Some platforms make it seem like creating a website is a quick and easy process. But when it comes to building a customized website that offers the functionality and features that you’re looking for, those platforms always fall short.
In many cases, one of the main things companies want to know the website cost for a small business.
While there are plenty of factors that can impact the price of a website, we’ve put together this simple guide to help you understand what to expect.
What is the average cost to make a website for a small business?
The average price of a small business website is between $3500 to $20,000 or more depending on the number of pages, the features, and the functionality that are needed. These costs include the purchase of your domain, hosting, the design of your website, backend development, and other factors.
It is ultimately up to you how much the website will cost for your small business as you look through the available resources and options for having one created. Keep in mind that the resulting website will often be a direct reflection of how much you pay for it. While you might be able to get one made at a cheaper price, it most likely won’t turn out the way you are hoping.
What Affects the Cost of a Website?
Whether you work with a freelance web designer or hire a professional web design company like AWEBCO, the cost of your small business website will be based on very specific questions.
As you answer each one, the price of your site will either increase or decrease since they determine the time and effort required for the process.
1. How many pages do you need?
In most cases, a standard website for a small business is going to be between 5 to 10 pages. Some companies may need less than 5, while others may need a lot more than 10 pages for their site.
The most common pages for a typical small business website include:
- Home
- About
- Services Page (and / or Products Page)
- Contact
- Request a Quote
While these may be the basic pages that you’ll need, they only make up the foundation of a website. You could require much more detailed content and specific pages for each product or service that your business offers.
If your company has many different offerings or needs to provide a large amount of detailed information, the cost of your website may be higher as additional pages are required.
You may want to consider whether your industry requires specific statements, forms, agreements such as:
- Terms of Service
- Privacy Policy
- Refund Policy
- Shipping Policy
- Support Center
- News & Press
There are many other types of ‘standard’ pages that you may need based on your specific business or industry, which is why a ‘one size fits all’ approach just doesn’t work.
Some of these policy pages are even required if you intend to run ads to a website that sells products or services.
2. How many contact forms do you need?
Most companies want to gather as much information as possible from their website visitors. Details like their name, phone number, and email address open the door for these individuals to become leads. And if used correctly, those leads can be nurtured and turned into profitable sales.
When thinking about the cost of a website for your small business, you’ll want to decide the number of contact forms to have. This may be as simple as a basic information form on your contact page or a request a quote form that requires more details.
If you plan to offer your website visitors a newsletter, you’ll also want a signup form where they can subscribe with their email address.
Though some contact forms may seem simple, others require intricate work to ensure they function properly, which will have an impact on the cost of your website.
3. Do you need an online store to sell products?
Among the most complicated aspects of creating a website for a small business is adding an online store. If you have products you want to sell on your website, there are specific features that will have to be added as part of the design process.
Whether you are planning to sell t-shirts, merchandise, or other products, your website will need to have eCommerce functionality enabled. This will raise the cost of a small business website as it is one of the more time-consuming steps in site development.
E-commerce websites require several additional pages to have complete store functionality, such as:
- General Shop page
- Product pages
- Product category pages
- Account pages
- Checkout pages
- Cart pages
4. Will you need to accept payments on your website?
If you are planning to sell products or you simply want to let your customers pay for services on your website, it will need payment integration. This allows people to securely pay with their debit or credit card.
Some of the most convenient and popular payment integration options available include PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net, and Stripe.
5. Do you need a blog or news feed?
A popular function that most companies take advantage of is the addition of a blog to their small business website. Blogs are a great way to share informational content, business updates, and industry-related articles with your readers.
Among the many benefits of blogs is the SEO advantages that come with them. When you do relevant keyword research and share content that search engines find valuable, you can attract more traffic and build a stronger online presence.
Part of your small business website cost will be the decision to add a blog to your website and whether you’d like assistance with creating consistent content.
6. Do you need any API or Third-Party integration?
An application programming interface (API) is a program or plugin that provides a key function for your website. They are like puzzle pieces that complete your processes and connect your data, analytics, and applications. These come in the form of third-party integrations that can be added to your website as it is being developed.
Some of the most popular API integrations include Google Calendar, Google Maps, MailChimp, Constant Contact, social media platforms, and more.
Find Out What a Website Costs for Your Small Business
If you’re trying to determine how much you’ll need to pay for a small business website, there are great resources available to help you. AWEBCO’s free Website Design Cost Calculator is a great place to start if you’d like to get an estimate!
In the end, the price of your website will depend on factors like the number of pages, what features you want, and whether you need an online store.
Are you interested in building a website for your small business? The team at AWEBCO will assist you with determining your specific website needs and let you know how much it costs. Give us a call today at 217-903-5999 or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we can help!
