How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website for a Small Business?

 Did you know: 93% of purchase decisions start with a google search of the business website. Therefore, you need to get your business a professional website ASAP. Having a professional website can significantly boost your business. However, just like any venture, setting up a business website also requires initial investment and running expenses. Ultimately it all comes down to the question: "what is the cost of a small business website?" Well, this question doesn’t have a precise answer. However, to give you a rough estimate, it’s somewhere between $2500 - $20,000.

Now that's a big price range. Right? It’s because the cost of developing a business website depends on a lot of factors. In this article, we will cover all these major factors and break the costs down to give you a realistic estimate. After reading this article, you will get a pretty decent idea about how much it will cost your business to have a website designed and developed. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it!

Cost Breakdown for Development of a Small Business Website

The other day, a friend of mine was looking at some of the websites developed by our company for our clients. He stared at the sites in wonderment and then asked me, “How much do businesses pay for a website?” Well, this article is to answer that exact question! Following are the factors involved in determining the cost for the website development of a small business:

1- Domain and Hosting:

Let’s start from the very basics. To enter the internet world, your website would first require a domain name and hosting. Hosting is like a space on the internet server where your visitors can access your content. Meanwhile, a domain is an address that your visitors can enter in a browser to reach the website. Think of Hosting as your office and Domain as your office’s address.

When choosing the domain name, you can either go for a standard or premium one. Now, the question is: how much does a domain name cost? A standard .com domain can cost you as low as $8.38. Meanwhile, a premium domain will cost up to $5000 or even higher! Now, both standard and premium domains can get the job done. However, premium domains cost higher due to their marketability. Whether you want to opt for a standard domain or a premium one, it’s totally up to you. Having said that, we recommend using a standard domain for small businesses.

What about hosting services? How much does a hosting server cost? Well, shared hosting costs about $3–$15 per month, and dedicated hosting costs about $80–$730 per month. Now, again, this decision depends entirely on you. If you go for shared hosting (the lower cost), it would mean that your website will be live alongside many other sites, using the same server and sharing resources. Dedicated hosting would mean having the whole server and resources dedicated to just your website. 

Shared hosting means lower costs but also greater security risks. Dedicated hosting means higher costs but greater customization options, higher security, and of course, total utilization of server resources just by you.

2- Per Page Cost:

Normally, the cost of developing a website depends heavily on the number of pages. So, the next question one may think of is how much does a website cost per page? See, the costs of your company's website are based on its size and level of complexity. So a 15 paged informational website with standard customization will cost you less than a 50 paged highly customized website.

Some businesses are opting for One-Page Websites to cut down their costs. Aside from trimming down the cost, having a one-page website also gives a touch of simplicity. However, it's really poor in terms of SEO. On the other hand, having a comprehensive website with multiple pages in a proper hierarchy costs significantly higher. However, it gives a professional touch, and it's also great for SEO.

Normally, most small business websites contain 5to 15 pages. As we mentioned earlier, the more pages you have, the higher the cost. Now, let’s discuss the cost of each page. Well, the cost of a webpage heavily depends on its design, complexity, platform, and, most importantly, the web development agency you are working with. So, once again, there isn't a definite answer to this question.

3- Website Design or Templates:

Next up, you have to decide whether you want to opt for a fully custom web design or stick with templates. This decision in the Web Development Cost Breakdown is extremely crucial. A common way is to start with templates like ThemeForest and Monster. These templates are quite easy to set up and cost you just $50 - $200. Custom-built websites, on the other hand, cost you around $2,500 - $20,000.

So why would anyone go for a custom website? Template-based websites are one-fit-for-all designs which means they do not offer the level of personalization required to build your brand's unique identity. Besides, not all templates are fully responsive. Most importantly, with templates, you do not get full control over the user experience. Similarly, the platform you choose for your website, i.e., WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc., also has a significant effect on the overall cost of developing a website.

