How much does a small business website cost in 2026? (US$, C$ and £)

Short answer: it depends on how you build it. A do-it-yourself builder such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify lists plans from roughly US$17 to US$50 a month for a small site. A freelancer or agency usually costs more up front, and published ranges are wide. On top of the build, plan for yearly costs: a domain, hosting, email and some upkeep. PixelRidge Web builds a one-page site from US$79 and a business site of up to 6 pages from US$149 (US and other high-income countries). Prices below were checked on 22 October 2026 and will change.

This guide shows real published figures with links, so you can compare them with any quote you get.

DIY website builders

Builders give you templates, hosting and an editor in one monthly plan. You do the work yourself. These are the plan prices shown on each company's own pricing page on 22 October 2026. All show US dollars, and each says prices can vary by location or billing term.

Notes on these figures:

• Wix says that "prices and currency vary by location", and its page shows USD for reference only. Its listed plans include a free domain for one year.
• Squarespace lists higher plans too. Annual plans include a free domain for the first year, while monthly billing does not.
• Shopify is built for selling products online. Its page also shows a short trial offer, so check what you would pay after it ends.
• The builder price is not the whole cost. Apps, themes, payment fees and the value of your own time are extra.

A UK source, Startups.co.uk, gives a wider range for DIY builders of £1.99 to £259 per month depending on features and online selling, and £36 to £432 a year for DIY WordPress (Startups.co.uk, page last updated 23 March 2026).

Freelancers and agencies

Published ranges here are broad, because "a website" can mean very different things. We only list figures from sources we could read and link. Each number belongs to its source.

• Forbes Advisor (US$): its 2026 guide lists "professional website design" at "$1,500 and up" for a small business site, and says quotes "can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars depending on what you need" (Forbes Advisor).
• Startups.co.uk (£): a freelance web designer at £25 to £50 an hour, with a basic website at £300 to £1,000. A small web agency at £50 to £150 an hour, with a typical small business project of about 12 weeks costing £6,000 to £96,000 in total (Startups.co.uk, updated 23 March 2026).
• BDC (C$): the Business Development Bank of Canada says web development "typically" ranges from $10,000 to $30,000 for the initial build, with some projects reaching $60,000 to $100,000. The page does not name the currency, and we have read it as Canadian dollars. That range is for larger custom builds, not a simple small business site (BDC, last modified 3 September 2026).

The spread is huge. A basic site from a freelancer and a custom build from an agency are different products. Compare quotes by what is included, not just the total.

Yearly running costs

A website does not stop costing money when it goes live. Plan for these.

Two things to watch:

• Renewal prices. A free or cheap first year is common. Check what the domain and plan cost in year two.
• Email. Many owners forget it. A branded address such as hello@yourbusiness.com is usually a separate monthly fee per person.

What drives the price

Four things move a website quote more than anything else.

1. Number of pages. A single page is a small job. Ten pages need more layout, writing and checking.
2. A shop or bookings. Taking payments or bookings means more setup, more testing and more things that can go wrong. It is the biggest step up in price.
3. Copywriting and images. If you supply the words and photos, the price is lower. If someone writes them, it is higher.
4. Integrations. Connecting a calendar, a CRM, an email list, a map or analytics adds work.

Smaller factors include design from scratch versus a template, speed of delivery, and how many rounds of changes are included.

Questions to ask before you pay

Ask these of anyone, including us.

1. Who owns the domain and the accounts? They should be in your name. If the builder registers them in theirs, you could lose access if you part ways.
2. Is the price written down? Ask for a written quote that lists what is included and what is not.
3. What are the yearly costs? Domain, hosting, email and upkeep. Ask for the figures.
4. What happens after launch? Who fixes a broken form next month? Who updates the site? Is that included or extra?
5. Can I edit it myself? Find out how you change a phone number or a price without calling someone.
6. Can I take it with me? Ask how you would move the site to another provider.

Clear answers in writing are a good sign. Vague answers tend to turn into surprise bills.

What PixelRidge charges

Our prices for the US and other high-income countries are:

Prices differ by country. If you are in Canada or the UK, the prices are shown in your currency on the pricing page, and the written quote confirms the price before work starts.

Terms and conditions apply (read the terms). The domain and hosting are paid by you to those providers. Everything we build goes on accounts in your name. Read more on our website development page.

FAQ

How much does a small business website cost? It depends on the route. Builders list plans from about US$17 a month. Published freelancer and agency figures range from a few hundred to many thousands, depending on scope. See the sources above and compare what each quote includes.

Is a website builder cheaper than hiring someone? Often it is cheaper in cash, but you pay with your time. Builders suit simple sites. If you need bookings, a shop or something custom, a professional may save you time and mistakes.

What are the yearly costs after the site is built? Usually a domain, hosting, business email and some upkeep. Published ranges are in the table above. Some builders bundle hosting into the plan.

Do I need to own my domain? Yes. The domain should be registered in your name, with your login. It is your business address on the web, and moving it later is much harder if someone else holds it.

How do I see PixelRidge prices in C$ or £? They are shown in your currency on the pricing page. The written quote confirms the price before any work begins.