How much does a small business website cost in 2026?
What a small business website really costs: DIY, template, static rebuild and agency. The typical ranges and the ongoing costs to plan for.
Nikolas Gannon · · 1 min read · Systems and security
How much does a small business website cost? It depends, so here are the usual ranges, because the real cost is not just the build. It is the hosting, the maintenance and the time.
The options
DIY template. From $0 to a few hundred dollars a year. You build it, host it and maintain it. Fine for a simple presence, and the time cost is yours.
Agency or designer. Usually $3,000 to $20,000+. Includes design and build, often with ongoing maintenance fees.
Professional static rebuild. Typically $500 to $5,000 depending on the number of pages and systems. Hosting is often free on a CDN tier, and maintenance is minimal.
The ongoing costs
- Hosting that grows with traffic
- Plugin subscriptions and premium themes
- Security updates, done by you or someone you pay
- The hours you spend updating or fixing it
Why static changes the numbers
A static site is files served from a CDN. There is no PHP server or plugins to update, and free hosting tiers cover typical business traffic. Most of the cost is the build, with less to pay for each year after.
What to ask before paying
- Do I own the site, the domain and the content?
- What does hosting and maintenance cost per month?
- Who handles security updates, and how quickly?
- Can I hand this to someone else later?
Look past year one
When you compare quotes, include what years two and three will cost in hosting, maintenance and your own time. For a lot of small businesses that makes a static build the cheaper option over time, but not for all of them.
If you want your options scoped, the free systems audit covers it.
Read next: WordPress vs static site for small business · What a static site actually is
Free resource: Website health check
Free resource: Website security check
Questions
What is the cheapest way to get a website?
A template on a free or low-cost host, from $0 to a few hundred dollars a year. You do the work.
What does a professionally built static site cost?
Typically $500 to $5,000 depending on pages and systems, with hosting often free on a CDN tier.
What are the hidden costs?
Hosting, plugins, maintenance, security patching and the time you spend on it. Static sites reduce most of these.