The Total Cost of a Website
What does a website cost per year? How much should it cost to build a brand new website for your business? How about a redesign -- what will that cost? It’s difficult for business owners to get a good estimate for the cost of a website, especially considering how few web design agencies publish their pricing online. Fortunately, we’ve put together this document to help you better understand not only what a website will cost to design and build, but also maintain. Keep reading for some basic estimates for the cost of a few different types of websites, as well as some prices for common services like website hosting, SEO, redesigns, and more.
The Total Cost of a New Website
Here are the up-front costs for a new website based on its type:
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic/Small Business Website | Minimal design, fewer than 10 pages, and basic functionality. | $150 - $1,000 |
| Corporate/Medium-Sized Business Website | Up to 50 pages, CMS integration, and custom functionality. | $1,000 - $2,000 |
| Large Business Website | Hundreds of pages, advanced features, and custom development. | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| Ecommerce Website | Shopping cart, payment gateway, CMS, and extensive testing. | $5,000 - $40,000 |
Necessary Expenses
- Domain Name: $5–$20/year. Essential for your website's address.
- Website Hosting: $35–$150/year. Necessary to make your site accessible online.
- Content Management System (CMS): Free options (like WordPress) or paid licenses starting at $1,000/year.
Design Expenses
- New Design or Full Redesign: $100–$2,000 depending on requirements. Refresh every 2–3 years.
- Theme Design: Free themes available; custom themes can cost up to $1,000.
- Responsive Design: Often included, or an additional $500 for existing websites.
Online Marketing Costs
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Upfront cost: $2,000–$10,000. Monthly maintenance starts at $200.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Monthly management fees range from $250–$2,500, with additional click costs.
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): $200–$500 per test or $250–$3,000 for ongoing services.
- Copywriting: $50–$300 per page. Monthly plans start at $200.
- Content Marketing: Costs vary widely; monthly plans start at $1,500.
- Social Media Management: $500–$1,000 per platform, monthly.