A simple website for a local business typically costs from about $100 to a few thousand dollars up front, depending on who builds it, plus a .com domain (usually about $10–20 a year) and sometimes hosting or a monthly plan. Compare what is included and who owns the domain, not just the headline price.
- Compare what is included, not only the price.
- Make sure the domain is registered in your name.
- Ask what you will pay every year to keep the site online.
- For many local services, one or two new customers cover the cost of a simple site.
The four main options and what they usually cost
These are approximate ranges, not official rates. Prices vary a lot by city, number of pages and special features like booking or online payments. Use them to compare options, not as a quote.
| Option | Typical cost | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself (website builders) | Monthly or yearly plan, paid for as long as the site is live | Owners who enjoy tinkering and have time | Your hours have a cost, and templates can look generic |
| Freelancer | Roughly a few hundred to a few thousand dollars | Direct contact with the person building it | Quality, timelines and support after launch vary widely |
| Agency | Often several thousand dollars and up | Larger sites, online stores, custom systems | Usually more than a single-location service business needs |
| Flat-fee studio | Often a few hundred dollars or less for a one-page site | Local businesses that need a clean, fast site | Check exactly what is included and what costs extra |
If you want to see where you stand before spending anything, run your current site through our free website checkup. It takes about 30 seconds.
What the price should include
Before comparing numbers, compare what you actually get. For a local service business, a good starting point looks like this:
- A domain in your name, like yourbusiness.com, registered to you and not to the designer.
- Mobile-first design, because most local searches happen on a phone.
- Click-to-call and a contact or quote form that is easy to find on every screen.
- Your services, service area and hours, plus a link to your Google Maps listing.
- HTTPS (the padlock), so browsers do not label the site as “not secure.”
- Basic on-page SEO: a clear page title, description and headings written in the words your customers use.
- A way to request edits after launch, with a clear answer on how long they take.
We'll build a free preview of your website within 24 hours, using the details from your Google listing.
The costs nobody mentions up front
Domain renewal
A .com domain renews every year, usually for about $10–20. If it is registered under the designer’s account and you part ways, getting it back can be a headache. Always ask whose name is on the registration.
Hosting and monthly plans
Some cheap or “free” websites come with a required monthly fee. That can be fine, but add it up over two or three years before you sign, and ask what happens to the site if you stop paying.
Edits
Changing a price, a photo or your hours should be simple. Ask whether edits are included, how long they take and how you request them.
Be careful with long contracts that bundle a “free” website into a high monthly fee. Do the math over the full term and confirm you keep the domain if you cancel.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
Whoever you hire, a few direct questions will tell you most of what you need to know. Good providers answer them without hesitation.
- Whose name will the domain be registered in, and will I have the login?
- What is the total cost for the first year, and what will I pay every year after that?
- Are edits included? For how long, and how fast are they done?
- Can I see a preview or draft before I pay in full?
- What happens to the site if I stop paying a monthly fee?
- Is there a refund or satisfaction guarantee?
- Can I see live sites you have built for other businesses?
If the answers are vague, or the contract is long and hard to read, keep looking. A simple site for a local business should come with simple terms.
How to tell if it is worth it
The better question is not what a website costs, but what it brings back. If an average job is worth $150 or more, a simple website can pay for itself with a single new customer. After that, every person who finds you on Google and calls is extra revenue.
Plug in your own numbers with our “Does it pay for itself?” calculator. It uses the values you choose, so it is a simulation, not a promise.
Ask to see a preview built with your real business details before you pay. You compare actual results instead of promises.
What we charge, for reference
Habita Motion is a small web design studio based in Chile that builds sites for local businesses. Our custom one-page website is US$99 one-time at our launch price (regular price US$149). It includes a .com domain for the first year registered in your name, click-to-call, a contact form, Google Maps, basic on-page SEO and 30 days of free edits. You see a free preview before paying, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee.
After the first year, the domain renews at cost (about US$15 a year). An optional Care Plan at US$15 a month covers small text, photo and price edits, hosting monitoring and a monthly visits report. You can cancel anytime. Booking systems, online stores and payments are quoted separately.
Not sure you need a website at all? Read Is a Facebook page enough for your business? first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a website for free?
You can build one on a free builder plan, but free plans usually show the builder’s branding and do not include your own domain. Most businesses end up paying for a plan or a domain to look professional.
Do I have to pay every month?
Not necessarily. Some options are a one-time fee plus the yearly domain renewal. Others bundle hosting and edits into a monthly plan. Ask for the total cost over two or three years to compare fairly.
Who should own my domain?
You should. The domain should be registered in your name or your company’s name, with login details you can access, even if someone else manages it for you.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A simple one-page site can be ready within days once you approve the content. Larger sites with many pages, booking or online payments take longer.
Is a one-page website enough?
For many local service businesses, yes. One well-organized page with services, service area, reviews, photos and a clear way to call or request a quote covers what most customers need.