The main ways to get a website
| Route | How you pay | What you're paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself with a website builder | A monthly builder subscription plus your domain | The tools. The design, writing and SEO are your time. |
| Freelancer | Usually a one-time project fee | A finished site. Updates, hosting and SEO are often extra. |
| Agency, one-time build | A larger one-time fee | A custom site. Ongoing work is usually a separate contract. |
| Monthly website + SEO plan | A monthly rate (some charge a setup fee too; we don't) | The site, hosting, updates and ongoing SEO in one price. |
Costs people forget
- Domain renewal: every year.
- Hosting: monthly or yearly, unless it's included.
- Updates and fixes: changing services, prices, photos or hours.
- SEO: a site nobody finds doesn't bring in calls. Many cheap builds don't include it.
- Your own time: if you build and maintain it yourself.
What's worth paying for
For a local service business, the website's job is to bring in calls. Pay for what affects that: a fast, mobile-first design, a page for each service, real photos, easy contact, and SEO so people actually find it. Fancy animations and dozens of pages you don't need aren't worth much.
Our pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Setup fee | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Presence | $299/mo | None | Custom website up to 10 pages, hosting and maintenance, Google Business Profile setup and monthly optimization, local SEO, Search Console setup, contact and estimate forms, missed-call text-back, automated inquiry replies and review requests, lead notifications and monthly reporting |
| Local Performance | $499/mo | None | Everything in Local Presence plus a website up to 20 pages, monthly page optimization, up to 4 Google Business Profile updates a month, expanded SEO, multi-step SMS and email follow-up, appointment scheduling and reminders, customer re-engagement, pipeline tracking, priority support and a monthly consultation |
Both plans are month-to-month with no long-term contract, and most sites go live in about two weeks. A CRM and lead-capture add-on is optional.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- Will the domain be in my name?
- What happens if I cancel? Do I keep my content?
- Is SEO included, and what exactly is done?
- Is there a long-term contract?
- How long until it's live?
Frequently asked questions
How much should a small business pay for a website?+
It depends on what's included. A DIY builder costs the least but takes your time; a monthly plan like ours ($299 or $499/month, no setup fee) includes the site, hosting, updates and SEO.
Is a monthly website plan better than paying once?+
A one-time build can cost less upfront, but hosting, updates and SEO are usually extra. A monthly plan bundles them and keeps the site improving.
What does website maintenance cost?+
It varies. Some builders include basic hosting; designers often charge for each change. Our plans include ongoing updates and reporting.