"How much does a website cost?" is a bit like asking how much a car costs. It depends entirely on what you need. But you shouldn't be surprised by the bill. Here's an honest breakdown of what a small business website really costs, including the extras people forget.

The obvious costs

Domain name. Your web address, renewed every year. Usually one of the smallest costs, though some extensions and premium names cost more.

Website builder or hosting. With builders like Framer, Webflow, Wix or Squarespace, hosting is included in a monthly or annual plan. With WordPress, you pay separately for hosting, which can range from budget shared hosting to premium managed hosting.

Design and build. The biggest variable. You can build yourself with a template, buy a premium template, or hire a freelancer or agency for a custom design.

The extras people forget

• Business email: a professional address on your domain, usually priced per user

• Premium templates or themes: a one-off cost that can save hours

• Plugins and apps: bookings, forms, SEO, security and backups can each carry a subscription

• Stock photos, video and fonts: licences add up if you're not using your own

• Copywriting: great words sell. Professional copy is often money well spent

• Ecommerce fees: transaction fees, payment processing and higher plans for online shops

• Cookie consent and legal pages: tools and templates for privacy compliance

• Maintenance: updates, fixes and improvements, whether that's your time or someone else's

Budget for the first year and every year after. The ongoing costs matter as much as the launch.

Three realistic budgets

DIY starter: a builder plan, domain, business email and a template. Lowest cost, but you invest your own time.

Professional template: a premium template customised by a freelancer, with some professional copy and photos. A great balance for many small businesses.

Custom build: a bespoke design and build from an agency or experienced designer. The biggest investment, best suited to businesses where the website is central to winning work.

Where to save, and where not to

Save on bells and whistles you don't need yet. Don't save on clear copy, fast loading, mobile design and an obvious way for customers to contact you. Those are what turn visitors into customers.

The short version

Add up the domain, platform, email, extras and maintenance for a true yearly cost. Invest where it drives enquiries and keep everything else lean. Compare website builders and real prices on DigiStacker.