How much does it cost to build a business website

The cost to build a business website ranges from $500 to $50,000+ depending on complexity and who's building it. A simple brochure site using WordPress or Webflow with a template can cost $500–$3,000 if you're doing it yourself or hiring a freelancer for basic customization. A professionally designed custom site from an agency typically costs $5,000–$15,000 for small to medium businesses. Larger, more complex projects—ecommerce platforms, membership sites, or custom applications—run $15,000–$50,000 or higher. The main variables affecting price are design complexity, functionality requirements, whether you need custom development versus template-based builds, and the experience level of who's building it.

When pricing websites for clients, break down costs into clear components: domain and hosting ($50–$300 annually), design and layout ($1,000–$10,000), development and functionality ($2,000–$20,000), content creation ($500–$5,000), and ongoing maintenance ($50–$500 monthly). Clients often don't realize that "design" and "development" are separate costs—a beautiful Figma mockup doesn't automatically translate to a functioning site. A template-based WordPress site with minor customization takes 40–80 hours of work and justifies pricing around $2,500–$5,000. A custom-built site from scratch requires 120–300+ hours and should be priced accordingly, typically $8,000–$25,000.

For agencies and freelancers, set pricing based on hourly rates ($50–$150+ per hour depending on experience and location) or project-based pricing. Many designers prefer project pricing because clients understand fixed costs better, but make sure you've accurately scoped the work first. Don't undercharge for template-based sites just because "it's easy"—your expertise in strategy, user experience, and optimization adds value regardless of whether you're using WordPress or building custom code. Consider offering tiered packages: basic ($2,500–$4,000), professional ($5,000–$10,000), and premium ($10,000+) so clients can choose based on their actual needs and budget rather than forcing everyone into one price point.