How Much Will a Website Cost You in 2022?

Having a professional, polished website is an essential part of being a small-business owner in 2022. Although building a website can be expensive, it has also never been more accessible. Let’s look at the cost of building a website in 2022, including a comparison between the cost of a web building platform and the cost of hiring a professional web designer or developer.

Though building a website is more accessible and affordable than it's ever been, it can still be a big expense for a small-business owner. Hiring a website developer can cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more, while using a website builder costs $0 to $200 in upfront fees.^1,2

The cost of building a website also depends on the number of features added. A website with ecommerce functionality will cost more than a website that has a few simple pages and a contact form. Other expenses include hiring a copywriter, logo designer, photographer, and more.

There are many features you could add to your website, ranging from a simple integration with your social media accounts to professional SEO services. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common elements of any small-business website, along with cost estimates:

• Website domain: $12–$60
• SSL certification: $0–$200
• Marketing and SEO services: $0–$90
• Website theme: $0–$200
• Hosting: $35–$600
• Website copy/content: $0–$5,000
• Apps: $0–$100
• Ecommerce capabilities: $20–$24,000

The best website builders have plans starting out at $0 to $16 a month. Here’s a look at the top website builders for small businesses in 2022, along with the minimum monthly rates:

Wix is ranked as the best overall website builder, offering more than 800 design themes and 300 apps. Squarespace is the best website builder for eCommerce, with drag-and-drop functionality, loads of built-in tools, and attractive online stores and blogs. Weebly is the ideal website builder for brick-and-mortar stores—it provides a drag-and-drop online store builder, an easy-to-use dashboard, and about 300 apps.

GoDaddy offers the quickest setup for small businesses, including a menu-based web builder, easy learning curve, and affordable price. And Wordpress delivers complete control, along with website hosting, thousands of themes, and the greatest customization.

If you’re building a complex website, have zero technical skills, or have a big budget, hiring a website developer may be the best option for you. While it’s much more expensive than using a web builder, a website developer takes off much of the burden of building a professional, customized website.

A web developer costs $5,000 to $30,000, depending on their level of experience and the scope of the project.¹ Here’s a look at some of the fees involved with hiring a web developer:

• Monthly maintenance: $500–$1,000 annually
• Security: $0–$200 annually
• Ongoing website edits: $5,000–$30,000 up front
• Website hosting: $2.95–$50.00 up front
• Website theme: Usually included in the upfront cost
• Apps and plugins: Usually included in the upfront cost

The cost of building a website can vary greatly depending on whether you choose a basic web builder or hire a web developer. There are many affordable website builders on the market for small-business owners, but hiring a web developer may be worth it if you need a highly customized website or have a large budget.

Would you like to learn more about websites for small businesses? Head to Business.org for the Best Free Website Builders for Small Business.

The average upfront cost for a good website built by a web designer is a minimum of $5,000, plus ongoing costs of about $1,000 annually.

If you use a website builder to set up your own website, your monthly fees will probably be around $50. If you hire a web developer to maintain your website, the cost will be more—usually around $1,000 annually (about $83 a month).

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.