how much does a website cost per month
Realistic monthly cost ranges for hosting, design, SEO, maintenance and ads — how to budget without the guesswork.
Small businesses need predictable budgets. This guide breaks down typical monthly website costs in 2025, explains what drives price differences, and gives a simple 4-step plan so you can set a budget that actually delivers growth.
What you'll find on this page
Typical monthly website costs (realistic ranges)
Below are the common line-items you’ll see on a monthly budget for a small business website in 2025. Numbers are ranges — exact cost depends on provider, features, traffic and outcomes you want.
| Item | Typical monthly cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting & CDN | $5–50 | Shared hosting to managed hosting with backups and faster CDN |
| Domain name (monthly equivalent) | $0–2 | Annual domain divided across months (some providers include domain free) |
| SSL certificate | $0–5 | Let's Encrypt free to premium certs or managed SSL |
| Design & maintenance (subscription) | $30–150 | Professional templates, custom tweaks, unlimited updates at higher tiers |
| Content updates / edits | $0–200 | Included in some subscriptions; hourly or retainer otherwise |
| Local SEO & on-page optimisation | $0–800 | Automated/local setup vs. ongoing agency retainer |
| Plugins, tools, integrations | $0–50 | Forms, galleries, booking tools, marketing plugins |
| Analytics & tracking | $0–30 | Free analytics vs. paid dashboards or third-party reporting |
| Email marketing | $0–50 | Basic plan for newsletters and automations |
| Paid advertising (ads) | $300–3,000+ | Google/Facebook ad budget (start small, scale on ROI) |
| Total — Typical small business | $45–$500+ | Lean websites at the low end; growth-focused with ads and SEO at the high end |
How to read these ranges
The low end assumes you choose bundled subscriptions that include hosting, domain and updates (e.g., modern subscription platforms). The high end includes ongoing professional SEO, regular content work, and ads. Most businesses start around $30–150/mo and add ads separately.
Key factors that drive monthly cost
Understanding what moves the needle will help you prioritise spend where it matters most.
Speed & reliability needs
Higher traffic or e-commerce requires managed hosting and CDN — adds to monthly cost but improves conversions.
Design & customisation
A ‘done-for-you’ subscription or agency retainer costs more than DIY templates but saves time and delivers better conversion-focused design.
SEO intensity
Basic local SEO can be automated; ongoing link-building and content creation require monthly investment (agency or specialist).
Marketing & ads
Ads budget is the most flexible item—start small, measure, scale. Allocation depends on customer lifetime value and margins.
Maintenance frequency
If you update prices, specials or pages weekly, choose a plan that includes unlimited updates rather than paying hourly.
E-commerce features
Online payments, product SKUs, shipping calculators and security increase hosting and plugin costs.
4 simple steps to build a predictable monthly website budget
Follow these steps to set a budget that matches your goals (lead generation, bookings, e-commerce).
Decide what the site must do: generate X leads/month, sell Y products, or book Z appointments. Outcomes determine how much to invest.
- Set one primary KPI (e.g., 20 leads/month)
- Estimate lead value (revenue per lead)
- Calculate ad budget needed to reach KPI
Start with essentials: hosting, domain, SSL, and a design/management plan.
Allocate money for SEO and ads based on goals.
- Local SEO: $0–300/mo (DIY vs specialist)
- Ads: start $300–1,000/mo and optimise to ROI
Track conversions and cost per lead. Reallocate spend from low-performing ads to high-performing channels.
Sample monthly budgets (illustrative)
How to budget for SEO and paid ads
SEO and ads are where you can accelerate growth—but they also introduce variability. Here’s a practical approach to set realistic budgets.
SEO — budgets and expectations
- DIY/local optimisation: $0–150/mo — good for local businesses with a few keywords.
- Freelancer: $200–800/mo — content and basic link outreach.
- Agency retainer: $1,000–5,000+/mo — full strategy, content creation, link building.
Expect 3–9 months to see consistent organic traction. SEO is compounding—early work improves long-term ROI.
Ads — planning a sensible start
- Minimum test budget: $300–500/mo — run focused campaigns and collect data.
- Optimise: After testing, increase budget on campaigns with positive ROI.
- Include management: If you hire a specialist, expect $200–1,000+/mo in management fees.
Track cost-per-lead and lifetime value. Ads are scalable once you find profitable campaigns.
Make ROI your guardrail
Decide the maximum you’ll pay for a lead based on expected conversion rate and average sale. If a lead is worth $200, paying $50 per lead may be reasonable; paying $150 is not.
Smart ways to reduce monthly costs (without hurting results)
Choose all-in-one subscriptions
Bundled services (hosting + domain + updates) often beat piecemeal vendors on price and convenience.
Value your time
If your hourly rate is high, paying a small monthly fee for updates is cheaper than doing it yourself.
Automate routine SEO
Use tools to automate meta tags, schema and local listings before spending on content creation.
Stop underperforming ads quickly
Run short tests and pause campaigns that don't meet your cost-per-lead target.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some websites cost only $10/month while others are $500?
Should I budget for paid ads from month one?
How can I keep costs predictable?
What’s the minimum monthly spend to be effective?
Want a clear monthly price for your business?
Get a simple breakdown matched to your goals — whether you want a lean brochure site or a growth engine with ads and SEO.
No obligation — pick a plan that fits your cashflow and scale as you grow.
