can purchase yours on a site like GoDaddy, but if you work with a website builder platform, freelancer, or agency, they’ll facilitate this process. Don’t forget to list your web address with a Linktree URL in all your social media bios so that your followers can check out your site.
• Website hosting services: Web hosting costs keep your site live. Web builders offer hosting plans, and professional web designers can help as well.
• Apps, add-ons, plug-ins, and integrations: If you plan to design an app or integrate features like e-commerce functionality to your page, you’ll have some additional costs coming your way. For app development, you’ll have to hire additional designers and developers, and for advanced site functionality, you’ll pay to use the services of apps like Shopify, which you can integrate into your page.
• An SSL certificate: If you’ll need secure communication or transactions on your site, get an SSL certificate, which protects data. The price range for a certificate can be anywhere from $1 to $1,000 per year.

How to find the best solution for you

When launching a website, our advice is to dream big, but start small – or, better yet, start smart by knowing what you need.

If you’re a business owner launching a start-up and all you need right now is a landing page that will let viewers know when your project goes live, start with a basic website that fulfills this function. If you’re a painter and want to sell your art, try making a simple website with your portfolio and e-commerce integration. If you’re a big business managing thousands of online transactions, partner with professionals who can help you manage the backend of your site and ensure that it looks great to your customers 24/7.