How much does website cost in 2026? [+ Calculator]

Website development cost by project size

Understanding the cost to build a website starts with knowing your project scope. Website pricing ranges from $1,000 to $10,000+ depending on complexity.

Here's what you get at each level:

Basic website: $1,000-$3,000

What's included: This package covers 1-3 pages (Home, About, Contact) with basic design using templates, a contact form, mobile-friendly layout.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks

Best for: New businesses, personal portfolios, event websites, testing an idea.

What you don't get: Custom design, blog, SEO optimization, complex features.

Standard business website: $3,000-$10,000

What's included: This package includes 3-15 pages with custom design (not a template), a blog section, contact and newsletter forms, custom graphics, basic animations, Google search optimization.

Timeline: 3-6 weeks

Good for: Established businesses, professional services, restaurants, service companies.

What you don't get: No online store functionality, user accounts, advanced integrations.

E-commerce website: $10,000+

What's included: This package offers unlimited pages with fully custom design, an online store with shopping cart, user accounts and logins, custom features and tools, payment processing, complex animations, software integrations, full accessibility.

Timeline: 8+ weeks

Good for: Online stores, marketplaces, membership sites, web applications, enterprise companies.

What you don't get: Nothing - this is a complete package.

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Free website cost calculator

Use our interactive calculator to get an instant estimate based on Designow's pricing standards:

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How much does a website cost for a small business in 2026?

Most small businesses spend around $3,000 to $7,000 for a professional website. That gets you 8-12 pages, custom design (not templates), contact forms, mobile optimization, and basic SEO setup.

Timeline? You're looking at 3 to 6 weeks.

Here's how the pricing breaks down. If you only need design and you'll handle development yourself, that's $1,500 to $3,000. A complete package with design plus development runs $3,000 to $7,000, and you get a website that's ready to launch.

Need an online store? That bumps the total to $6,000 to $12,000.

Don't forget the ongoing costs. Hosting is $60 to $300 a year. Your domain is another $10 to $50 annually. And if you want someone to keep things updated, that's an extra $500 to $2,000 per year. But that last one's optional.

Want to save money without sacrificing quality? Keep reading and we'll show you how to cut these costs by 40 to 60%.

What affects website price?

What am I paying for? Your money goes into a few different things. First, there's the design work: figuring out what your site needs, sketching out the layout, and making it look good. Then someone has to actually build it - that's the front-end coding (the stuff you see) and back-end development (all the behind-the-scenes functionality, like your content management system and databases). Finally, there's testing and launch, where they make sure everything works, fix bugs, and get your security sorted out.

Think about it like building a house. You need an architect to design it, a construction crew to build it, materials like lumber and concrete, and then someone to do the finishing work. Your website's the same deal. The designer is your architect. Developers are your construction crew. Hosting and your domain name are like your land and materials. And testing is making sure the doors actually open and the lights turn on. You need all of it.

Four main factors determine website development cost:

1. Number of pages and complexity

More pages and features = higher cost. Here are real examples:

• 3 pages, template design: $1,000-$2,000
• 10 pages, custom design, blog: $4,000-$6,000
• 15 pages, custom design, CMS, animations: $7,000-$10,000

The range depends on design complexity, features and who builds it.

2. Custom vs template design

Wondering which design approach to choose? Here's the honest breakdown:

3. Features and functionality

Each feature adds to the cost:

4. Designer experience level

Web design rates vary based on experience, which impacts both quality and price:

Website design pricing by provider type

Web design rates and website development cost vary significantly by provider in 2026. Web development timelines and quality also depend on your provider choice.

Here's a complete breakdown:

DIY website builders: $0-$500/year

Your time investment: 20-100 hours

How it works: You use drag-and-drop tools like Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow to build your site yourself.

Cost breakdown: Platform subscriptions run $0-$50/month, domains cost $10-$50/year, premium templates add $0-$100, and apps/plugins range from $0-$20/month.

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Best for: Solopreneurs, testing ideas, very tight budgets.

