Search "website cost" and you'll get answers ranging from $100 to $100,000. That's not helpful.
Here's the thing: there's no single right answer. What matters is understanding what you're actually paying for—and whether it makes sense for your business.
I've built sites for plumbers, speech therapists, mattress stores, and lumber yards here in SLO County. Let me break down what each option really costs in 2026—no jargon, no hidden fees.
Option 1: DIY Website Builders ($17-100/month)
Platforms like Wix and Squarespace advertise low starting prices. Here's what that actually looks like.
According to Website Builder Expert, Wix plans run $17-159/month, while Squarespace is $16-99/month. But those base prices don't tell the full story.
What you'll actually pay:
- Base plan: $23-40/month for most businesses
- Domain renewal: $15-20/year after the first year
- Premium apps (booking, forms, email marketing): $5-50/month each
- Transaction fees if selling online: 2.9% + $0.30 per sale
The Bridge Digital reports that what starts as a $20/month plan often balloons to $55+ once you add essential features. Over five years? That's potentially over $3,000.
The Hidden Cost: Your Time
DIY platforms don't charge for your hours—but your time has value.
Most DIY websites take 20-40 hours to build, plus ongoing time for updates and troubleshooting. If your time is worth $50/hour, that's $1,000-2,000 just to launch—before any maintenance.
Elementor estimates DIY sites typically cost $100-1,600 in direct expenses, but the time investment is where most people underestimate the cost.
When DIY makes sense:
- You genuinely enjoy building websites
- You have 30+ hours to dedicate
- Your time isn't more valuable elsewhere
- You're comfortable with ongoing maintenance
Option 2: Freelance Web Designer ($1,500-10,000)
Hiring a freelancer means someone else does the work. Prices vary wildly based on experience and location.
According to ZipRecruiter, freelance web designers average around $35/hour, with skilled designers charging $50-100/hour.
Typical project costs:
- Basic 5-page site: $1,500-4,000
- Custom small business site: $3,000-8,000
- Complex features (e-commerce, booking): $5,000-15,000
Leadpages reports that most small businesses can expect $2,500-10,000 for a professional freelance-built site.
The catch: You pay upfront, and then you're on your own. Need changes later? That's hourly billing—usually $50-150/hour. And if your freelancer gets busy or moves on? Good luck getting help.
Option 3: Web Design Agency ($5,000-20,000+)
Agencies bring teams, processes, and premium pricing.
According to Mark Brinker's 2025 cost analysis, competent agencies charge $5,000-10,000 for most small business sites, with complex projects reaching $20,000 or more.
WebFX reports these typical agency ranges:
- Simple brochure site: $3,000-10,000
- Small business with custom features: $10,000-25,000
- E-commerce: $15,000-50,000+
Plus ongoing costs:
- Maintenance retainers: $100-500/month
- Change requests: $100-200/hour
- Redesign every 3-5 years: Another $5,000-15,000
Clutch data shows agencies typically charge $100-149/hour for ongoing work.
The Costs Nobody Talks About
Beyond the sticker price, every website has ongoing costs:
Annual maintenance: Webstacks reports small businesses typically pay $500-3,000/year for website maintenance—updates, backups, security, and fixes.
Hosting: According to Website Setup, shared hosting runs $40-150/year, while managed hosting is $60-250/year.
Security: SSL certificates (free to $200/year), security monitoring, and the risk of downtime if something breaks.
Redesign cycle: Most sites need refreshing every 3-5 years. That's another $2,000-10,000 every few years if you want to stay current.
WebFX estimates annual maintenance for small businesses at $3,600-12,000 depending on complexity.
The 5-Year Cost Reality
Let's compare what you'd actually pay over five years:
DIY (Wix/Squarespace):
- Platform: $40/month × 60 months = $2,400
- Premium apps: $20/month × 60 = $1,200
- Your time (2 hrs/month × $50): $6,000
- 5-year total: ~$9,600
Freelancer:
- Initial build: $5,000
- Changes over 5 years (10 hrs/year × $75): $3,750
- Hosting/maintenance: $1,500
- Redesign in year 4: $3,000
- 5-year total: ~$13,250
Agency:
- Initial build: $8,000
- Monthly retainer: $150 × 60 = $9,000
- Redesign in year 4: $5,000
- 5-year total: ~$22,000
So What's the Right Answer?
It depends on what you value.
Choose DIY if:
- You have more time than money
- You enjoy learning new tools
- You're comfortable being your own IT department
- Your business is a side project or hobby
Choose a freelancer if:
- You have budget for upfront investment
- You want custom design work
- You can handle basic updates yourself after launch
- You're okay with limited ongoing support
Choose an agency if:
- You need complex features (custom apps, integrations)
- You want strategy and marketing built in
- Budget isn't your primary concern
- You're a larger business with specific requirements
But here's what most small businesses really need: something professional that works, without the upfront risk or ongoing headaches.
What YouGrow Does Differently
We built YouGrow because we saw the gap. Most small businesses don't need a $10,000 custom site or the stress of DIY. They need something in between.
$79/month. That's it. Everything included:
- Custom-branded professional website
- Unlimited reasonable updates (just email or call)
- Hosting, security, backups, SSL—all handled
- Built accessible from day one
- Design refresh every 3 years (no extra charge)
- No setup fee for founding members
- Month-to-month, cancel anytime
5-year cost: $4,740. And you never touch a dashboard.
We're based right here in Arroyo Grande. When you call 805-439-6288, you talk to a real person—not a ticket system.