"How much does a website cost?"
I get this question every time I talk to a potential client. And the honest answer is: it depends. I know that's frustrating. Let me break down what actually goes into the price so you can understand why.
The $200 Website Myth
You can absolutely get a website for $200. Squarespace, Wix, and a hundred other platforms will sell you a template and let you drag and drop your way to a live site by this weekend.
For some businesses, that's genuinely fine. If you just need a basic online presence with your hours and phone number, a template builder can work.
But here's what you're not getting at that price: custom design that matches your brand, code that's optimized for speed and search engines, security beyond the basics, someone who understands your business, and someone to call when something breaks.
You're also locked into that platform. Your site lives on their servers, under their rules, with their limitations. If you ever want to leave, you're starting over from scratch.
What You're Actually Paying For
When I quote a custom website, here's what's included in that number:
Discovery and planning. I sit down with you (or hop on a call) and learn about your business. What you do, who your customers are, what problems you're trying to solve. This isn't a formality. It shapes every decision that comes after.
Design. Not a template with your logo slapped on it. A layout designed specifically for your business, your content, and your customers. Colors, typography, spacing, visual hierarchy. Everything intentional.
Development. Building the actual site. Hand-coded, fast, secure, responsive. Every page tested on real devices. Contact forms that work and don't get flooded with spam. SEO basics built into the structure from day one.
Content and copy. Helping you figure out what to say and how to say it. Most business owners know their business inside and out but struggle to put it into words for a website. I help with that.
Launch and setup. Domain configuration, hosting setup, SSL certificates, Google Analytics, and making sure everything works before it goes live.
Support after launch. The site going live isn't the end of the relationship. Things need updating. Questions come up. You need someone you can call.
My Pricing (Honest Numbers)
I'm transparent about this because I think the industry makes it way too confusing.
A business website (clean, professional, 5-8 pages, contact form, mobile-friendly) starts at $1,500. That's the entry point for a site that actually represents your business well.
Custom features (online booking, customer portals, interactive tools) run $3,000 to $6,000 depending on complexity.
Full web applications (custom software, internal tools, complex systems) start at $6,000+ and go up based on scope.
These are ballpark ranges, not fixed packages. Every project is different and I quote based on what you actually need.
Why Cheap Sites Cost More Long-Term
I've talked to business owners who paid $500 for a website, then spent the next two years fighting with it. Slow loading, can't make changes without breaking something, template doesn't do what they need, security issues, hosting problems nobody can fix.
Eventually they pay someone else to rebuild it from scratch. Now they've spent $500 plus the rebuild cost plus the time and frustration in between. The "cheap" option turned out to be the most expensive one.
I'd rather build it right once.
How to Think About the Investment
A website isn't an expense like rent or utilities. It's a tool that works for you 24 hours a day. When someone hears about your business at a barbecue on Saturday night and Googles you at 11 PM, your website is the thing standing between them and a phone call on Monday morning.
The question isn't "can I afford a website?" It's "can I afford to lose the customers who Google me and find nothing professional?"
No Surprises
I don't do hidden fees, unexpected charges, or vague "it'll cost more than we thought" conversations halfway through a project. You get a clear quote before anything starts, and that's the number.
If you want to talk about what your business needs and what it would cost, reach out. No obligation. I'll give you an honest number.