Reality check: You'll spend 40-100 hours learning the platform and building your site. Calculate your time at your hourly rate, often the "cheap" option isn't cheap.

For a detailed website builder comparison, read our Webflow vs WordPress guide.

Finding the right platform for your needs

Not all website builders are created equal. Wix is the easiest to learn, you can have a basic site live in a few hours. It's perfect if you've never built a website before and need something simple. The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, but you'll hit limitations quickly if you want custom functionality.

Squarespace sits in the middle. It's still beginner-friendly, but gives you more design control. The templates are gorgeous out of the box. If you're a photographer, designer, or creative professional who needs a portfolio site, Squarespace is probably your best bet. The trade-off? Less flexibility for e-commerce or complex features.

Webflow is the most powerful but has a steeper learning curve. It's essentially a visual coding tool, you're building a real website, just without writing code. If you have time to invest in learning (plan for 10-20 hours), you'll get near-custom website quality. This is what we use at Designow for our clients, and what I'd recommend if you want room to grow. Check our detailed Webflow vs WordPress comparison to see if it's right for you.

Framer is the newest player. It combines the ease of use of Squarespace with the power of Webflow. If you're comfortable with design tools like Figma, you'll feel right at home. The AI features can speed up your build significantly.

The real cost of DIY

Here's what people don't tell you about DIY website builders: your time is the biggest cost.

Let's say you value your time at $50/hour (a conservative estimate for most business owners). Building a decent 5-page site yourself will take 40-60 hours if you're new to the platform. That's $2,000-$3,000 of your time, plus the $200-$300 annual subscription. Suddenly, that "cheap" DIY option costs as much as hiring someone.

The hidden costs add up too:

• Premium plugins/apps: $10-$50/month each
• Stock photos: $10-$100 per image (you'll need 15-20)
• Logo design: $300-$800 if you outsource
• Time spent on revisions: Another 10-20 hours as you figure out what works

When DIY makes sense: You're bootstrapping a startup, testing a business idea before full investment, have genuine interest in learning web design, or need a simple placeholder until you can afford professional help.

When to skip DIY: Your time is worth more than $50/hour, you need the site live in under 2 weeks, you're not tech-savvy, or your business depends on the website working perfectly (e.g., e-commerce, professional services).

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Freelance web designers: $1,500-$10,000

Timeline: 3-8 weeks (based on average web designer hourly rate of $75-$125)

How it works: You hire an independent designer/developer who handles the entire project.

Cost breakdown: Design work costs $1,000-$4,000, development runs $1,500-$5,000, and most packages include 2-3 revision rounds.

Best for: Small businesses wanting custom design without agency prices.

Reality check: Quality varies dramatically. Always check portfolios and ask for references.

How to find quality freelancers

The freelancer market is crowded. Here's how to find the good ones and avoid costly mistakes.

Best platforms by budget:

Upwork ($30-$150/hour): The broadest marketplace. You'll find everyone from beginners to experts. The challenge? Sorting through hundreds of proposals. Look for freelancers with Top Rated or Top Rated Plus badges, 95%+ job success scores, and at least 20 completed projects. Always check their portfolio, not their ratings.

Fiverr ($500-$3,000 project-based): Good for smaller projects. The "Pro" tier has vetted designers who've proven their skills. Avoid the $200 "I'll build your entire website" offers, you'll get what you pay for. Stick with Level 2 sellers or Fiverr Pro.

Toptal ($100-$200/hour): Premium platform that vets freelancers heavily. Only 3% of applicants get accepted. You're paying more, but you're guaranteed quality. Good option if you've been burned by cheaper freelancers before.

Contra (varies): Newer platform with a focus on quality over quantity. No fees for freelancers means they can offer better rates. Growing fast among younger designers.

