How much does a small business website cost
What really drives the price of a website, the pricing models on the market, what not to cut corners on, and what to ask before you order.
The price of a website for a small business depends above all on scope - the number of subpages, whether the design is custom or from a template, and whether you have content and photos ready. Market ranges are very wide: from a few hundred złoty for a self-service builder, through a few thousand for a custom-built site, to tens of thousands at an agency. That’s why an honest, concrete figure can only be given once the scope is known.
Below: what really affects the price, what the pricing models on the market look like, what not to cut corners on, and what questions to ask before you pay anyone.
What really affects the price
The biggest differences in price come from a few things:
- The number of subpages and scope of content. A one-page site is different work than a site with an offer, gallery, blog and price list.
- Custom design or a template. An original design for your brand costs more than a ready-made theme half your competitors also use.
- How ready your content and photos are. If you have text and images - cheaper. If they need to be prepared or organized - that’s extra work.
- Features. A contact form is standard, but online bookings, payments or a shop are a separate level of complexity.
- Domain, hosting and local SEO. Configuring and connecting a Google Business Profile is a part cheap offers often “forget”.
Pricing models on the market - roughly
Without made-up, fixed figures - here’s what the ranges look like on the Polish market:
- DIY builder (Wix, WordPress.com, Google Sites). A few hundred złoty a year on subscription. Cheap and instant, but template-based, limited, and a forever fee.
- Freelancer. Usually from a few thousand złoty for a business site on WordPress. Quality and approach vary a lot.
- Agency. From a few to tens of thousands of złoty, often plus a monthly subscription. A “professional” reputation, but also the risk of lock-in and slower delivery.
- Your own dev team. The most expensive option, sensible only for large, complex sites.
These ranges are a reference point, not a quote - the real price depends on what exactly you need.
What NOT to cut corners on
A few things where saving comes back to bite you later:
- Your own domain and code. If the site lives only on someone else’s platform, it isn’t fully yours. Make sure the domain is registered to you and the code is yours to take.
- Speed and the mobile version. More than half of traffic is phones. A slow site that works badly on mobile scares customers off before they read anything.
- SEO basics and a Google Business Profile. Without correct structure and a connected profile, even a pretty site is invisible to nearby customers.
Hidden costs nobody mentions
Before you compare offers, ask about what often sits outside the headline price: renewing the domain and hosting every year, a fee for every small change after launch, the cost of leaving an agency that holds your domain. The lowest starting price can turn out to be the most expensive in year two.
Questions worth asking before you order
- Will the domain and code be my property?
- What exactly is included in the price, and what costs extra?
- How long does it take, and what happens if I want changes?
- Will the site be set up for local search and a Google Business Profile?
- Do I have to pay a subscription for the site to keep working?
Summary
There’s no single website price - there’s a scope that creates that price. Instead of asking “how much does a website cost”, ask “what do I get, and is it mine”. A builder wins on price, an agency on prestige, but for most small businesses the best value comes from a custom-built site with a domain and code that belong to you.
If you want a rough quote for your case - tell us what you need. You’ll get something concrete after a short conversation, no obligation.
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Websites →Frequently asked questions
How much does a simple website for a small business cost?
It depends on scope - the number of subpages, whether the design is custom or from a template, and whether you have content and photos ready. Market ranges are wide: from a few hundred złoty for a DIY builder, through a few thousand for a custom site, to tens of thousands at an agency. A concrete figure can only be given once the scope is known.
Which is better: a builder like Wix or a custom site?
A builder is cheaper and faster, but you pay a subscription forever, and the design is template-based and heavily limited. A custom site costs more up front but is designed for your company, is faster and belongs to you. The choice depends on how important the site is for winning customers.
Do you have to pay a subscription for a website?
You don't have to. Builders charge a subscription because the site lives on their platform. With a custom site you usually only have the cost of a domain and hosting (tens to a few hundred złoty a year), and technical care is optional. Watch out for agencies that keep you on a subscription and don't hand over the code.
What makes up the price of a website?
Above all: the number of subpages, custom design versus a template, whether content and photos are ready, extra features (a form, bookings, a shop), domain setup and local SEO. The more conceptual and custom work, the higher the price - which is why an honest quote comes after a conversation, not from a price list.