How much does a small business website cost?
Honest, no-nonsense pricing from a Chattanooga web designer. Here's what a real website actually costs in 2026 — the DIY builders, the freelancers, the agencies, and the flat-fee option — so you can pick the route that fits your business.
It depends on who builds it — and whether you pay once or forever.
For most local service businesses, a website costs $15–$50/month if you build it yourself on a platform like Wix or Squarespace, somewhere between $300 and $10,000+ once if you hire someone, and a flat $300–$1,000 one-time with no monthly fees if you go with Rad Sites Co.
That's a huge range, and the reason is simple: a "website" can mean a single template page you set up in an afternoon, or a custom multi-page site built to rank on Google and bring in calls. They cost different amounts because they're different things.
The other big factor is how you pay. DIY builders look cheap because the number is small — but it's a monthly number that never stops. A one-time build costs more up front but nothing after that. Below is the honest breakdown of each route.
The real cost of each route.
DIY website builder
Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Weebly. You pick a template and build it yourself.
- Lowest up-front cost
- You control day-to-day edits
- Hours of your time on design & SEO
- You pay every month, forever
- Template look; SEO is on you
Freelancer / marketplace
Fiverr, Upwork, or a local freelancer builds it for you.
- Someone else does the work
- One-time payment is common
- Quality & communication are a gamble
- SEO often skipped or shallow
- May not own the files when done
Traditional agency
A web design agency with a team, project managers, and a process.
- Full-service, polished result
- Strategy & support included
- Priced for bigger budgets
- Slower; lots of meetings
- May add a monthly retainer
Rad Sites Co
Custom-built by one Chattanooga designer. One-pager $300, full site $1,000.
- Custom design, not a template
- SEO & schema built into every build
- Free hosting; you own domain + files
- No subscription, no lock-in
- Built in days, mostly over text
Want the full breakdown of what's included at each tier? See web design pricing →
Five things that drive the price.
1. Number of pages
One page is cheaper than ten. A starter one-pager covers the basics; a full site gives each service, your gallery, and your story room to rank.
2. Custom vs. template
A template is fast and cheap but looks like everyone else's. A custom build is designed around your trade and the way your customers search.
3. Content & photos
Writing the words and sorting the photos is real work. If it's done for you, that's part of the price; if you supply it, the build moves faster.
4. SEO built in
A page that's actually built to show up on Google — schema markup, fast loading, clean structure — is worth more than a pretty page nobody finds.
5. One-time vs. monthly
The biggest hidden cost. A low monthly fee feels cheap until you add up three years of it. A one-time build ends the meter.
"Cheap" monthly plans aren't always cheap.
A $25-a-month website builder sounds like the budget choice. But that's $300 a year, and roughly $900 over three years — before you add a premium template, a custom domain, or any apps. And the whole time, the design and the SEO are only as good as the hours you personally put into them.
That's the thinking behind Rad Sites Co's flat pricing. A one-page starter is a one-time $300. A full multi-page site is a one-time $1,000. Hosting is included, there's no monthly fee, and you own the domain and every file. For a lot of local businesses, one good build costs about what a couple of years of a DIY subscription would — except it's custom, it's done for you, and the meter never starts.
You can see what that actually looks like on real, live client sites in the portfolio — restaurants, a golf club, a chimney sweep, a notary, a landscaper — all built on this exact model.
Website cost FAQ
How much does a small business website cost?
It ranges widely. A DIY builder like Wix or Squarespace runs about $15 to $50 a month forever. A freelancer on a marketplace might charge $300 to $2,000 once. A traditional agency typically charges $3,000 to $10,000 or more. Rad Sites Co builds custom sites at a flat $300 for a one-pager or $1,000 for a full multi-page site, with no monthly fees.
Is it cheaper to build my own website?
The monthly sticker price is lower, but a DIY builder costs you hours of your own time on design, content, and SEO settings, and you keep paying every month for as long as the site is live. Over three years a $25-a-month plan adds up to about $900 before add-ons, and the design and SEO are only as good as the time you put in.
Why do website prices vary so much?
Price is driven by the number of pages, whether the design is a template or custom, how much content and photography is needed, whether SEO and schema are built in, and whether you pay once or every month. A five-page custom site with SEO is a different job from a single template page, so the prices are different.
Are there monthly fees with Rad Sites Co?
No. The build is a one-time flat fee — $300 for a one-page starter or $1,000 for a full multi-page site — and hosting is included. You own the domain and every site file, so there is no subscription and no lock-in. Optional SEO management is available separately if you want ongoing work.
What is the cheapest way to get a real website on Google?
For most local service businesses the cheapest real option is a one-page starter site. Rad Sites Co builds one for a flat $300, with hosting, mobile design, tap-to-call, and SEO basics included, and you can add pages later as the business grows.
Want a straight answer for your business?
Tell me your business name, your city, and what you do. I'll tell you which build fits and exactly what it'll cost — no quotes-by-meeting, no pressure.
📞 Call (423) 785-7808