Amateurs Get Frustrated with Clients. Professionals Educate Them.

One of the marks of a great agency is its ability to set expectations and educate clients from the very beginning. We’re often asked, “What’s the normal price for a website?” And honestly, unless you’ve worked in the tech space or have gone through the process of building a business website before, it’s easy to be confused about what it should cost.

A major reason for this confusion? Designers who advertise websites for $500 and promise delivery in just a few weeks. With messaging like that flooding the market, it’s no wonder people start to expect rock-bottom prices. Sure, you can get a website for a few hundred dollars—but chances are, you’ll end up unhappy with the result, and eventually pay a seasoned professional to rebuild it. That means wasted time, money, and energy.

So, How Much Does a Website Really Cost?

The cost of a website varies based on several key factors:

• The value it’s expected to deliver for your business

• The agency’s reputation, demand, and expertise

• The complexity and functionality required

For example, if you’re a hobby blogger who just needs a simple site to share posts, then a $500 site might actually do the job. But if your website is a business tool that generates leads, sells products, educates clients, or represents your brand—expect to pay significantly more. A professional-grade website with responsive design, mobile optimization, e-commerce, and custom features can easily start at $15,000 and go up from there.

Why? Because it takes skill to build a site that doesn’t just look good—but performs. A well-crafted website can act as a 24/7 sales machine. That level of impact requires strategic thinking, refined design, and clean, scalable code. These things take time to master, and you’re paying for that experience.

Think about it: how long would it take you to learn to build a high-performing website on your own? And how much would that take away from doing what you do best in your business? Probably more than it’s worth.

Think of Your Website as an Employee

Your website is like a high-performing employee that:

• Works 24/7 without breaks

• Promotes your brand and converts visitors into customers

• Can reach audiences anywhere, anytime

• Never calls in sick or quits

And unlike most employees, this one gets cheaper over time. Let’s say you invest $20,000 in your website. Over two years, that breaks down to $10,000 per year—or roughly $1.14 per hour. And that’s assuming your website generates zero revenue. Of course, if it’s built well, it will pay for itself many times over.

What Do You Gain from Hiring a Professional?

Think of a cheap website like a used car. You can buy one for $500, but it may not get you far before you’re pouring more money into repairs. A quality website, like a new car, offers durability, better performance, and a stronger impression.

First impressions matter. Most customers will check out your online presence before making a buying decision. If your website looks outdated or poorly made, it reflects badly on your business. In some cases, no website is actually better than a bad one.

On the flip side, if someone told you that a $15,000 investment in your website could return $60,000 in revenue over the next year—wouldn’t that be a no-brainer?

Do You Really Need All That?

Be wary of agencies trying to upsell features you don’t need. If you’re a blogger, you probably don’t need e-commerce capabilities. If an agency isn’t willing to tailor your package based on your actual needs, that’s a red flag. One-size-fits-all solutions rarely serve anyone well.

A good agency will ask the right questions, make recommendations in your best interest, and be flexible. For example, many features—especially with platforms like WordPress—can be added later. Start with what you need now, and scale as your business grows.

So… What Does a Website Cost?

In short: expect to invest at least $15,000 to $20,000 for a professionally built business website. But the more important question is: What is your website worth to your business?

When done right, your website isn’t just a digital presence—it’s a growth engine, a lead generator, and a sales powerhouse. And that’s an investment worth making.