Red flags to watch for

Dodge these warning signs:

1. "I can start immediately" from someone with no other active projects. Quality freelancers are usually booked 2-4 weeks out. If they're completely free, there's probably a reason.
2. Prices that seem too good to be true definitely are. A full custom website for $500? They're either inexperienced, using templates they'll claim are custom or outsourcing to cheaper developers and marking up.
3. No contract or vague deliverables. Professional freelancers send detailed contracts covering exact deliverables, revision rounds, timeline, and payment terms. If they're casual about this, they'll be casual about your project.
4. Portfolios with different styles. This often means they're showing templates or purchased themes, not original work. Ask them to walk you through their design process for a specific project.
5. Poor communication before hiring. If they're slow to respond or vague in the sales process, it will get worse during the project.

Getting the most value

Do this to maximize your investment:

Provide a creative brief before asking for quotes. Include your target audience, 3-5 competitor websites you like, specific features needed, and your timeline. You'll get much more accurate proposals.

Check 2-3 references, not just reviews. Ask previous clients: "Did they deliver on time? How many revision rounds did it take? Would you hire them again?"

Start with a smaller project if possible. Hire them for a landing page ($500-$1,500) before committing to a full website. This tests their skills and communication style with minimal risk.

Consider ongoing maintenance upfront. Many freelancers offer discounted monthly retainer rates ($200-$500/month) if you commit at the start. This ensures they're available when you need quick changes. Read our guide to design retainers to understand how this model works.

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Design agencies: $5,000-$50,000+

Timeline: 6-12 weeks minimum

How it works: A team of specialists (designers, developers, project managers) handles your project.

Cost breakdown: Discovery & strategy costs $1,000-$5,000, design runs $3,000-$15,000, development ranges $5,000-$25,000, and testing & launch adds $1,000-$5,000.

Best for: Established businesses, companies with complex needs, enterprises.

Reality check: You're paying for expertise, reliability, and peace of mind. Agencies rarely disappear mid-project.

What you're actually paying for

Agency prices seem high until you understand what you're getting. Here's what that premium buys you:

Specialized team members: A solo freelancer wears all hats (strategy, design, development, testing). An agency gives you specialists, a strategist who maps your user journey, a senior designer who creates the visuals, a developer who builds it efficiently, and a project manager who keeps everything on track. Each person is great at their specific thing.

Proven processes: Good agencies have refined systems from completing hundreds of projects. They know exactly what questions to ask, which features work for your industry and how to avoid common pitfalls. You're benefiting from years of collective experience.

Reliability and accountability: Freelancers get sick, go on vacation, or take other jobs. Agencies have backup team members. If your main designer is unavailable, someone else can step in without starting from scratch.

Strategic thinking: Budget agencies just execute your requests. Premium agencies challenge your assumptions and suggest better approaches based on what's actually worked for similar businesses. This strategic input often pays for itself in better conversion rates.

Agency size matters

Boutique agencies (2-10 people): $5,000-$25,000
More personal attention. You'll work directly with senior people, not junior staff. Better for projects needing custom design and thoughtful strategy. This is where Designow sits, small enough to care about each project, experienced enough to deliver quality.

Mid-size agencies (10-50 people): $15,000-$100,000
More specialized roles. They likely have full-time specialists in SEO, accessibility, and conversion optimization. Good for complex projects like e-commerce platforms or membership sites.

Enterprise agencies (50+ people): $50,000-$500,000+
Brand-name agencies with Fortune 500 clients. You're paying for prestige and their portfolio credentials. Unless you're a large company with a matching budget, you'll likely get assigned to their junior team anyway.

Questions to ask before hiring

Don't hire an agency until you've asked:

1. "Who exactly will be working on my project?" Get names, roles, and experience levels. If they won't tell you, that's a red flag.
2. "What's your process from kickoff to launch?" They should clearly explain each phase (discovery, design, development, testing). Vague answers suggest no real process.
3. "How many revision rounds are included?" This should be in writing. Unlimited revisions sound good but are often a trap, they'll make each round difficult to slow you down.
4. "What happens if we need changes after launch?" Understand their post-launch support. Most offer 30 days of bug fixes, but clarify what counts as a "bug" versus a "change request."
5. "Can you share 2-3 similar projects you've completed?" They should show projects in your industry or with similar features. If their portfolio is all restaurant sites and you're B2B SaaS, look elsewhere.

