How much does it cost to start a Web design business?

 Your website is your online storefront, whether you operate online, offline, or both, which is why it makes sense to invest in professional web design. How much does it cost to build a website for a small business, though?

On average, small businesses will spend $2000 to $10,000 to build a site. The cost to create a website for your small business will depend on your site’s features. Websites with more features or custom-built components generally cost more due to their complexity.

Are you ready to learn more about small business website costs?

Keep reading and learn:

• What factors determine your web design costs
• Whether to use a website builder or a top web design agency
• How much to set aside for website maintenance costs

If you’re looking for a fast (and accurate estimate) for creating a site for your small business, use our free website cost calculator. You can also check out our 30-day web design services, which give your company a brand-new, custom site in 30 days!

What is the average cost to create a website for a small business?

The average cost to create a website for a small business is $2000 to $10,000. This average includes purchasing your domain name and website hosting plan, as well as designing and building your site. How much your business pays to create your website will depend on its size, features, and complexity.

 factors influencing your small business’s web design costs

Sure, you know the average cost to create a website for a small business, but what makes up that number?

When it comes to small business web design costs, you have several cost factors — and many are essential. For example, your website design costs will almost always include these seven factors:

. Domain name ($0.95 – $12 / domain)

Your domain name is like your online street address. For example, Apple resides at apple.com — apple.com is the tech giant’s domain name. Generally, you’ll purchase a domain name identical to your company name, like Apple did.

A domain name will generally cost $0.95 to $12 per domain name.

You can browse and purchase domain names from companies like GoDaddy, HostGator, and Dreamhost. If your domain name isn’t for sale, you may have to choose an alternative option. While you can approach the existing owner of a domain name, this option will generally cost more.

2. Website hosting ($24 – $120 / year)

If your domain name is like your online address, website hosting is like your online power company. You need a website hosting plan if you want to turn on your storefront’s lights in the digital world. That’s because web hosting companies power your site and make it available on the Internet.

Website hosting prices range from $24 to $24,000 per year.

As a small business, you’ll generally see lower web hosting costs. Most small websites, for example, use shared hosting, which costs around $24 to $120 per year. With shared hosting, your company will “share” a server with several other websites. That’s why shared hosting costs less.

Shared hosting does come with more limited server resources, but it’ll often work well for small sites because they require fewer resources. If you find you need more server resources, like due to a slow site, you can always upgrade your plan.

3. SSL certificate ($0 – $1500 / year)

A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate protects your website and its visitors’ data.

While optional, most businesses consider an SSL certificate essential. It serves as a trust signal, which can motivate users to complete your contact form or purchase your product. SSL certificates also protect customer data from hackers, which protects your business and brand.

In some cases, your company can receive an SSL certificate for free. Your web hosting company, for instance, may include an SSL certificate with your subscription. Depending on your needs, however, you may opt to purchase an SSL certificate, which can cost up to $1500 per year to secure your site.

4. Design ($2000 – $15,000)

When it comes to small business web design costs, design is a cost factor that varies widely. Your company may prefer a no-fuss look while another may want a high-end layout that requires more designer time.

In addition, you’ll likely need multiple designs or templates, like for the following pages:

• Homepage
• Product or service page
• Contact page

That’s why website design costs can range from $2000 to $15,000.

In most cases, small businesses will not reach $15,000 in design costs.

When meeting with web design agencies, ask about their design costs. Request examples, for instance, of what a high-end design looks like and what a basic design looks like so you can build a realistic budget for your business.

5. Number of pages ($1000 – $5000)

Websites range in size. While an ecommerce store may feature over 100 pages, a service-based company may have less than 10. From a web design and development perspective, it takes time to design and build those pages, even if the pages use some of the same layouts.

For example, an ecommerce store may have 50 product pages. Those product pages use the same design template.

The design and development team, however, needs to upload images, videos, and copy to those pages, as well as test the pages. These tasks take time, which is why websites with more pages cost more.

Page costs can range from $1000 to $5000 for sites with 1 to 50 pages, which is the average page number for small business websites. Generally, web design agencies will price pages in tiers, like 1 to 10 pages or 10 to 20 pages. If your business required 8 pages, for example, you would fall into the 1- to 10-page category and pay that tier’s rate.

6. Functionality ($2000 – $25,000)

When it comes to web design, functionality encompasses a range of features, with most focusing on ecommerce capabilities. If your company wants to accept online payments or orders, plan for functionality expenses in your small business’s web design costs.