The Average Cost of Website Design for a Small Business in 2026
The average cost of website design for a small business in 2026: what each option costs, why published averages disagree, and what you’ll pay each year.
- Updated
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The average cost of website design for a small business is around $2,000 with a freelancer and $5,000 or more with an agency, according to published guides. Nobody has audited a national average, so treat these as rough market prices.
What is the average cost of website design for a small business?
ManyPixels gives the clearest single figure: “around $2,000 if you hire a freelancer.” Its range for custom freelance design is $1,000 to $3,000, with agencies starting at $5,000. WebFX, looking at redesigns, lists $3,000 to $10,000 for freelancers and up to $75,000 for agencies. Both companies sell design services, and so do we, so read all of these numbers with that in mind.
Average cost by type of website
| Option | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY with a template (ManyPixels) | $50–$300 |
| PageSimple custom one-page site | $1,000 flat |
| Freelance custom design (ManyPixels) | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Agency (ManyPixels) | $5,000+ |
Our longer guide on what a small business website costs explains what you’re paying for at each level and how to judge a quote.
Why the published averages disagree
Averages disagree because they measure different websites. Some guides price a small freelancer site, and others a 20 page agency project with strategy and copywriting. Many of the numbers also come from companies whose own prices sit inside the range they publish. And an average mixes a bakery with a regional law firm, so neither owner learns much from it.
What a small business website costs per year
A small business website costs about $490 to $1,830 a year to keep running, on top of the design fee, if you add up the low and high ends of ManyPixels’ and WebFX’s published ranges.
The whole bill
The design fee is only the part you see first
Above the waterline
Design, about $2,000 with a freelancer
Paid once.
Below the waterline
- Domain name
- $10–$30
- Hosting
- $60–$600
- Maintenance
- $420–$1,200
Paid every year.
Some providers bundle those line items. We bundle them for $5 a month on a landing page we’ve built. If you already have a site, see our website maintenance service.
How much should your business spend?
Start with the site’s job. If it needs to explain what you do and get people to contact you, a single focused page often does it, and ours costs $1,000, whether it’s your first website or a replacement. Read landing page vs. website if you’re unsure.
If you publish often or need a separate page for each service, budget for a multi-page WordPress site, which we quote per project. Then compare the price with the value of a customer: a site that costs $3,000 pays for itself quickly when one new client is worth $2,000, and slowly when a customer is worth $40.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a reasonable price for a small business website?
- We think $1,000 to $5,000 is reasonable for most small service businesses that need a clear site with a few pages or fewer. Spending more makes sense when you need many pages, custom features, or a site that must compete hard in search.
- How much does a one-page small business website cost?
- A do-it-yourself template costs from about $50 to $300, plus your time. A custom one-page site at PageSimple is a flat $1,000, with hosting, updates and support at $5 a month.
- How much do web designers charge per hour?
- Rates vary widely by experience and location. WebFX, a large agency, lists additional development hours at $150, so a freelancer may charge less and a specialist more. Ask for a fixed total if the scope is clear.
Work with PageSimple
A clearer website, live in about a week.
We rebuild small-business sites into clean, focused landing pages. A flat $1,000 redesign, then $5/month for hosting and care.
Sources
- ManyPixels, small business website cost (November 10, 2025)
- WebFX, website redesign pricing (checked November 1, 2026)
- WebFX, website maintenance pricing (updated December 19, 2025)