Who designs it
A template filled in with your details costs less than a layout designed from scratch around your brand. Both can be right; they solve different problems.
Guide
How much does a small-business website cost?
There is no single price. Here is what moves it, the questions that let you compare quotes fairly, and exactly what WestSideSite charges.
By WestSideSite · Published 2026-10-16 · Prices and policies reflect WestSideSite's plans on that date.
The short answer.
Website prices vary widely, and a low number can leave out things you will need later. We will not quote you an "industry average", because averages hide the difference between a template, a freelancer's custom work and an agency project.
Here is what we can state exactly: at WestSideSite, building and previewing your website costs $0. If you launch, the Guided plan is $29.95/month on a 12-month term, or $295/year. Custom design starts from $295 plus $39.95/month managed care, and advanced functionality is quoted separately.
What actually drives the price.
Whoever quotes you, these are the levers.
How many pages
Each extra page needs content, photos and checking. A single-page site and a ten-page site are different projects.
What the site has to do
A site that explains your services is simple. Online stores, bookings, members areas and integrations are a different kind of work and are priced that way.
Who writes and photographs
If you supply accurate text and good photos, the cost drops. If someone must write and shoot them, that is real work.
Hosting and upkeep
A website is not a one-time purchase. Hosting, security certificates and small corrections have to come from somewhere, whether bundled or billed monthly.
Domain and third-party fees
Your web address is registered through a registrar and renewed on a schedule. Some providers bundle it; others bill it separately. Ask which.
Questions that make quotes comparable.
Two quotes with the same headline price can be very different. Put these questions to every provider, including us, and get the answers in writing.
- What is included in the price, page by page and feature by feature?
- What do I pay every month or year after launch, and what does that cover?
- Do I own my domain name and the content I supply? Who is the registered owner?
- How many rounds of revisions are included, and what happens after them?
- What counts as a small edit, and is there a monthly limit?
- What happens if I cancel? Can I take my content with me?
- What costs extra: stores, bookings, extra pages, stock photos, writing?
- Do I see the website before I pay for it?
How WestSideSite answers those questions.
Our exact pricing, so you can compare it with any other quote.
Guided Website Design
$0 to build and preview. If you launch: $29.95/month on a 12-month term, or $295/year (about 18% less than twelve monthly payments).
- Hosting, ongoing care and small edits are part of the plan
- You approve your site before it goes live
- One flowing page in a design you choose from 15
Custom Website Design
From $295, plus $39.95/month managed care, starting with a complimentary homepage design concept.
- For a small informational site of up to about five core pages
- Online stores, portals, complex bookings and advanced integrations are quoted separately
- Two revision rounds included
Domain registration and renewal are not included in either plan. They are billed separately at the registrar's actual cost, and you own your domain. Read the plain-language policy on Ownership, domains and cancellation.
Common questions about website cost.
Is a cheaper website always a worse one?
No, and a higher price does not guarantee a better one. What matters is whether the price covers what you need for the first year and after: hosting, edits, your domain and a way to update the site.
Should I build it myself on a site builder?
It can be a good choice if you enjoy it and have the time. The cost is mostly your own hours. Many owners find the first version easy and the upkeep, the wording and the layout choices slower than they expected.
What is a fair way to compare a monthly plan with a single up-front payment?
Add up twelve months of everything you would pay: the build, hosting, care, your domain and any edits. Then compare the same twelve months for each provider.
Does a higher price mean better results?
We cannot promise that, and no honest provider can. A clear, easy-to-use site gives visitors a better chance of finding what they need and getting in touch. Results depend on your business, your market and much more than the website.
Keep reading
See the website before you pay for it.
Build and preview your own site for $0. No credit card required.