Warning signs of problematic agencies:

• No clear point of contact. You should have one project manager, not different people each week.
• Requiring 100% payment upfront. Standard is 50% deposit, 50% at launch.
• Can't explain their pricing. Good agencies break down costs by phase and team members.
• Push their preferred tech stack without discussing your needs. If they only build on WordPress but Webflow is better for your needs, they shouldn't force WordPress.

Monthly design retainer: $2,500-$10,000

Timeline: Continuous work

How it works: Fixed monthly fee for on-demand design and development work in 2026. Submit requests, get them completed, repeat.

Pricing tiers:

• Basic: $2,500-4,000/month (1 request at a time)
• Standard: $4,000-7,000/month (2 requests at a time)
• Premium: $7,000-10,000/month (unlimited requests)

Best for: Ongoing needs, continuous improvements, multiple landing pages, businesses that need flexibility

How Retainers Actually Work

Think of a design retainer like a gym membership, you pay monthly for access, use it when you need it and can pause or cancel (depending on the terms).

The standard model: You pay a fixed monthly fee. You submit design requests through a project management system (usually Notion, Trello, Asana or a custom portal). The designer works on one request at a time (or 2-3 for higher-tier plans), typically delivering in 24-48 hours. Once it's approved, they move to your next request.

What counts as "one request?" This varies by provider, but typically:

• One landing page = one request
• Homepage redesign = one request
• Set of 10 social media graphics = one request
• Email template = one request
• Minor site updates (changing text, swapping images) = one request

Larger projects like full website builds are broken into multiple requests (wireframes, design, development, etc.).

Retainer vs Project-Based: The Math

Let's compare the real costs:

Scenario: You need 5 landing pages over 6 months

Project-based pricing:

• $1,500-$2,500 per landing page × 5 pages = $7,500-$12,500 total
• Plus waiting time between projects (3-5 weeks to schedule + complete each)
• Total time: 15-25 weeks

Retainer pricing ($3,000/month):

• Month 1: Landing page 1
• Month 2: Landing pages 2-3
• Month 3: Landing pages 4-5
• Total cost: $9,000 for 3 months
• Bonus: Any extra requests in those months (social graphics, email templates, etc.) are included
• Total time: 12 weeks

The retainer is slightly more but gets you done faster, with flexibility for additional work.

When Retainers Make Perfect Sense

You're a perfect fit for retainers if you:

• Launch products frequently. SaaS companies launching features every month need constant landing pages, announcement graphics, and email templates.
• Run continuous marketing campaigns. If you're always testing new ads, content offers or promotional pages, retainers give you unlimited iterations.
• Need reliable availability. Project-based designers book up. Retainer clients get priority, you know someone's always available.
• Have unpredictable needs. Some months you need heavy design work, others are quiet. Retainers with pause options let you scale up and down.
• Hate negotiating quotes. Every new project requires a proposal, revision negotiation, and contract. Retainers remove that friction, just submit requests.

When to Stick with Project-Based

Skip retainers if you:

• Only need one website built, then minimal changes
• Have a tight one-time budget
• Don't have ongoing marketing activities
• Need specialized work (like complex e-commerce development) that exceeds retainer scope

Designow's Retainer Model

Our $2,999/month unlimited retainer includes:

• Unlimited design & development requests
• One active request at a time
• 24-48 hour turnaround per request
• Pause or cancel anytime
• No contracts, month-to-month

We've optimized this for startups and growing businesses who need consistent design support without the overhead of hiring a full-time designer ($80,000-$120,000/year salary + benefits).

Real example: One client used their retainer for: redesigned homepage, 3 landing pages, email template system, 12 social media graphics, and ongoing blog post graphics, all in 2 months. That would've cost $8,000-$12,000 project-based. They paid $5,998.

Learn more about how our retainer works.

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Website design cost by industry: Complete 2026 breakdown

Different industries have different website requirements. A restaurant doesn't need the same features as a law firm. Here's what you'll actually pay based on your industry, including the specific features that affect cost.

