How much does a small business website cost?
It depends less on the build than on who looks after the site afterwards. Below are the typical prices for each route in 2026, and a calculator to compare them over three years with your own numbers.
Total over 3 years
Typical prices in 2026
Ranges from published price guides. Your quotes may differ.
| Route | Upfront | Monthly | Who keeps it up to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website builder (Wix, Squarespace and similar) | $0 | $0–$50 | You do it yourself |
| Freelancer build | $1,500–$8,000 | $50–$500 for a maintenance plan | The freelancer, if you pay for it |
| Boutique agency build | $6,000–$12,000 | $50–$500 for a maintenance plan | The agency, usually billed hourly |
| All-inclusive monthly plan | Usually $0 | $100–$200 typical, more for larger sites | Included in the fee |
Sources: Jim, Small Business Website Cost and Hello Web Designs, How Much Does a Website Cost Per Month.
The costs people forget
The build price is the number everyone compares. These are the ones that decide the real total.
Your domain
Around $15 a year, whichever option you choose.
Hosting and security
Hosting, an SSL certificate, backups and software updates. Included with builders and monthly plans; often a separate bill after an agency build.
Small changes
New prices, opening hours or a staff photo. Free if you do them yourself, typically billed by the hour if an agency does.
Your own time
Building and updating a site on a builder takes hours each month. If those hours could be spent on paid work, they are a real cost.
The next redesign
One-off builds date, and after a few years most need a full rebuild, which is another upfront bill.
Which option suits you?
A website builder makes sense if your budget is very tight and you enjoy doing it yourself. It’s the cheapest route in cash, and the most expensive in time.
An agency or freelancer is the right call for complex projects such as large online shops, custom software or heavily branded campaigns, where a one-off investment pays back.
A pay-monthly website suits businesses that want a professional site and would rather not manage it. You trade a large upfront cost for a predictable monthly fee, and changes are handled for you.
Centrifox plans are compared side by side on our pricing page, and the FAQ covers contracts and cancellation.
At a glance
| Website builder | Traditional agency | Centrifox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | Often $3,000 or more | None |
| Monthly cost | $15–$50, plus your time | Hosting and support billed extra | From $149, all included |
| Who makes changes | You | The agency, billed hourly | We do, included |
| SEO | Basic tools, you do the work | Usually a separate retainer | Included, with reports |
| Design | Template | Custom | Custom |
| Hosting, security and backups | Basic, self-managed | Usually extra | Included |
| Commitment | Monthly or yearly | Per project | Three months, then monthly |
Tell us about your business
A few lines about what you do and what your website should do better is plenty. We reply within one working day with a recommended plan and a time for a short call.
Or email [email protected]. The first call is free, and there’s nothing to sign until you’ve seen a draft.