A professional small-business website typically costs $700 to $2,500 when built by an agency, while a custom or eCommerce site with integrations usually starts around $2,500 and can go much higher. The final price depends on the number of pages, the design approach, the features you need and who maintains it after launch.
This guide breaks down where the money goes, what you should expect at each budget level and the ongoing costs many quotes leave out, so you can compare proposals with confidence.
What Affects the Cost of a Website?
Two websites can look similar on the surface and still differ in price by thousands. These are the factors that move the number most:
- Number of pages and templates. A five-page brochure site needs far less design and content work than a 30-page site with several page layouts.
- Custom design vs a theme. A pre-built theme is quicker and cheaper; a custom design matched to your brand takes more time but sets you apart.
- Functionality. Booking systems, online payments, member areas, CRM or ERP integrations and multilingual content all add development time.
- Content. If you supply finished copy and photos, the build is faster. Copywriting, photography and product uploads are often quoted separately.
- SEO and performance. Technical SEO, schema markup, speed optimization and analytics setup are what make a site findable, not just attractive.
- Ongoing support. Hosting, security updates, backups and content changes are recurring costs rather than one-off fees.
Website Cost by Type
The table below shows typical agency price ranges. They are a guide, not a quote, because scope varies from project to project.
| Website type | Typical scope | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|
| Starter / brochure site | 5–8 pages, responsive theme, contact form, basic SEO | $700 – $1,500 |
| Small business site | 10–20 pages, custom design, blog, analytics, on-page SEO | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| eCommerce store | Product catalog, payments, shipping rules, customer accounts | $2,500 – $8,000+ |
| Custom web application | Bespoke features, user roles, integrations, dashboards | $8,000+ |
What Do PBS Digitals Website Packages Cost?
We publish our prices so you can plan before you call. Our website design and development packages are:
- Starter Pack – $699: a professional site for startups with the essential pages and a responsive design.
- Small Business – $1,499: our most popular plan, with more pages, custom design work and on-page SEO.
- Enterprise – $2,499: for larger sites that need advanced features and integrations.
Every project starts with a free consultation, and the final scope, timeline and terms are confirmed in a written proposal before any work begins. Domain names, premium plugins and third-party licenses are billed separately.
What Ongoing Costs Should You Budget For?
The build is only part of the cost of owning a website. Plan for these recurring items each year:
- Domain name renewal, usually a small annual fee.
- Hosting, which ranges from basic shared hosting to managed cloud hosting for busier sites.
- SSL certificate, often included free with good hosting.
- Premium plugins or licenses for forms, page builders, SEO or eCommerce features.
- Maintenance: updates, backups, security monitoring and small content changes.
A site that is never updated becomes slow and vulnerable over time, so it is worth agreeing a maintenance plan from day one. Our website maintenance checklist explains what that should cover.
Is a Cheap Website Worth It?
A very low quote usually means a template with your logo dropped in, little or no SEO, and no plan for security or updates. That can be fine for testing an idea. For a business that relies on its website to win customers, it often costs more later, when the site has to be rebuilt because it is slow, hard to edit or invisible on Google. Compare quotes on what is included, not just on the headline price.
How to Get an Accurate Website Quote
- List the pages you need and the actions you want visitors to take (call, book, buy, enquire).
- Note any must-have features such as payments, bookings or integrations with your CRM.
- Collect two or three websites you like and explain why.
- Decide who will write the content and supply images.
- Ask each agency what is included for SEO, speed, training and support after launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a website?
A standard business website usually takes 2–4 weeks from approval of the design to launch. Custom and eCommerce sites typically take 4–6 weeks or more, depending on features and how quickly content is ready.
Do I own my website after it is built?
You should. Make sure the domain is registered in your name and that you receive full admin access to the website and hosting when the project is complete.
Is SEO included in the price of a website?
Basic on-page SEO, such as page titles, meta descriptions, headings and a sitemap, should be part of any professional build. Ongoing SEO work to grow rankings is a separate service.
What is the difference between a theme and a custom design?
A theme is a pre-made design that is adapted to your brand, which keeps costs down. A custom design is created from scratch around your brand and goals, which costs more but gives you a unique site.
Planning a new website? Request a free quote and we will recommend the right package for your goals and budget.
