How Much Does a Website Cost for A Small Business or DIY solutions?

If you are a small business or a start-up, the cost of building your website can range from $50-$500 to build if you're willing to DIY.  You can leverage a website builder such as Squarespace, Wix or Weebly for around $15-20/month to host and manage your site. There are also open-source platforms such WordPress that require a web hosting and you may be able to buy a template online for around $50+.

Keep in mind that most templates come with limitations and builders like WordPress can have issues with apps and plug-ins that stop working or have issues over time that you will have to sort out yourself. This is why it's often recommended to go with a professional web design firm if you have the budget, even for small businesses. DIY is definitely cost effective if that's the only option, but the negatives include learning curves with editors, errors made that could impact search engines

How Much Does a Website Cost For A Small to Medium Business?

For most companies or small to medium-sized businesses with more complex needs or budgets, costs can range from around $1,000-$5,000 for a custom website from a professional web designer or web development company. This typically could be 10-20 pages of development.

Hiring a local web designer or web professional web developer will work one-on-one with you to create a custom website that meets your company's needs, providing you with the best user experience. This type of website often includes multiple pages, menus, graphic design, and the ability to integrate e-commerce solutions, or other specialized functions.

Typical Solutions offered by a web design service include:

• custom website design
• logo design
• graphics and illustrations
• content writing
• database integration/programming,
• search engine optimization (SEO) services.
• domain name connection
• SSL certificate generation
• website maintenance and troubleshooting
• app integration and management

Although you are paying more than a DIY solution, you may end up saving money and time in the long run by relying on a professional team to get your website up and running.

*side note - as someone who has 15 years experience as a website designer, I've seen DIY solutions cost small businesses and medium sized business money bc they have issues like broken site links and forms (loss of leads), poor SEO structure including issues like no 1H headings, no page titles or descriptions, no site maps and more.  Essentially, these out of sight type of issues most DIYers miss but they end up costing you down the road.

In addition to your custom web development costs, you should be prepared to pay around $30-$75 per month in hosting costs and website maintenance costs. Most website development companies will offer site support to make sure you're website maintains its optimal performance as well as offering web development services to expand your site, make edits to your site content and offer emergency support if needed.

What are the typical costs of building an Ecommerce Website or a Large Company Website?

Large websites or websites with an online store may cost anywhere from $2,000-$15,000+ depending on the complexity and scale of your project. A professional e-commerce web designer and web developer can create a custom site to meet your business needs, providing you with the ability to sell items online. Typical features included are payment gateways, shopping carts, inventory management, customer accounts, order tracking and more.

If you're looking for a cheaper solution to build an e-commerce website, you can use a plugin such as WooCommerce that works with WordPress websites. This will cost around $15/month but may have limited features and may require additional coding or customizations if needed.

For most businesses, it's best to hire a professional web designer and developer that can create a custom e-commerce website to meet your goals. This will often cost more upfront, but you could save money later on if they are able to build an effective online store that brings in revenue.

Shopify sites are another cost-effective option for e-commerce businesses. Prices range from around $30 per month but may require additional coding or customizations to meet your exact needs. Also, research the limitations that may come with templates they offer as well as costs associated with online transactions and price increases as your traffic grows.

What CMS Should I Have My Website Built On?

With 15 years as a web designer and working with experience web designers, there is no "perfect website builder" or CMS. Each business has different needs and goals that should be addressed when making a decision on which platform to use and each builder has pros and cons.

Here's a quick overview of some of the more popular website builders:

WordPress

WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) used today,  powering over 25% of all websites on the internet. It offers a wide range of features and is often seen as the best choice for creating a custom website, blog or e-commerce store.

Shopify

Shopify is a popular hosted platform used by many stores and businesses with an online presence. With Shopify you can create an attractive store with a wide range of features and customization options, as well as being able to manage your store from any mobile device.

Duda

Duda is a website builder designed for business owners and professionals who are looking for an easy-to-use platform to create websites, online stores and web applications. The site offers a drag-and-drop interface with dozens of themes, customization options and advanced features such as SEO optimization. Most large agencies use Duda as their go-to website builder.

Wix

Wix is one of the leading do it yourself website builders, with over 100 million users. It offers thousands of templates to choose from and has a library of features that can be used for creating attractive and functional websites.

Webflow

Webflow is an advanced website builder that enables users to easily design and build their own websites. The platform has a wide range of features for creating custom designs, editing existing ones or adding new web applications.

When it comes to choosing the best website builder for you, it really comes down to your specific needs and the offering of the builder you choose. Consider what type of feature and functionality you need, as well as your budget and timeline. Once you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, it may be easier to determine which platform best suits your needs. It's also important to do research on reviews from previous customers and make sure that the web builder you select is reliable and secure. And, don't forget to take advantage of any free trials or money-back guarantees that may be offered. 

Wrap Up

When it comes to how much does it cost to build a website,  there is one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on the type of website you need, the platform used and the features and functionalities included. If you are small business, new business, or you simply need a simple business website on a budget, then the do-it-yourself option may be the best path to start with. If you are an established company, hiring experience web designers or a website development firm is your best option. You can lean on and leverage their expertise for a more robust and customized web presence. 

Remember - your website is the virtual representation of your physical business. Having a solid online presence is essential for your success, so make sure to do your research and invest the right resources. Find the solution that can grow and evolve with your business and stand the test of time. 

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