How Much Should a Small Business Website Cost in 2026?

The most common question we get from Houston business owners: “How much should I pay for a website?”

The frustrating answer: it depends. But that’s not helpful, so let’s break it down honestly.

The Real Price Ranges

Simple business website (5-10 pages, contact form, mobile-friendly): $3,000 - $8,000

This covers most service businesses - contractors, consultants, professional services. You get a clean, professional site that represents your business and helps customers find you. A solid web development partner will deliver a mobile-first site built on modern frameworks at this range.

Mid-range business website (10-20 pages, blog, more features): $8,000 - $20,000

More content, possibly some custom functionality, maybe integration with your booking system or CRM. Typical for growing businesses with more complex needs.

E-commerce website (online store with product catalog): $10,000 - $50,000+

The range here is huge because e-commerce complexity varies wildly. A simple store with 20 products is different from a platform managing thousands of SKUs with inventory, shipping calculations, and customer accounts.

Custom web applications: $25,000+

If you need something built from scratch - a customer portal, a custom dashboard, a tool specific to your business - you’re in custom development territory.

What Affects the Price

Design Complexity

A straightforward design using established patterns costs less than a completely custom visual design with unique layouts and interactions. Most businesses don’t need a “unique” design - they need a professional one that works.

Number of Pages

More pages = more content to organize and build. But don’t artificially limit pages to save money if you need them.

Custom Functionality

Contact forms are simple. Custom quote calculators, booking systems, client portals - these take development time.

Content Creation

Do you have all your text, images, and videos ready? Or does someone need to write copy and source photos? Content creation is work, and it’s often not included in website quotes.

Ongoing Maintenance

Some agencies quote low upfront but charge monthly fees for hosting, updates, and changes. Understand the total cost of ownership.

Houston-Specific Pricing Context

Houston’s market sits in an interesting spot. Costs are generally lower than cities like San Francisco or New York, but the talent pool is strong. Here are a few things Houston business owners should keep in mind:

Local agencies vs. remote teams: Houston-based agencies tend to charge slightly more than offshore teams, but the communication, timezone alignment, and understanding of the local market often make it worth the difference.
Industry matters: A website for a Houston law firm will differ in scope from one for a local restaurant or a Katy-based contractor. Service businesses typically need strong SEO foundations built into the site from day one, which can affect the investment.
Bilingual considerations: Houston’s large Spanish-speaking population means some businesses benefit from bilingual websites, which adds to scope and cost but can significantly expand your audience.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Before committing to any web development partner, get clear answers to these questions:

What’s included in the quoted price? Design, development, content writing, stock photography, SEO setup — which of these are in-scope and which cost extra?
Who owns the code after launch? The answer needs to be you. If an agency owns your website, you’re renting, not buying.
What does post-launch support look like? Find out if bug fixes, minor updates, and hosting support are included for a period after launch, or if they’re billed separately.
What platform are you building on? Ask whether it’s a modern framework or a proprietary system. Proprietary means you can’t leave without rebuilding.
Can you show me sites you’ve built for businesses similar to mine? Portfolio examples in your industry or at your scale tell you more than any sales pitch.

Red Flags

“We can build you a website for $500”

You’ll get a template with your logo slapped on it. It’ll look like everyone else’s $500 website. For some businesses, that’s fine. Just know what you’re getting.

Prices with no explanation

If an agency can’t explain why they’re charging what they’re charging, that’s a problem. You should understand what you’re paying for.

Proprietary platforms

Some agencies build on their own proprietary systems, then charge you monthly “platform fees.” When you want to leave, you can’t take your website with you. We don’t do this.

Guaranteed SEO rankings

SEO isn’t guaranteed. If someone promises you’ll rank #1 on Google, they’re being misleading. Legitimate SEO services set honest expectations about timelines and results.

What You’re Really Paying For

When you pay for a website, you’re paying for:

Strategy and planning - Understanding your business and goals
Design - Making it look professional and work well
Development - Building the actual site
Content - Writing and organizing what goes on the pages
Testing - Making sure it works on all devices
Training - Teaching you how to update it
Support - Fixing things if they break

The cheapest option skips most of these. The right option includes what you actually need.

How to Get a Fair Quote

Know what you need - At least roughly. More pages? Online store? Booking system? Blog?
Get multiple quotes - Three is a good number. Compare what’s included, not just the price.
Ask about ownership - Will you own the code? Can you take it somewhere else if you want? (The answer should be yes.)
Understand ongoing costs - Hosting, maintenance, updates. What’s included, what’s extra?
Check their work - Look at sites they’ve built. Are they good? Do they load fast?

Our Take

We believe in honest pricing. We’ll tell you what something costs and why. If you’re a Houston business looking for a website, we’re happy to give you a straight answer.

No hidden fees. No proprietary lock-in. You own what we build.

If we’re not the right fit for your budget or project, we’ll tell you that too.

Want a realistic quote for your Houston business website? Contact our team for a straight answer — no sales pitch, just honest numbers.

Learn more about our approach to web development or explore how digital marketing can help maximize the return on your new site.