The four routes and what they cost
| Route | What you pay | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | A monthly subscription for as long as the site exists | Templates you fill in yourself; your time is the real cost |
| Freelancer | Varies widely with experience | Custom work; quality and reliability depend on the person |
| Fixed-price studio | One published price, for example $995 to $2,495 with us | A defined scope, a defined timeline, no surprises |
| Full-service agency | Often several thousand dollars and up, plus a monthly retainer | Strategy, branding and ongoing marketing bundled in |
The costs people forget
- Domain name: an annual fee to your registrar.
- Hosting: a monthly or annual fee to your hosting company.
- Third-party tools: booking systems, live chat or payment tools often carry their own subscription.
- Content: photos and text. Either your time or a copywriter’s.
- Changes after launch: ask how updates are priced before you sign.
What actually drives the price
Three things: the number of pages, who writes the content, and any special function such as booking, payments or a listings feed. A five-page site with your own text is a small project. A twenty-page site with copywriting and an intake flow is a larger one.
How to compare quotes
Ask every provider the same five questions: Is the price fixed? What is included at launch (SEO basics, redirects, analytics)? Who owns the site and the domain? Is there a monthly fee, and what happens if I stop paying it? How fast will the site be on a phone?