How much does a custom website cost?
Short answer: a custom-designed website from a small studio usually costs between a few thousand dollars for a single page and $15,000 or more for an online store or custom feature. Here is what moves the number, in plain terms.
The honest ranges
These are typical for a hand-built site from an independent designer or small studio in the US, not a page builder or a big agency.
- One-page site or launch page: about $3,000 to $8,000. One job, done well: a launch, an event, a simple business.
- Small business site, 4 to 6 pages: about $8,000 to $15,000. Home, about, services or menu, contact, plus an editor so you can update it.
- Online store: about $12,000 to $30,000 and up, depending on the number of products, options and integrations.
- Custom web app or portal: $20,000 and up. Logins, dashboards, booking systems and anything with real data behind it.
For reference, Worthy starts at $4,500 for a one-page site, $9,500 for a 4 to 6 page site you can edit yourself, and $15,000 for stores and custom builds.
What actually drives the price
- Number of unique page designs. Ten pages built from one template cost far less than ten pages each designed from scratch.
- Content. Who writes the words and takes the photos? Content is often the slowest part of a project.
- Features. Online ordering, booking, memberships, stores and custom tools add real build time.
- Integrations. Connecting your POS, booking platform, email list or inventory system.
- Motion and interaction. Scroll stories and a signature moment take more design and testing than a static page.
- Who maintains it after launch. Ask what updates, hosting and fixes cost once the site is live.
Builder vs custom: the real cost
A website builder subscription costs $20 to $60 a month, and that is a fine choice for many businesses. What it costs you is harder to see: it looks like everyone else on the same template, menus and price lists often end up as images or PDFs, and you end up doing the design work yourself. A custom site costs more up front and is built around your business, your story and what your customers actually need to do.
What to look for in a quote
- A written scope that lists every page and feature.
- How many rounds of design changes are included.
- Who owns the site, the domain and the content when it launches. (It should be you.)
- Hosting and care costs after launch, in writing.
- A clickable design you can see on your own phone before anything is built.
Questions
Why do custom websites cost more than a website builder?
You are paying for design and development time built around your business, instead of a template shared by thousands of sites. That usually means a site that loads faster, works better on phones, and is easier for customers to use.
Are there monthly costs after launch?
Usually hosting and a domain at minimum. Many studios also offer care plans for updates and changes; Worthy's run $250 to $750 a month.
Can I pay in stages?
Most studios split payment. Worthy takes 50% to start, 25% at design approval and 25% at launch.
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