Jamie Spurrell
Table of Contents
Most small business websites cost between $2,500 and $15,000 CAD to build, with ongoing hosting and maintenance running $50-$300/month CAD depending on what the site actually needs to do. That range is wide because "website" isn't one thing: a five-page site for a local plumber and a booking-enabled site for a med spa are both "websites," but they're not the same project.
These are practical market ranges, not standardized rates. Actual quotes vary by provider, region, and exactly what's included. Here's what actually drives the number, so you can tell where your project falls before you start getting quotes.
What's actually included in a website build?
A website build typically covers:
- Design: layout, visual identity, how pages are structured
- Development: the actual coding/setup, whether on WordPress, a website builder, or custom code
- Content migration or creation: writing new copy, or moving existing content over
- Basic technical setup: domain connection, SSL, analytics, basic SEO foundations
- A review and revision process: most builds include a set number of revision rounds before launch
What it doesn't usually include, unless specified: ongoing maintenance, content updates after launch, or marketing/SEO beyond the basics. Those are typically separate, ongoing costs. See our guide to website maintenance plans for what that covers.
What actually changes the price
Number of pages and content complexity. A straightforward 5-8 page site (home, about, services, contact, maybe a blog) costs less than a site with dozens of service pages, location pages, or a large product catalog. More pages means more design decisions, more copy, more QA.
Custom design vs. template. A well-executed template can look great and costs less. A fully custom design (built around your brand instead of adapted to someone else's layout) costs more, because every section is designed from scratch instead of assembled from existing components. This is worth taking seriously: a peer-reviewed study on first impressions of web design (Lindgaard et al., 2006) found that people form a snap judgment of a website's visual appeal within about 50 milliseconds of seeing it, under controlled lab conditions, long before they've read a word of your copy. That study measured how fast a visual-appeal judgment forms, not whether that judgment translates directly into more sales for every business; it's still a reasonable argument for not treating design as an afterthought, even though it doesn't prove a specific ROI.
Functionality beyond "brochure site." Online booking, e-commerce, membership logins, quote calculators, integrations with your CRM or scheduling tool: these are the things that turn a $3,000 project into a $10,000+ one. Not because they're flashy, but because they involve real engineering, not just layout.
Copywriting and photography. If you're supplying your own content, that's cheaper. If you need someone to write every page and either shoot or source every image, that's its own line item, and it's often underestimated.
Who's building it. A freelancer, a DIY builder (Squarespace, Wix), and an agency all produce different price points for a reason: different levels of strategy, revision rounds, technical depth, and accountability if something breaks later.
How much does a website cost for a small business?
All amounts below are approximate and shown in Canadian dollars. These are practical market ranges, not standardized rates. Providers may charge more or less depending on exactly what's included.
| Monthly/one-time cost | Typical level of service | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| $0-$1,000 | DIY on a website builder: you handle design, copy, and troubleshooting | Very simple, low-stakes presence |
| $2,500-$6,000 | Small agency or experienced freelancer, template-based | Solid, professional site, no custom functionality needed |
| $6,000-$15,000 | Custom design, moderate functionality (booking, content strategy, SEO foundation) | Businesses that rely on the site to generate leads |
| $15,000+ | Complex builds: real e-commerce inventory logic, custom applications, multi-location, heavy integrations | Businesses with genuinely complex operational needs |
The price should be evaluated against the actual scope of work, not just the sticker number. A $2,500 quote and a $12,000 quote can both be reasonable, or both be wrong, depending on what your business actually needs.
The small line items people forget to ask about
On top of whatever your build quote says, budget for these separately. They're often not included in a design quote:
- Domain name: roughly $15-75/year CAD
- Hosting: roughly $15-250/month CAD depending on traffic and platform
- SSL certificate: often bundled free with modern hosting, but can run extra on older setups
Small individually, but they add up over a year, and they're exactly the kind of line item a lowball quote quietly leaves out.
Is a template ever the right call?
Yes, genuinely: not every business needs a custom build. A well-chosen template is the right answer if:
- Your needs are standard (a straightforward services site, no unusual booking/payment logic)
- You're early-stage and want to validate demand before investing heavily in a website
- Budget is the primary constraint and a professional-looking template meets your actual needs
Custom design earns its cost when your brand, functionality, or user experience needs genuinely don't fit an existing template, not by default, and not because custom "sounds more serious."
Do you need a new website, or does your current one need a redesign?
If you already have a website that's underperforming, outdated, or no longer fits your business, you may not need a from-scratch build at all. See our guide to website redesign costs for how that decision and its pricing differ from starting fresh.
What happens after launch
A website isn't a one-time purchase. Plugins need updating, backups need to actually run (and get tested), and a site that isn't touched for a year quietly degrades: slower, more vulnerable, worse at converting. Budget for maintenance the same way you'd budget for rent: it's not optional just because it's recurring. See our full breakdown of website maintenance plans for what real coverage costs and includes.
Red flags when getting website quotes
- A quote with no revision rounds specified: ask exactly how many rounds of feedback are included before extra rounds cost more
- No mention of what happens after launch: if maintenance, hosting, and support aren't addressed, ask directly
- Vague "SEO included" with no specifics: basic on-page setup is reasonable to include; a full SEO campaign usually isn't, and should be priced separately
- A price far below the market ranges above with no clear reason: either something's being cut (revisions, custom work, support) or the scope is much smaller than you think
Questions to ask a web design provider before you sign
- How many pages and what functionality does this quote actually cover?
- How many revision rounds are included, and what happens after that?
- Who owns the site, the content, and the domain once it's built?
- What's included for the first 30-90 days after launch?
- Is basic SEO setup included, or a separate cost?
- What does ongoing maintenance cost once the build is done?
- What's the realistic timeline, and what could extend it?
We build custom websites for small businesses that need more than a template can offer, and we tell you honestly when a template is the right call instead. If you want a straight answer on what your project would actually cost, get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you're on a DIY builder, expect $10-50/month CAD all-in. If you had a site built for you, budget $50-300/month CAD for hosting, updates, and basic maintenance, even after the upfront build cost is paid off.
Upfront, yes. Long-term, it depends on your time. A DIY site costs less in dollars and more in hours: yours, spent on design, copy, and troubleshooting instead of running your business.
Because you're not just paying for a template: you're paying for strategy, custom design, technical setup, and someone accountable if something breaks later. That's worth real money, but it's fair to ask exactly what's included before you pay for it.
Almost always, yes, even a simple one. It's often the first place a potential customer checks before calling you. The real question isn't whether it's worth it, it's how much site you actually need.
Technically yes, using a free tier of a website builder, but you'll be limited on design control, a custom domain, and features. Most small businesses outgrow the free tier quickly.
Beyond the build cost, budget roughly $200-3,000+ CAD/year for domain, hosting, and basic maintenance combined, depending on the tier of service (see the pricing table above).
