website builder costs
How much should a small business pay for a website in 2025? Compare one-off fees, monthly subscriptions, hidden costs, and the real lifetime price of different website builders.
What "website builder costs" really covers
Website costs fall into two buckets: upfront (design, development, custom integrations) and recurring (hosting, domain, maintenance, updates, marketing). This guide breaks down each piece so you can budget with confidence.
Upfront costs
One-off expenses like custom design, premium themes, developer time and specialised integrations. Can range from $0 (DIY) to $20,000+ for enterprise custom work.
Ongoing costs
Monthly or annual fees for hosting, domain renewals, security, backups, and updates. Expect $5–$200+/month depending on service level and extras.
Hidden costs
SEO, paid ads, content creation, CRM integrations, and agency retainers — these often dwarf initial build costs if not planned.
Typical costs for small business websites (2025)
Below are conservative ranges you should expect when budgeting. Real numbers depend on complexity, integrations, and whether you do it yourself or hire professionals.
DIY Builder (Wix / Squarespace / Weebly)
- Subscription: $10–$40/month
- Domain: $12–$20/year (often included year-one)
- Apps / add-ons: $0–$50+/month
- Your time: significant if managing updates yourself
WordPress (DIY or agency)
- Hosting: $5–$50+/month
- Theme & plugins: $0–$300+ (one-off)
- Developer / agency build: $1,500–$15,000+
- Maintenance & security: $50–$500+/month if outsourced
Managed AI builders (Congero style)
- Flat fee: $49/month (all-in)
- Unlimited updates via text — no extra cost
- Hosting, SSL, domain registration included
- Live demo in ~60 seconds — big time savings
Example: a typical small trades site built by an agency could cost $4,000 upfront + $100/month maintenance — that’s $8,200 over 5 years. Congero’s managed service at $49/month is $2,940 over 5 years, plus instant updates and local SEO included.
How options compare: DIY, WordPress, Agency, and Congero
A quick feature and cost comparison to help you decide which route fits your business needs and budget.
Typical first-year cost
$200–$1,200
DIY builders
Typical first-year cost
$500–$3,000+
WordPress (DIY/contractor)
Typical first-year cost
$2,000–$20,000+
Agency custom build
Typical first-year cost
$588
Congero – $49/month (all in)
Control & customisation
- DIY: High control, steep learning curve
- WordPress: Very flexible, but maintenance required
- Agency: Fully custom, expensive
- Congero: Balanced — professional design + managed updates
Ongoing effort & time
DIY and WordPress require your time for updates or a retained developer. Agency often needs change requests and billable hours. Congero handles updates instantly via text — designed for busy trades and small businesses.
Lifetime cost and ROI examples (5-year view)
DIY builder
$300/year average → $1,500 over 5 years
Good for hobby projects. Time cost is high and SEO results are limited unless you invest in expertise.
Agency build
$6,000 upfront + $120/month maintenance → ~$13,200 over 5 years
High initial quality and custom features but expensive to iterate and update.
Congero managed AI
$49/month → $2,940 over 5 years
All-inclusive hosting, domain, SSL, local SEO and unlimited updates — designed to lower total cost while increasing leads.
Which delivers better ROI?
For most local trades and service businesses, predictable ongoing costs plus fast updates and built-in local SEO deliver better ROI than paying a large upfront fee that requires extra monthly maintenance. Congero clients see measurable enquiry lifts within weeks thanks to local SEO and conversion-led layouts.
What's included in Congero’s $49/month
We’re transparent about costs — here’s every major item bundled into the single monthly price.
Hosting & SSL
Secure, fast hosting with free SSL certificates and automated backups — handled for you.
Unlimited updates
Text us changes and our AI publishes updates in minutes — no extra fees, no support tickets.
Local SEO & analytics
Built-in local schema, meta optimisation, and monthly analytics so you can track leads and growth.
Domain registration
Free domain registration or transfer assistance in your plan — simple domain management included.
Security & maintenance
Continuous monitoring, software updates and security patches are included with no hidden maintenance fees.
Dedicated support
Fast, friendly support and help with strategy, integrations and conversion improvements.
No setup fee • No lock-in • Cancel anytime
7 practical ways to reduce website costs
Simple steps you can take today to lower both upfront and ongoing expenses.
- Start small: Launch with core pages (home, services, contact) and add features later.
- Choose predictable pricing: Flat monthly plans avoid surprise bills for updates or security.
- Use managed services: Let providers handle hosting, backups and updates to avoid unexpected maintenance fees.
- Reuse content: Good copy and high-quality photos reduce need for ongoing expensive content production.
- Track ROI: Invest in pages and services that generate leads — stop spending on features that don’t convert.
- Negotiate add-ons: Ask providers for bundled pricing on marketing, paid ads, or integrations.
- Consider export options: If you may switch later, confirm you can export content to avoid future rebuild costs.
Frequently asked questions about website costs
Clear answers to the questions we hear most from small business owners in 2025.
How much will a simple website cost me?
A basic, professional site for a local business typically ranges from $200–$2,500 first-year depending on route — DIY on the low end, small agency on the high end.
Are there ongoing fees after launch?
Yes — domain renewals, hosting, maintenance, and marketing are recurring. Expect $5–$200+/month depending on service level. Congero bundles most of this for $49/month.
What hidden costs should I watch for?
Premium plugin licenses, developer hourly rates for edits, SEO or paid advertising budgets, and fees for integrations (booking, payments) can add up quickly.
Is $49/month really everything?
At Congero, $49/month covers domain registration (first year or transfer support), hosting, SSL, unlimited content updates via text, local SEO, and monthly analytics — no surprise fees.
Ready to stop guessing and budget with confidence?
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