Healthcare & medical websites: $5,000-$15,000

Typical pages needed: 10-15 pages

Timeline: 6-10 weeks

Price range: $5,000-$15,000

Why healthcare costs more:

Medical websites aren't just about looking professional, they need to meet strict compliance requirements. HIPAA compliance is legally required if you're collecting any patient information. This means secure forms, SSL certificates, encrypted data transmission, and privacy policy documentation.

Essential features that drive cost:

• HIPAA-compliant patient forms ($800-$1,500): Special form systems with encryption and secure data storage
• Online appointment booking ($1,000-$2,500): Integration with your practice management software
• Patient portal integration ($2,000-$4,000): Secure login for patients to view records, test results
• Provider directories with search filters ($500-$1,000): Helps patients find the right doctor/specialist
• Insurance information database ($300-$600): Lists accepted insurance, coverage details

Final cost: $9,500
Timeline: 8 weeks
Result: 40% increase in appointment bookings, 25% fewer phone calls asking about insurance

Cost-saving tip: Start with basic contact forms (non-HIPAA) and add secure patient forms in phase 2 once you're generating revenue from the new site.

E-commerce websites: $10,000-$30,000

Typical pages: 15-50+ (including product pages)

Timeline: 10-16 weeks

Price range: $10,000-$30,000

Why e-commerce is expensive:

You're not just building a brochure, you're building a complete transaction system. Every feature needs to work flawlessly because broken checkout = lost sales.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Product catalog system ($2,000-$4,000): Easy way to add/edit products, variants, pricing
• Shopping cart & checkout ($3,000-$5,000): Secure multi-step checkout process
• Payment gateway integration ($1,500-$3,000): Stripe, PayPal or other processors
• Inventory management ($1,500-$3,000): Real-time stock tracking, low-stock alerts
• Customer accounts ($1,500-$2,500): Order history, saved addresses, wishlists
• Shipping calculator ($800-$1,500): Real-time rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx

Platform choice matters:

• Shopify: $10,000-$15,000 (quickest to launch, easiest to manage)
• WooCommerce: $12,000-$20,000 (more customizable, requires ongoing maintenance)
• Custom solution: $25,000-$50,000+ (fully custom everything)

Final cost: $14,500 (Shopify)
Timeline: 11 weeks
Result: $50,000 revenue in first 6 months, 32% conversion rate

Cost-saving tip: Launch with 10-20 products, test what sells, then expand. Don't waste money photographing and loading 200 products before you know what customers want.

Restaurant websites: $2,000-$8,000

Typical pages: 5-10 pages

Timeline: 4-8 weeks

Price range: $2,000-$8,000

Why restaurant sites are more affordable:

Simpler requirements than most industries. You need to look good and make it easy to visit or order, that's it.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Menu display with filtering ($500-$1,000): Organize by category, dietary restrictions
• Online ordering integration ($1,500-$3,000): DoorDash, UberEats, or direct ordering
• Reservation system ($800-$1,500): OpenTable or similar booking tools
• Location + hours display ($200-$400): Maps, parking info, holiday hours
• Photo gallery ($300-$500): Professional food photography showcase

Final cost: $5,200
Timeline: 6 weeks
Result: 25% increase in reservations, 15% more private event inquiries

Cost-saving tip: Skip direct online ordering initially (DoorDash/UberEats integration is complex). Just link to your third-party delivery profiles. Add direct ordering once you're established.

Real estate websites: $3,000-$12,000

Typical pages: 8-15 pages + property listings

Timeline: 6-12 weeks

Price range: $3,000-$12,000

Why real estate varies so much:

An individual agent's site is simple. A brokerage with 50 agents and MLS integration gets complex fast.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Property listings with search/filters ($2,000-$4,000): Filter by price, beds, location, etc.
• IDX/MLS integration ($2,500-$5,000): Automatically pulls listings from MLS database
• Agent profiles ($500-$1,500): Bios, specialties, contact info for multiple agents
• Neighborhood guides ($800-$1,500): Area information, schools, amenities
• Mortgage calculator ($400-$800): Helps buyers estimate monthly payments
• Virtual tour embeds ($300-$600): Integration with Matterport or similar

Final cost: $8,900
Timeline: 10 weeks
Result: 3x increase in qualified buyer inquiries, 40% of visitors use property search

Cost-saving tip: Start with featured properties (manual adds) before investing in full MLS integration. Test if the site generates leads before spending $2,500+ on automated feeds.

