Quick answer
A simple landing page costs from $50 and a 5-section website about $250 with an independent professional; an online store costs considerably more. On top of that you pay for the domain (about $10 to $20 a year) and hosting (from about $3 a month on offer, more at renewal).
It's the question I get asked most, and the short answer is: it depends on what you need. A simple page so your customers can message you on WhatsApp can cost $50. An online store with hundreds of products can cost thousands. In this article I explain what you're paying for in each case, what costs come later and how to tell whether a price is fair.
What you're paying for when you pay for a website
The price of a website bundles several different things. It helps to separate them so you can compare quotes:
- Design: how it looks, the colours, the fonts and the order of the information.
- Development: that it works well on phones, loads fast and every button goes where it should.
- Content: the text and photos. Often the client provides them, but if they have to be written, that's extra work.
- Google setup: titles, descriptions and registration in Google Search Console, so people can find you.
- Domain and hosting: your site's address and the space where it lives. They're paid separately and renewed every year.
The three most common types of website
Most small businesses need one of these three:
- Landing page (single page): one page with your services, photos, prices and a WhatsApp button. Ideal for getting started or promoting a specific product.
- Multi-section website: home, services, about us, gallery and contact. The usual choice for a business that's already running and wants to look professional.
- Online store: a catalogue with a cart and payments. It's much more complex and expensive, and only worth it if you'll really be selling online every day.
The costs that come later
Besides the design, a website has fixed costs. These are approximate market figures:
- Domain (yourbusiness.com): roughly $10 to $20 a year.
- Hosting: from about $3 a month on discounted basic plans, paying several months upfront. Watch out for renewal, because the regular price is much higher: at Hostinger, for example, the Premium plan renews at about $11 a month and Business at about $17 (2026 reference prices, subject to change).
- Email with your domain (for example, info@yourbusiness.com): many hosting plans already include it.
- Changes and updates: if you don't make them yourself, someone will charge you for them. Ask how much before you hire.
Why do some websites cost $30 and others $3,000?
The difference is rarely in what you see on the home page, but in what you don't see:
- Template or custom design: a generic template is cheap, but your site will look like hundreds of others.
- Speed and mobile: most of your customers will visit from their phone. If the site is slow to load, they leave.
- Google: a site with no titles, descriptions or Search Console registration practically doesn't exist for search engines.
- Who owns it: the domain should be in your name. If it's in the name of whoever built the site and they disappear one day, you lose your address.
- Support: what happens if something breaks six months from now.
An expensive website isn't always better, and a cheap one isn't always bad. What matters is knowing what each price includes.
Five questions to ask before hiring
- Will the domain be in my name?
- Does it look good on phones? Can you show me examples?
- Does it include basic Google setup?
- How much do you charge for each change after delivery?
- How long will it take and how many revisions are included?
If the person can't answer these questions clearly, that's a bad sign.
How much does it cost with me?
I work with published prices, so you know from the start how much you'll pay:
- Landing page (single page): $50.
- 5-section website: $250.
- Each later change: $50.
All of them look good on phones, have a WhatsApp button and come set up for Google. You can pay by PayPal, by card (I'll send you a payment link) or by bank transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to keep a website running per year?
The minimum is the domain and hosting. At introductory prices it can be around $50 a year, but on renewal basic hosting can go above $100 a year. Add any changes you order.
Is a landing page or a full website better?
To get started or to sell a single service, a landing page is usually enough. If you have several services, a portfolio or want to show up in Google for different searches, a multi-section website is better.
Whose name should the domain be in?
Always yours or your company's. That way, if you change provider, you keep your web address.
Sources
Updated on 15 October 2026.
About the author
Giovanni Guadalupe
Consultant in digital marketing, imports from China and studying in Russia and China. I took my degree in Moscow, a master's in Minsk and another in Barcelona, and I speak Spanish, English and Russian.
