Ask five people what a website costs and you may get five very different answers. One friend built theirs for free. A web designer quoted you USD 6,000. An advert promises a site for USD 1 a month.
All of them can be true. They are just different ways of getting a website, with different costs hidden in different places. This guide explains each one, so you can compare them fairly and choose with confidence.
The short answer: a simple small-business website costs about USD 100–500 a year, and a custom build costs about USD 1,000–10,000 upfront. These are our rough estimates, in US dollars. Local prices vary by country, so use them to compare options, not as a quote.
What are the three main ways to get a website?
You can build it yourself, pay for a simple done-for-you plan, or hire someone to build a custom site. Each one moves the cost between money and your own time.
1. Build it yourself with a website builder
A website builder is an online tool where you drag in text and photos. Paid plans that let you use your own domain name usually cost about USD 150–400 a year.
The money is low, but the time is not. We estimate that a first site often takes 20 to 40 hours: choosing a design, writing every page and learning the settings.
2. A simple done-for-you website plan
Some services build and host a small website for one yearly price. You give them the facts about your business, and they create the pages. Prices usually sit around USD 100–500 a year.
Green Kauri's website plan works this way. It costs USD 99 a year. You answer a few simple questions, and we create a mobile-friendly site with search and AI optimisation built in. You do not need to know the technical parts.
3. A custom website from a freelancer or agency
A custom site is designed for you from scratch. Freelancers often charge about USD 1,000–5,000 for a small site. Agencies often charge USD 5,000–10,000 or more.
You pay for design time, meetings and special features. This makes sense when you need online bookings, a large shop or a strong brand look. For a five-page service business, it is often more than you need.
What costs do you pay every year?
Every website has running costs, even after it is built. These are the ones to add up before you compare prices.
- Domain name: your web address, such as yourbusiness.com. Common endings usually cost about USD 10–30 a year. You rent it and must renew it every year.
- Hosting: the computer that stores your site and shows it to visitors. It is often included in builder plans and yearly website plans.
- Security certificate (SSL): the padlock in the browser bar. It is often free. Let's Encrypt, a non-profit, gives these certificates away at no cost.
- Business email: an address like hello@yourbusiness.com. This is often a separate monthly fee per person.
- Updates and changes: new prices, new photos, a new service. Some plans include small changes. Freelancers usually charge by the hour.
Ask who registers the domain name, and in whose name. It should be yours. ICANN, the body that oversees domain names, says registrants have the right to transfer and renew their domain. That is much easier when your name is on it.
Which hidden costs should you ask about?
The biggest surprises usually come in the second year. The first-year price is often a discount, and the real cost starts at renewal.
- Renewal price: for example, a USD 3-a-month offer might become USD 15 a month after the first year. Check the renewal price before you sign up.
- Add-ons: forms, booking tools or extra pages may cost more on a basic plan.
- Transaction fees: some builders take a share of every online sale.
- Leaving: some platforms do not let you take your design with you. Moving can mean rebuilding.
- Fixing a site that does not work: a site that loads slowly or breaks on phones often needs paid repairs later.
Write down the total cost for three years, not one. It is the fairest way to compare a yearly plan with a one-off build.
Why does your own time count as a cost?
Because every hour spent on your website is an hour not spent on paid work. For many small-business owners, time is the most expensive part of a cheap website.
Here is a simple example. If your work is worth USD 50 an hour and a builder site takes you 30 hours, it has cost you USD 1,500 before you pay the plan. If it takes you one hour to answer questions for a done-for-you plan, most of that cost disappears.
Building it yourself still makes sense if you enjoy it or have more time than money. Just count the hours honestly.
Do you need to pay extra for SEO?
Not to start with. SEO means Search Engine Optimisation: making pages easy for Google to understand and show. The basics should be part of any decent website, not an expensive extra.
Google's own guidance says nobody can guarantee a number one ranking. Be careful with anyone who promises one. What matters first is clear pages: one per service, with your area, prices and contact details written out in plain words.
Today, people also ask AI assistants like ChatGPT for recommendations. Making your site clear for search engines and AI tools together is what we call xEO. It is included in our website plan. If you already have a site, our xEO optimisation service can improve it without a rebuild.
How much should a small business budget?
For most small service businesses, a yearly budget of USD 100–500 is enough for a clear, useful website. Spend more only when you need a feature that earns it back.
- Just starting, or testing an idea: USD 100–200 a year. A simple plan or a basic builder site.
- Established local service business: USD 100–500 a year. A simple plan with a page for each service and a good contact page.
- Needs bookings, payments or a shop: USD 500–2,000 a year, or a custom build.
- Needs a unique brand or complex features: USD 5,000 or more upfront from an agency.
These ranges are our estimates and opinion. They are a starting point for your planning, not fixed prices.
What should you ask before you pay anyone?
Six questions will show you the real cost of almost any website offer. Ask them in writing, and keep the answers.
- What is the total price for the first three years, including renewal?
- Who owns the domain name, and is it registered in my name?
- Are hosting, SSL and small changes included?
- Will the site work well on phones?
- Are the SEO basics included, such as page titles and a page for each service?
- If I leave, can I take my domain and my words with me?
Our small-business website checklist explains what a good site should include once it is built.
When is a cheap website a false saving?
A cheap website is a false saving when nobody can find it or use it. A site that costs USD 50 a year but never brings an enquiry is more expensive than one that brings two.
Watch for sites with one page for every service, no prices or area, and no clear way to get in touch. These are common reasons a site stays quiet, as we explain in why a website does not get traffic.
Still only on social media? Read is a Facebook page enough before you decide whether a website is worth paying for at all.
Which official sources support this guidance?
- Google Search Central: do you need an SEO? — Google's warning that no one can guarantee a number one ranking.
- Google Search Central: SEO starter guide — the basic steps that help Google understand a website.
- ICANN: information for domain name registrants — your rights when registering, renewing and transferring a domain name.
- Let's Encrypt: about — the non-profit that provides free SSL certificates for HTTPS.
Website cost FAQs
How much does a small-business website cost per year?
A simple small-business website usually costs about USD 100–500 a year, including the domain name and hosting. Custom websites cost more, often USD 1,000–10,000 upfront plus yearly fees. These are rough ranges in US dollars. Always compare the total cost over three years, including renewal prices.
Is it cheaper to build a website myself?
In money, often yes. In time, often no. A website builder plan may cost USD 150–400 a year, but a first site can take 20 to 40 hours to set up and write. If your paid work is worth more than that time, a done-for-you plan can cost less overall.
Do I have to pay for a website every year?
Yes, almost always. Even a website you paid for upfront needs a domain name and hosting, which renew every year. Many services include both in one yearly price. Ask what the yearly cost will be after the first year, because introductory prices often rise at renewal.
What is included in Green Kauri's USD 99 website?
Green Kauri's website plan costs USD 99 a year. It includes a complete, mobile-friendly website created from your answers to a few simple questions. SEO, GEO, AIO and AEO optimisation is built into the page structure, so search engines and AI assistants can understand your business clearly.
Should I pay extra for SEO when I get a website?
Not at the start. The SEO basics, such as clear page titles, one page per service and plain contact details, should come with any good website. Google says nobody can guarantee a number one ranking, so be careful of costly packages that promise one. Add extra help later if needed.
Once your website brings enquiries, replying quickly matters just as much. Green Kauri can build a custom AI agent that sends every new enquiry a fast, useful first reply while you are busy with work.