Professional services (Law, Consulting, Accounting): $4,000-$12,000

Typical pages: 10-15 pages

Timeline: 6-10 weeks

Price range: $4,000-$12,000

Why professional services need more:

You're selling expertise, not products. Your website needs to establish credibility, explain complex services, and demonstrate results.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Practice area/service pages ($1,500-$3,000): Detailed pages for each specialty
• Case studies/results pages ($800-$1,500): Proof of your expertise
• Team member bios ($500-$1,000): Build trust with credentials, experience
• Resource library ($1,000-$2,000): Guides, whitepapers, downloadable content
• Consultation booking ($600-$1,200): Calendar integration for initial calls
• Blog for SEO ($500-$1,000): Educational content to rank for key terms

Final cost: $7,800
Timeline: 8 weeks
Result: 2.5x increase in consultation requests, ranking on page 1 for "employment lawyer [city]"

Cost-saving tip: Launch with 3-4 core service pages. Add additional practice areas monthly as you have time to write quality content.

SaaS & Tech startups: $8,000-$25,000

Typical pages: 15-25 pages

Timeline: 8-14 weeks

Price range: $8,000-$25,000

Why SaaS costs more:

You need to explain complex products clearly, address multiple buyer personas, and drive both free trials and sales calls. Plus, integration with your product (SSO, account dashboards) adds complexity.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Product demo videos/animations ($2,000-$4,000): Show your product in action
• Pricing calculator ($1,500-$3,000): Interactive tool for cost estimates
• Use case pages ($1,200-$2,500): How different industries/roles use your product
• Comparison pages ($800-$1,500): You vs competitors
• Documentation/knowledge base ($2,000-$4,000): Searchable help content
• SSO/product integration ($2,500-$5,000): Login from website to product

Final cost: $16,500
Timeline: 12 weeks
Result: 200+ signups first month, 18% trial-to-paid conversion

Cost-saving tip: Your startup launch checklist should prioritize product screenshots over expensive custom animations initially. Add those in phase 2 after you've validated product-market fit.

Nonprofit organizations: $3,000-$10,000

Typical pages: 8-15 pages

Timeline: 6-10 weeks

Price range: $3,000-$10,000

Why nonprofit sites are mid-range:

You need emotional storytelling, donation systems, volunteer management, and event promotion, but usually have smaller budgets.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Donation integration ($1,500-$3,000): Stripe, PayPal, or nonprofit processors (recurring donations, tax receipts)
• Volunteer signup system ($800-$1,500): Forms, availability calendars, opportunity listings
• Impact/results showcase ($500-$1,000): Visual data on how donations help
• Event calendar & registration ($800-$1,500): Upcoming events, RSVP/ticketing
• Email newsletter signup ($300-$600): Mailchimp or similar integration
• Blog for storytelling ($400-$800): Share beneficiary stories, updates

Final cost: $6,200
Timeline: 8 weeks
Result: 45% increase in online donations, 30% more volunteer applications

Cost-saving tip: Many payment processors (Stripe, PayPal) offer discounted rates for nonprofits. Use these to offset development costs.

Education websites (Schools, Courses): $6,000-$20,000

Typical pages: 12-25 pages

Timeline: 8-14 weeks

Price range: $6,000-$20,000

Why education sites are complex:

Multiple user types (prospective students, current students, parents, faculty), gated content, course management, and often membership/login systems.

Essential features that drive cost:

• Course catalog with filtering ($1,500-$3,000): Browse programs, filter by type/duration
• Application/enrollment system ($2,000-$4,000): Forms, document uploads, status tracking
• Student portal (if needed) ($3,000-$6,000): Login, access course materials, grades
• Faculty/staff directories ($600-$1,200): Searchable instructor profiles
• Calendar of events/terms ($500-$1,000): Academic calendar, deadlines, events
• Learning management system integration ($2,500-$5,000): Connect to Canvas, Blackboard, etc.