4- Expert Website Developer:

The most important player of a website development team is the website designer/ developer. So the total pricing of your project has a lot to do with how much does a web developer charges. Typically, an experienced developer charges around $75-$100 per hour. Meanwhile, a medium-level and beginner web developer charges around $40-$75 and $20-$40, respectively. The hourly rate also depends on the demographics of the business and the web developer.

Obviously, a highly experienced developer charges a lot higher in comparison to a beginner web developer; however, the differences between their quality of the work, attention to detail, and nitty-gritty in the design are massive. Now, the number of hours needed to complete a small business website also depends heavily on the complexity of the design and size of the website, i.e., the number of pages. Other than design and development, the number of hours may also include initial setup, client training, and maintenance.

5- Dedicated Copywriter:

Your website is the first introduction of your business to your potential customers. Surprisingly, it takes about 0.05 seconds for users to form an opinion about your website and your business. Therefore, you need to make this time count. That’s where Copywriting comes in. Investing in copywriting services is essential.

So, the next question is: how much does a copywriter charge? Well, once again, there isn't a definitive answer to this question. Having said that, an experienced Copywriter normally charges $250 to $2,500 per page. Don’t get scared, let me explain! The cost depends on the length of the page and the experience of the company or individual that you are hiring. This pricing includes content creation, analysis, and SEO.

6- Creative Graphic Designer:

Graphic Designers are the ones who solidify your brand identity. So, obviously, you need one to make a mark in the industry. Now, you must be wondering how much does a graphic designer charge, right? Well, the cost depends on the type of design work you require, but it is roughly between $85 - $100 per hour for highly experienced designers. 

The most important part of your business’s brand identity is the logo design. It’s important to invest in the foundations. So, we will discuss how much does a logo cost separately. A good logo design can cost anywhere between $250 to $10,000. Other than the logo, you also need to consider the creative graphic designing services you need, such as designing a business card, letter pad, etc.

7- Hiring an Expert Company:

To determine how much does a good website costs, you need to make another important decision. You could either hire an expert company or do it all by yourself. The later case simply doesn't work. Let me explain: Building your own website is cheap, easy, and almost instant - but far from ideal. A modern-day business website needs to look professional, be easily navigable, and most importantly, OPTIMIZED. 

So making a successful website requires a wide range of skills which, realistically speaking, is impossible for an individual without having development experience. This is where experts, like IIInigence, come in. Your website is your key marketing tool, so by hiring a professional, you can get not just a professional design but also expert guidance with full-time support. 

Which Is The Best Website Development Company In the USA?

If you want to build a professional website for your business, you also need to hire a professional and highly experienced web development agency. Now, finding a trustworthy, economical, and highly experienced web development agency can be challenging with so many options out there. However, don't worry; we are here to save you from all that hassle by bringing you the best web development agency in the USA. It’s IIInigence.

Here at IIInigence, we stand proud as the best web app development agency in the USA by offering services that are well above industry standards. You require a stunning, user-friendly website that meets your business needs within your budget. We offer exactly that! At IIInigence, we design and develop robust, innovative, and impactful business websites by employing the industry’s best practices.

Whether you require a top-notch expert with certain niche knowledge or a team with a diverse skill set, we can provide you both. Our team of IT professionals brings you exceptional quality work with complete transparency. We believe in developing the most customized websites in accordance with the business needs of our clients. Most importantly, we keep our client in the loop throughout the process, including requirement, design & development, testing, and deployment.

Final Thoughts:

This technological era requires every business to develop a professional website. However, for you to take that step, it is important to discuss the cost of developing a small business website. This article should give you a rough estimate of the pricing depending on your needs. The next step is to build a website and get going.

Before we you move further, you should note that 38% of people stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive! An expert, like IIInigence, can fix this. We build websites that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional. Looking for an impactful solution that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg? Hire Us!

Original Source URL: https://www.iiinigence.com/post/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-website-for-a-small-business