how much does a website cost for a small business
How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business?
Website costs vary wildly. Here's what you're actually paying for.
Quick Answer
A small business website costs anywhere from $0 (DIY builders) to $50,000+ (large agencies). For service businesses, the sweet spot is $200-$500/month for a professionally managed website with booking, SEO, and lead capture built in. Cheap websites that don't generate leads are more expensive in the long run than quality websites that pay for themselves.
The Real Answer
It depends on what you need. Here's the honest breakdown:
Website Cost Comparison (2026)
| Option | Monthly Cost | What You Get | Who Does the Work | |---|---|---|---| | Free (Wix/Google Sites) | $0 | Basic page, limited features | You | | DIY Builder (Squarespace/GoDaddy) | $12-40/mo | Template site, basic SEO | You | | Freelancer | $2,000-5,000 one-time | Custom design, no ongoing support | Freelancer (then you) | | Small Agency | $5,000-15,000 one-time | Custom site, limited support | Agency | | Managed Service (Telnora) | $499-899/mo | Everything managed, booking, automations | Us | | Large Agency | $20,000-50,000+ one-time | Enterprise features | Agency |
What Most Service Businesses Actually Need
If you're a plumber, salon, daycare, or contractor, you need:
- Professional design that builds trust instantly
- Mobile-first — 60%+ of customers browse on phones
- Fast loading — under 2 seconds
- Online booking — let customers schedule 24/7
- Local SEO — show up on Google
- Lead capture — contact forms, calls to action
- Ongoing maintenance — someone to keep it updated
The Hidden Costs of Cheap Websites
A $0-40/month DIY website sounds great until you factor in:
- Your time building and maintaining it (10-20 hours/month)
- Lost customers from a slow, generic-looking site
- No booking means you're still playing phone tag
- No SEO means customers can't find you
- No follow-up means leads slip through the cracks
A "free" website that doesn't generate leads is infinitely more expensive than a $499/month website that pays for itself.
How Telnora Pricing Works
- Website plan: $499/month — custom website, booking, hosting, maintenance, SEO basics
- Growth Engine: $899/month — everything above plus AI receptionist, automated follow-ups, review requests, and neighborhood pages
- No setup fees
- 6-month minimum
FAQ
Got questions? We've got answers.
Here are the most common questions we hear from business owners like you. If you don't see yours, just ask — we're happy to help.
Related Resources
About Telnora Web Studio
Telnora Web Studio builds websites and growth systems for service businesses — plumbers, salons, daycares, contractors, and more. We handle everything: custom website design, online booking, automated follow-up, AI receptionist, and local SEO. Two plans starting at $499/month, no setup fees. Based in Cleveland, serving clients nationwide.