Final cost: $11,500
Timeline: 10 weeks
Result: 60% increase in application inquiries, 40% fewer admin questions

Cost-saving tip: Launch without the student portal initially. Use email/Google Drive for course materials until you hit 50+ students.

Ongoing website costs (the hidden expenses)

The build cost is just the beginning. Your website needs ongoing care, like a car needs gas and maintenance.

Budget $600-$3,000+ per year for:

Essential ongoing costs:

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Pro tip: Skipping maintenance is like never changing your car's oil. Your site will slow down, break or get hacked. Budget for it from day one.

One-time additional costs

Professional photography: $500-$5,000 Professional photography covers product shots for e-commerce, team headshots, and office/location photos.

Professional copywriting: $500-$3,000 This includes homepage copy, service page descriptions, about page story, and product descriptions.

Logo and branding: $300-$5,000 This is a separate project from web design that includes logo, color palette, fonts, and a brand guidelines document.

Post-launch costs: Bug fixes for the first 30 days are usually included. Feature additions cost $500-$3,000 each, and design updates run $1,000-$5,000 annually.

Complete website launch checklist

Full website vs landing page

Many people confuse these two. Here's the clear distinction:

Check our guide on landing page costs - they typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on how complex they are.

When to choose full websites

Full websites suit businesses needing blogs and content marketing, multiple service pages, about and team pages, resources sections or complete online presences.

When to choose landing pages

Use landing pages when you're testing new products or offers, running paid advertising campaigns, launching rapidly (days, not months) or focusing on single conversion goals. Landing pages provide speed and focus without multi-page website complexity.

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Pro tip: Start with landing page MVPs. Add pages later as you validate market fit. Most startups waste money building 20-page websites before proving anyone wants their product.

Website redesign cost (Refreshing an existing site)

Redesign vs starting from scratch

A redesign updates the parts that aren't working while keeping the good stuff. A complete rebuild means starting fresh - it gives you more freedom but takes more time and money. Switching from WordPress to Webflow makes editing easier, but you might need a developer's help if you're using complicated plugins.

Already have a website but need to update it? Here's what website redesign pricing looks like in 2026:

Full redesign: $3,000-$15,000

What's included: This package preserves existing content while delivering a complete new visual design, improved user experience, modern layout and styling, SEO migration that preserves rankings, mobile optimization, updated CMS/platform if needed.

Timeline: 4-8 weeks

Best for: Outdated sites (3+ years old), poor conversion rates, not mobile-friendly, rebrand needed

Partial redesign: $1,000-$5,000

What's included: This package covers the homepage plus 2-3 key pages, keeping the existing structure while providing a visual refresh only. It updates colors, fonts, and images, includes minor layout improvements.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks

Best for: Recent sites needing visual updates, limited budget, testing new design direction

Website cost by industry

Different industries have different website needs in 2026. An online store requires different features than a law firm or restaurant.

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These ranges assume 8-12 pages, custom design, and standard features for each industry.

Need a single landing page? Landing page costs range from $500-$2,000 depending on complexity and features.

Payment options for website design and development

What if I don't have $5,000 just sitting around?

Look, not everyone can drop that kind of cash all at once. Most web designers get that, so here's how they typically handle payments.

The standard way is a 50/50 split. You pay half upfront to lock in your spot and get the design work started. Then you pay the other half when everything's done, right before your site goes live.

For bigger projects (we're talking $10,000 and up), they usually break it into three chunks: a third when you start, another third once you approve the design, and the final third when the site launches.

Some agencies will even let you pay monthly. You might pay somewhere between $500 and $1,500 a month for 6 to 12 months. Or they'll set you up on a retainer where you pay the same amount each month while they work on your site.

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Important notes: Payment plans usually don't include interest, though some agencies charge a 1-3% processing fee. Always get payment terms in writing, and never pay 100% upfront for one-off projects.

