Most small business websites cost $2,000 to $10,000 when you hire a professional web designer. A freelancer usually charges less, an agency usually charges more, and an online store or a site with custom features can run well past $10,000. If you build it yourself on a website builder, plan on about $17 to $50 a month plus your own time.
The price depends on what the website has to do for your business. Below are typical ranges and the things that move the number up or down, so you can set a budget before you start asking for quotes.
Web Designer Prices at a Glance
- Website builder (do it yourself): about $17 to $50 a month for platforms like Wix or Squarespace, more for online store plans.
- Freelance web designer: often $1,000 to $5,000 for a small business site.
- Web design agency: often $3,000 to $15,000 for a custom small business site, more for large or complex sites.
- Ecommerce website: often $5,000 to $25,000 or more, depending on the number of products and integrations.
These are typical market ranges, not fixed prices. Every designer sets their own rates, so always ask for a written quote.
How Much Do Web Designers Charge per Hour?
Freelance web designers commonly charge around $50 to $150 an hour. Agencies often bill $100 to $200 or more an hour, because you get a full team: a designer, a developer, a copywriter and someone managing the project. Many designers quote a flat project price instead of hourly, which makes the total easier to budget.
What Affects the Cost of a Website
- Number of pages. A five-page site costs far less than a 40-page site with a page for every service and city.
- Custom design or template. A template is faster and cheaper. A custom design built around your brand costs more and stands out more.
- Features. Booking, quote forms, member logins, calculators and software integrations all add time.
- Ecommerce. Products, payments, shipping and inventory make a site much more complex.
- Content. Writing the copy and providing photos yourself saves money. Having the designer write it costs more but usually reads better.
- SEO setup. A site built to rank on Google, with fast pages, clean structure and the right keywords, takes more work up front and pays off later.
Ongoing Costs After Launch
The design is not the only cost. Budget for a domain name (about $10 to $20 a year), hosting (often $10 to $50 a month for a small business site), and updates and security. Many designers offer a monthly care plan that covers backups, updates and small edits.
Freelancer, Agency or Website Builder?
A website builder makes sense if your budget is very tight and you have time to learn it. A freelancer is a good fit for a simple site when you find someone with strong reviews and a portfolio you like. An agency makes sense when the website needs to bring in leads, rank on Google and connect with your marketing, because one team handles design, writing, development and SEO together.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
- List the pages you need and the features the site must have.
- Share two or three websites you like, and say what you like about them.
- Ask what is included: copywriting, photos, SEO, training and support after launch.
- Ask who owns the website and the domain when the project is done.
- Ask for a timeline with milestones, not just a launch date.
What a Website Costs at Spin Modern
Spin Modern is a web design company in Virginia Beach. Every site is custom, so pricing depends on the pages, features and integrations you need. Most projects start at $2,500 and launch in 4 to 6 weeks. Each site is designed, written and built in-house on WordPress, with SEO built in, and we give you a clear quote after a free consultation. Call 757.772.8523 to talk about your project.
Web Designer Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a web designer?
Most small business websites cost $2,000 to $10,000 with a professional designer. Simple sites cost less, and online stores or sites with custom features cost more.
How much do web designers charge per hour?
Freelancers commonly charge around $50 to $150 an hour, and agencies often charge $100 to $200 or more. Many designers quote a flat price for the whole project.
How much does a five-page website cost?
A professionally designed five-page small business website often costs $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the design, the features and who writes the content.
Is it worth paying for a web designer?
If your website needs to bring in customers, usually yes. A professional site loads fast, works on phones, builds trust and is set up to rank on Google, which a do-it-yourself site often misses.
Are there costs after the website launches?
Yes. Plan for a domain, hosting and ongoing updates. Many designers offer a monthly care plan that covers backups, security and small edits.