How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business?

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:

1. Professional design that builds trust instantly
2. Mobile-first — 60%+ of customers browse on phones
3. Fast loading — under 2 seconds
4. Online booking — let customers schedule 24/7
5. Local SEO — show up on Google
6. Lead capture — contact forms, calls to action
7. 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.

The Better Question

How much are you spending on all your software combined? Most businesses spend $300-$600/month on disconnected tools. A Studio replaces all of them with one platform you own, for a one-time build cost and a flat $147/month running cost. Your dedicated team for ongoing maintenance and updates is available separately.

See how Studios work → Get your free audit →