How to reduce website costs (and save money)

You can cut costs significantly without sacrificing quality. Here's exactly how:

1. Prepare content yourself

Savings: $500-$2,000

Write your own page copy and gather images before hiring a designer. Designers charge $50-$150/hour for content creation.

What to prepare: Gather text for all pages, your logo in high resolution, photos and images, contact information, and social media links before you start.

2. Use templates wisely

Savings: $2,000-$4,000

Template design costs 50% less than custom design.

Good middle ground: Buy a premium template for $50-$100, then hire a designer to customize it for $1,500-$3,000. Total cost: $1,550-$3,100 versus $5,000-$8,000 for fully custom.

3. Start small, expand later

Savings: $1,500-$3,000

Launch with 3-5 essential pages. Add blog and extra features after you generate revenue.

Phase 1 (Launch): Start with Home, About, Services, and Contact pages.

Phase 2 (3-6 months later): Add your blog, case studies, and additional service pages once you're generating revenue.

4. Skip unnecessary features

Savings: $2,000-$5,000

Don't pay for features you won't use in the first 6 months. Skip the live chat widget (saves $500-$1,000), complex animations (saves $800-$1,500), booking system if you don't need it yet (saves $1,500-$3,000), and member areas (saves $2,000-$4,000).

5. Choose the right provider

Savings: $3,000-$8,000

Experienced freelancers cost 40-60% less than agencies for similar quality.

Example: An agency charges $12,000 while an experienced freelancer costs $6,000 for the same project. That's $6,000 in savings.

Budget reduction example

Original quote: $7,000

Reductions:

• DIY content and images: saves $1,500
• Template customization instead of custom design: saves $2,000
• Launch with 5 pages instead of 12: saves $1,500
• Skip custom animations: saves $800

Total savings: $5,800

New cost: $1,200

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Pro tip: The more prepared you are, the lower your costs. Designers often charge extra for "figure it out as we go" projects because they take twice as long.

Why does website design matter?

Before you try to cut corners, understand what you're risking:

First impressions are fast

People form an opinion about your website in 0.05 seconds (Google Research). That's faster than a blink.

Good design increases conversions

A clean interface can increase conversions by up to 200% (Forrester). That means double the leads or sales from the same traffic.

Design affects trust

75% of people judge credibility based on design (Stanford Research). An outdated or poorly designed site screams "unprofessional."

Developing with SEO/AEO and speed in mind

Websites that load in 2 seconds show a 9% bounce rate. At 5 seconds it climbs to 38% (Cloudway whitepaper). Every second of delay costs you real money.

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It's like turning away revenue before it even has a chance to reach you.

Website cost mistakes to avoid

Avoid these common mistakes that waste money:

1. Paying 100% upfront

Problem: Removes your leverage if problems arise

Standard: 50% down, 50% at launch

2. Choosing cheapest without checking portfolio

Problem: $1,000 website from inexperienced designer often needs $2,000 rebuild within a year.

Better investment: Pay $3,000 to experienced designer vs $1,000 + $2,000 rebuild = $3,000 total (plus lost time and frustration)

3. Skipping hosting budget

Problem: Cheap shared hosting ($5/month) causes slow load times and poor SEO

Solution: Budget $20-30/month for decent performance

Why it matters: 1 second delay = 7% fewer conversions

4. Not budgeting for updates

Problem: Content changes, security updates, and bug fixes cost $500-$2,000/year

Solution: Set aside $50-150/month for maintenance

5. Paying for features you don't need

Problem: Booking systems, member areas, and live chat cost $1,000-$3,000 each

Solution: Only add features you'll use in first 3 months

Ask yourself: Will I use this weekly? Does it directly generate revenue? Can I add it later? If the answers are no/no/yes, skip it for now.

6. No contract or unclear terms

Problem: Disputes over scope, revisions, timeline

Solution: Always get a written agreement covering exact deliverables, number of revision rounds, timeline milestones, payment schedule, and what happens if the project is cancelled.

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