"Why does a website cost so much?"

I've been asked this question more times than I can count, usually by someone who just got quoted $2,500 for a website and saw a TV commercial promising websites for $9.99 a month.

It's a fair question. Let me pull back the curtain and show you exactly what goes into building a professional website, and why there's such a huge range in pricing.

The Quick Answer

When you pay for a website, you're not just paying for someone to put some text and pictures on the internet. You're paying for:

Professional design that represents your business well
Custom development work (this is skilled labor)
Content organization and strategy
Technical setup and security
Ongoing support and maintenance
Years of experience that prevent costly mistakes

Think of it like hiring a contractor to build a deck. Sure, you could buy some wood and try to do it yourself, or hire your neighbor's teenager for cheap. But you're paying a professional for expertise, quality work, and the confidence that it's done right.

Breaking Down the Real Costs

Let me show you what actually goes into creating a basic business website for a Triad company. I'll use real hours and real costs.

Initial Consultation and Planning (3-5 hours)

Before I write a single line of code, we need to talk. What does your business do? Who are your customers? What do you want your website to accomplish? What's your competition doing?

This planning phase is critical. Skip it, and you end up with a pretty website that doesn't actually help your business.

Design Work (8-12 hours)

This is where we figure out how your website should look and feel. What colors represent your brand? How should information be organized? What should people see first when they land on your homepage?

Good design isn't about making things pretty (though that helps). It's about making it easy for your customers to find what they need and take action.

Content Development (5-10 hours)

Someone has to write the actual words on your website. Even if you provide all the content, it needs to be organized, edited, and formatted for the web. People read differently online than they do on paper.

Many business owners underestimate this part. Your website content is often the first impression people have of your business. It needs to be clear, professional, and persuasive.

Technical Development (12-20 hours)

This is the actual building of the website. Writing code, setting up databases, making sure everything works on phones and tablets, connecting forms, setting up email, integrating with your social media, and a hundred other technical tasks.

This is skilled work. It takes years to get good at it. You're paying for expertise that prevents problems before they happen.

Testing and Refinement (3-5 hours)

Before your site goes live, it needs to be tested. Does every link work? Do all the forms submit correctly? Does it look right on an iPhone, an Android, and a computer? What happens if someone has slow internet?

Setup and Launch (2-4 hours)

Domain registration, hosting setup, SSL certificate installation, DNS configuration, email setup, and actually putting the site live. Plus showing you how to make basic updates yourself.

First Year Support

Even after launch, questions come up. You need a new page added. Something breaks. You want to change a photo. You need help figuring out how to update something.

Total Time for a Basic Website: 35-60 hours

At $90/hour (my rate for commercial work), that's $3,150-$5,400 in actual labor before any costs for hosting, domains, software licenses, or tools.

So when I quote $1,500-$2,500 for a basic website with a year of maintenance included, I'm not getting rich. I'm pricing it to be accessible to local businesses while still being sustainable.

Why the Big Price Range?

You'll see websites quoted anywhere from $500 to $50,000. Here's why:

$500-$1,000: Template or DIY Solutions These are usually WordPress templates with minimal customization. They work for some people, but you're limited to what the template can do, and you often need to maintain it yourself.

$1,500-$5,000: Professional Small Business Sites This is where most Triad small businesses land. Custom design, professional development, tailored to your specific needs. This is the range I work in.

$5,000-$15,000: Complex Business Sites E-commerce, custom features, extensive content, multiple integrations. More complicated requirements mean more time.

$15,000+: Enterprise Level Large companies with complex needs, custom applications, extensive functionality. This is specialized work that requires teams of developers.

What About Those $9.99/Month Offers?

They're not lying to you, but they're not telling the whole story either.

Those services give you the tools to build a website yourself. It's like the difference between buying lumber and tools versus hiring a carpenter. Sure, the lumber might only cost $300, but that doesn't include your time, your expertise, or the risk of building something that falls apart.

Most people who try DIY website builders either:

Give up partway through because it's harder than they expected
End up with a website that looks homemade
Spend dozens of hours to save a few hundred dollars
Eventually hire someone to fix it anyway

If you enjoy that kind of project and have the time, go for it. But if you're running a business, your time is worth something too.

Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About

Beyond the initial build, there are ongoing costs:

Hosting: $10-50/month depending on your needs Domain name: $15-30/year SSL certificate: Often included with hosting, but can be $50-200/year Backups: Included in maintenance plans, but critical Security updates: Your website software needs regular updates Technical support: When something breaks at midnight before a big meeting

This is why maintenance plans exist. It's not about padding bills—it's about keeping your site secure, backed up, and running smoothly.

Is It Worth It?

Here's how I think about it: if your website brings you just one new customer a month, how much is that worth to your business?

For most businesses, one additional customer per month more than pays for the website within a few months. After that, it's pure profit.

I've had clients tell me their website paid for itself in the first week because someone found them online who never would have known they existed otherwise.

Ways to Make It More Affordable

If cost is a concern (and it is for most small businesses), here are some honest options:

Start smaller. Get a basic site now and add features later as you grow.

Payment plans. Many web developers (including me) offer payment plans to spread the cost out.

Nonprofit rates. If you're a nonprofit, church, or community organization, ask about discounted rates. Many of us offer them.

Do some of it yourself. Provide your own content, photos, and text. That saves time and money.

Skip the fancy features. Start with the basics: about page, services, contact form. Add the blog and event calendar later if you need them.

The Real Bottom Line

A professional website costs what it costs because it's skilled labor that takes real time to do well. You're not paying for a product off a shelf—you're paying for custom work tailored to your business.

But here's what matters: a website isn't an expense. It's an investment in your business. Done right, it pays for itself many times over by making you visible to customers who are actively looking for what you offer.

If someone quotes you $500 for a full custom website, be skeptical. If someone quotes you $10,000 for a basic five-page site, get a second opinion. And if someone won't explain what you're paying for, that's a red flag.

You deserve to know where your money goes. And any developer who's confident in their work should be happy to explain it.

Website Costs Explained: What You're Actually Paying For