how much does a web page cost
Practical pricing breakdowns and realistic budgets for small businesses — design, SEO and ads explained.
Short answer: it depends. This guide walks you through the factors that actually move the needle, sample budgets by site type, timelines, and an action checklist so you can plan confidently.
Quick answer: typical cost ranges (2025)
Exact costs vary by country and provider. Here are realistic ballpark ranges you can expect for a single web page or small site components in 2025:
Simple brochure page
Feature-rich landing page
Multi-page small business site
Small e‑commerce site
For predictable costs and fast delivery, many small businesses prefer modern subscription services (see Congero) that bundle hosting, domain, SSL, updates and local SEO for a flat monthly fee (typically from $30–$49/month in 2025).
What actually influences the price?
Price is a function of time, skills and third-party services. Below are the main levers that raise or lower cost — and what to ask for to control your budget.
Design Complexity
Custom layouts, unique illustrations, and bespoke UI cost more than a well-configured theme or template.
Development & Functionality
Forms, booking systems, integrations (Xero, CRMs), membership areas and custom plugins increase hours quickly.
Content & Copywriting
Good copy converts. Writing or professionally optimising 5–10 pages can add $300–$1,500 if outsourced.
Images & Media
Stock images are cheap; professional photography raises cost but boosts conversions.
SEO Setup
Basic on-page SEO (titles, meta, schema) is low cost; ongoing organic SEO and link building is monthly and can be $300–$2,000+/mo.
Ads Setup & Ongoing Budget
Ad setup (Google/Meta) typically costs $300–$1,000 one-off. Monthly ad spend is separate and varies by industry ($500–$10,000+/mo).
Design and complexity — how each decision affects cost
Think of design and complexity as time multipliers. Below are common scenarios and their typical cost multipliers.
- Theme/customise (lowest) — Choose a premium theme and ask for branding, fonts and colours: low hours, quick turnaround. (+10–30% vs theme alone)
- Custom templates — Several unique page templates (home, service, landing): moderate design and dev time. (+50–150%)
- Fully bespoke UI — Unique layouts, animations, detailed micro-interactions: highest cost and longest timeline. (+200%+)
Budget control tips
- Start with a theme and budget a fixed number of customisation hours (e.g., 10–20 hrs).
- Prioritise the homepage and key landing pages for design investment.
- Defer non-critical animations and fancy effects until after launch.
Content, SEO and ads — separate budgets but linked outcomes
1. Content & copywriting
Good content reduces bounce, improves rankings and increases conversions. Typical options:
- DIY copy (free, slower results)
- Professional copy per page: $150–$400
- SEO-optimised pillar pages: $600–$2,000
2. Initial SEO setup
Basic setup should be included in your build: title tags, meta descriptions, schema, sitemap, robots.txt and Google Search Console. If not included, budget $150–$600 for setup.
3. Ongoing SEO
Organic SEO is an ongoing process. Typical retainers:
- Local SEO / small business: $300–$800/mo
- National competitive niches: $1,000–$5,000+/mo
4. Paid ads (Google & Meta)
Separate into two buckets: setup and ad spend.
Ads setup
Campaign structure, tracking, landing pages and conversions.
Monthly ad spend
Typical small-business test budgets:
- Low: $300–$800/mo
- Healthy test: $1,000–$3,000/mo
- Scale: $5,000+/mo
How to blend budgets for best ROI
- Allocate ~10–30% of expected monthly revenue to ads during testing (adjust after CPA known).
- Ensure landing page load speed and tracking are perfect before you scale ad spend.
- Consider subscription website services that include landing page builds and unlimited updates — reduces friction for ad-driven campaigns.
Pricing models: what you'll encounter
Hourly
Freelancers and some agencies charge by the hour. Rates in 2025: $50–$200+/hr depending on skill and region. Pro: flexibility. Con: hard to predict total cost.
Fixed-price project
Good for clearly defined work. Get a detailed scope and revisions included. Watch for change orders (extra fees when scope expands).
Subscription (recommended for many small businesses)
Flat monthly fee includes hosting, maintenance, updates and often basic SEO. Predictable and often lower total first-year cost. Example: Congero-style services at $30–$49/month with unlimited updates and local SEO included.
Retainer for ongoing services
Monthly retainers for SEO, content or ads management. Useful when sustained work is needed — price depends on targets and scope.
Sample budgets you can copy
These are realistic, small-business-friendly budgets to use as a starting point.
1. Essential brochure site (1–5 pages)
- Design + build: $300–$900
- Hosting + domain (annual): included in subscriptions or $60–$200
- Basic SEO setup: $0–$300
- Photos: stock images or client photos
2. Lead generation site + ads test (5–8 pages)
- Design + build: $800–$2,500
- Copywriting & landing page: $300–$1,000
- Ads setup: $500–$1,000
- Initial ad spend for test (6–8 weeks): $1,000–$3,000
- SEO starter: $300–$700
3. Small e‑commerce (20–50 products)
- Platform setup: $1,500–$6,000
- Payment & shipping integrations included
- Product data entry: $10–$30/product (or DIY)
- Ongoing maintenance & security: $50–200/mo
4. Conversion-focused landing + CRO
- High-converting landing page: $600–$2,000
- A/B test setup: $300–$800
- Ads & tracking: $1,000–$3,000 test budget
How to budget — a practical 6-step plan
- Clarify the primary goal — Leads, bookings, sales, or brand awareness? Your goal defines what features matter.
- List must-have vs nice-to-have — Prioritise launch-critical pages and functionality; defer extras to phase 2.
- Decide content approach — DIY copy or hire a copywriter. Estimate hours or cost per page.
- Choose a pricing model — Subscription for predictability, fixed-price for small scoped builds, hourly for ongoing tweaks.
- Set a testing ad budget — If you plan to advertise, reserve a 4–8 week test budget ($1k–3k) separate from build costs.
- Allocate 10–20% contingency — Scope tweaks, extra images, or new integrations often appear mid-project.
Practical example
A trades business wants a lead-gen site:
- Design & build: $900
- Copy polishing: $300
- SEO starter: $300
- Ads test budget: $1,200
- Contingency (15%): $360
Questions to ask before you sign
- What’s included in the quoted price? (design, hosting, SSL, analytics, updates)
- How many revisions are included?
- Who owns the content and domain after payment?
- What’s the estimated timeline from brief to launch?
- What ongoing costs should I expect (maintenance, backups, updates)?
- Do you provide local SEO and Google Business Profile setup?
Pre-budget checklist
- Goal for the site (lead gen, bookings, sales)
- List of pages and core features
- Existing content and images
- Target cities/keywords (for SEO)
- Ad budget for initial tests (if applicable)
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a professional page for under $200?
Is SEO included in build estimates?
How much should I budget for ads?
Are subscriptions cheaper long-term?
Ready to plan your website budget?
If you want a predictable, low-risk option for small businesses: Congero builds professional, mobile-first websites in minutes and bundles hosting, domain, SSL, local SEO and unlimited updates for a flat monthly fee — ideal for trades and service businesses that need fast results without surprises.
Pro tip: Start with a single high-converting landing page for ads. Measure CPA for 4–8 weeks, then invest in the full site once the economics are proven.
