Let’s face the facts – if you run a small business in 2025 and still don’t have a website, or your current one is a relic from 2014, it’s probably hurting more than helping. But even when you decide to build or upgrade, the biggest question is usually: “How much is this going to cost me?”
Spoiler alert: it depends. The price tag for a small business website can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. But don’t worry—we’re breaking it all down for you right here. From setup and hosting to ongoing maintenance and hidden extras, this guide will help you figure out what you really need and what you can probably skip.
The Initial Build: Website Setup and Design
This is where it all begins—actually building the website. In 2025, small businesses have three main routes:
- DIY Website Builders
- Freelance Web Designers
- Agencies or Full-Service Providers
DIY Platforms
DIY builders are great for solopreneurs or startups. These offer templates and drag-and-drop editors for you to take advantage of.
- Cost: $0–$50/month (depending on the plan)
- Custom Domain: ~$10–20/year
- Design templates: Often free or included in your plan
Freelancers
In comparison to DIY builders, hiring a freelance designer allows for more control over the look and feel of your site. Great option if you want to stand out with most of your budget still spared.
- Cost: $500–$5,000+ (depending on experience and complexity)
- Turnaround time: 2–6 weeks
Agencies
If you’ve got a bigger budget or need things done professionally, web agencies can handle everything. Whether it’s design, copy or SEO – you name it, they enhance it.
- Cost: $3,000–$15,000+ for small business packages
- Custom functionality, integrations, branding—all included
Hosting: Keeping the Lights On
Once your site is built, it needs a place to live online. That’s where hosting comes in. Hosting services vary depending on the size and functionality of your website.
Shared Hosting
Great for small, static sites.
- Cost: $2–$10/month
- Examples: Bluehost, HostGator
Managed WordPress Hosting
Perfect if your site runs on WordPress and you want automatic updates.
- Cost: $20–$60/month
- Examples: WP Engine, Kinsta
Cloud Hosting / VPS
Good option if you expect high traffic or plan to run an online store.
- Cost: $50–$200/month
- Examples: DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud
Total hosting cost: $50–$1,000/year, depending on your setup.
Maintenance: A Constant Attention
A website that was able to find its place on the Internet still needs to be cared for afterwards to stay healthy. Think of it as changing the oil in your car – it’s boring, but every once in a while you just need to do it.
What does maintenance include?
- Regular software updates
- Security checks and backups
- Bug fixes and performance optimization
- Content updates
Who does it?
- You (DIY)
- Your freelancer/agency (retainer)
- A third-party maintenance service
Cost breakdown:
- DIY: free, but risky and tedious
- Freelancer: $50–$150/month
- Agency: $100–$500/month
Total cost: $600–$6,000/year
Optional Costs: If Budget Allows It
Investing in those extras can improve your site’s performance and visibility across the Internet. You don’t need those for your website to function on a basic level, but they can greatly enhance it. If you got the dough, consider these as well:
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – $300–$2,500 for one-time setup; $500–$2,000/month for ongoing services
- Content creation – $100–$500 per blog post; $500–$3,000 for copywriting for entire site
- Marketing & analytics tools – $20–$100/month for email marketing software (e.g. Mailchimp); up to $99/month for analytics
- Visual content – $10–$100 for stock photos; $500–$2,000 for custom photo shoot; $1,000+ for video content production
- E-commerce functionality – includes e.g. payment gateways and inventory management; $500–$5,000 add-on cost
Here’s An Affordable All-in-One Solution For You
It certainly sounds like a lot goes into managing a website – creating, hosting, designing, maintaining, optimizing, and the list doesn’t seem to stop. And if that sounds too overwhelming for you, we hear you. A growing number of small business owners in 2025 are skipping the DIY headaches and freelancer hunting in favor of all-in-one platforms. One worth looking into is IKOL.
IKOL is a platform designed to take the pressure off small businesses by offering a modern, AI-powered website builder. It doesn’t just help you launch a site quickly—it also includes essential business tools that many providers charge extra for (or don’t offer at all).
Here’s what IKOL brings to the table:
- AI-driven website generation that tailors your site to your industry and style preferences
- Integrated booking system for appointments or consultations
- Team chat to keep communication flowing within your business
- Custom domain registration included
- Lead generation and tracking tools to help turn visitors into happy customers
- A 3-day free trial so you can try everything before committing
Pricing starts at just $29 monthly, making it one of the most affordable options right now. Especially if you consider the sheer amount of features it offers. It’s a great option for businesses that want everything professional in just one platform and definitely worth a closer look if you seek something easy to use.
Summary
In 2025, the cost of a small business website can vary a lot. It depends on how you build it, what features you need, and how much you want to be involved in managing it.
If you go the DIY route using a website builder, you could spend as little as $150 to $300 a year. This might be a good option if you’re tech-savvy and don’t need anything too custom.
If you hire a freelancer to build something more tailored, expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000 for the full setup and maintenance over the course of a year. You’ll more likely get a one-of-a-kind design this way.
Those willing to go all-out, opting for a full-service agency should aim to spend $10,000 to over $30,000.
And if you want something simpler, there exist all-in-one platforms like IKOL, with plan prices starting at just $29 per month. Those often include hosting, website generation through AI, and business management tools, making them a compelling option for those who want everything under one roof.
At the end of the day, your investment should be appropriate for your scope. Find the right balance between what you want for your website to do, and what it can realistically do right at this moment. Make sure your site works for your business, and not the other way around.
