Updated October 2026
Most small businesses now have a website; a 2025 Clutch survey put the figure at 83%. The question isn’t whether you need one. It’s how to get a site that actually brings in calls, bookings and sales, without overpaying or losing control of it.
This guide walks through your options, from building it yourself to hiring an agency, how designers price their work, the questions to ask before you sign anything, and what every small business website needs to do its job.
Your four options
| Option | Best for | Typical cost | Your time | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself with a free builder | New businesses, simple service sites | Free, plus a domain | A few hours | Branding and limits on free plans |
| Paid website builder plan | Businesses that want more features with no developer | A monthly or yearly plan | A day or two | Renewal prices; moving away later |
| Freelance designer | A custom look on a modest budget | A one-time project fee | Meetings and feedback | Who maintains it afterward |
| Web design agency | Larger sites, ongoing marketing, complex features | Project fees and often a monthly plan | Less hands-on | Contract length and ownership |
Prices vary widely by region, scope and experience, so get written quotes for the same scope from at least two or three providers.
1. Build it yourself, free
Free builders have improved enormously. You can launch a clean, mobile-friendly site with services, photos, reviews and a contact form in an afternoon. Advanton’s free website builder creates a site in about 10 minutes, and contractors can use the contractor website builder with designs for eight trades. Compare other options in our roundup of the best free website builders.
2. Use a paid builder plan
Paid plans remove branding, connect your own domain and add features like online booking or stores. They suit owners who want control without hiring a developer. Check renewal prices, and whether you can export your content if you ever move.
3. Hire a freelance designer
A good freelancer can give you a custom design, write or polish your pages and set up the essentials. Ask for examples of small business sites they’ve built, and agree in writing on what’s included, how many revisions you get, and who maintains the site afterward.
4. Hire an agency
Agencies handle larger projects and ongoing work such as search optimization, ads and content. They cost more, so be clear about what results they’ll report on (calls and leads, not just visits) and what happens to your site if you leave.
How designers price their work
| Model | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| One-time project | A fixed price to design and build the site | Who maintains it afterward, and at what cost |
| Monthly plan | Design, hosting and updates for a monthly fee | Contract length, and what happens to the site if you leave |
| Hourly | You pay for time used | A written estimate and a cap |
Questions to ask before you sign
- Who owns the domain, the content and the design? You should, in writing.
- Will I get full admin access to the website and hosting?
- How fast will it load on a phone?
- Will each service have its own page, written for the questions customers ask?
- How will it connect to my Google Business Profile, booking, reviews and email?
- Is it accessible? Ask about readable contrast, keyboard navigation and image descriptions.
- What will you report on? Calls and form leads matter more than visits.
- What happens if we stop working together? Get a written handover process.
What every small business website needs
- A headline that says what you do and where.
- A tappable phone number and a short contact or quote form on every page.
- One page per main service, with prices or price ranges where possible.
- Real photos of your work, team and premises.
- Reviews from real customers.
- An About page with real people.
- Fast, mobile-friendly pages.
- Your own domain and a matching email address.
Our guide to the small business website covers each of these in detail, and contractors can follow our contractor website must-haves.
Red flags
- The designer registers your domain in their own name.
- No admin access for you, ever.
- Long contracts with expensive exit fees.
- Guaranteed search rankings. No one can promise them.
- No examples of comparable small business sites.
Doing it yourself: the step-by-step path
If you’d rather start on your own, our free launch your business online tool walks you through choosing a domain, picking hosting, building your site and setting up business email, step by step. Advanton earns a commission when you buy a domain or hosting through our store, which helps keep our guides and tools free. Then use the online presence checkup to see what else to improve.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small business website cost?
Anywhere from free with a website builder to thousands of dollars for a custom agency project, plus a domain and hosting. Compare written quotes for the same scope.
Should I build my own website?
If your needs are simple (services, photos, reviews and a contact form), a free or low-cost builder is often enough to start. Hire help when you need a custom design, many pages or complex features.
Who should own my domain?
You. Register it in your business’s name and keep the login details safe.
How long does a website take?
A builder site can launch in a day; a custom design usually takes several weeks, depending on content and feedback.
Keep learning
- Small business website guide
- How to build a strong online presence
- Best free website builders
- Launch your business online
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Startup costs are estimates; check local prices, licensing and tax rules before you commit money.
