TL;DR
- A website has two kinds of cost: the one-time build and the monthly cost to keep it online, safe and up to date.
- Price depends mostly on the number of pages, who designs it, whether you sell online, and who writes the text.
- Always ask what happens after launch. A cheap build with no plan for updates and backups often costs more later.
- We publish our prices: website packages start at $1,450 and Service Plans start at $79/mo.
"How much does a website cost?" is one of the first questions every business owner asks, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. Quotes can swing wildly, and many agencies won't put a number on their site at all. This guide walks through what you are actually paying for, what pushes the price up or down, and what to ask so you can compare quotes fairly.
We're SU Web Agency, a Cedar City, Utah web design agency. We've been building and caring for small business websites since 2010, and we publish our prices, so you'll see real numbers below.
The two kinds of website cost
Most confusion about website pricing comes from mixing up two very different costs.
1. The one-time build
This is the design and setup of the site: planning the pages, designing the look, building it, connecting forms and maps, and launching it. You pay this once (sometimes split into a deposit and a final payment).
2. The ongoing cost
A website isn't a brochure you print once. It lives on a server, uses software that needs regular updates, and needs backups and security. The ongoing cost usually covers:
- Hosting: the server space where your site lives, plus an SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser).
- Updates: WordPress, theme and plugin updates, checked so nothing breaks.
- Backups: regular copies of your site so it can be restored if something goes wrong.
- Security and speed: a security plugin, caching and image optimization.
- Small edits: changing hours, swapping a photo, updating a price.
- Domain renewal: your web address, usually renewed once a year.
If a quote only covers the build, ask what happens on day two. If you're not sure what a monthly fee should include, our guide on what monthly website fees actually cover breaks it down.
What changes the price of a website
Two sites that look similar can be priced very differently. These are the biggest factors.
Number of pages
Every page needs to be planned, designed, built and checked on phones and computers. A five-page site (Home, About, Services, Gallery, Contact) is a common starting point for local businesses. Each extra page adds time.
Who designs it
A site that's custom designed by a web designer takes longer than one built from a starting layout or with AI help. Neither is "wrong." It depends on how unique you need your site to look and how fast you need it. We wrote an honest look at the pros and cons of AI website design if you're weighing that choice.
Selling online
An online store adds products, a cart, checkout, payment setup, taxes and shipping rules. That's real work, so e-commerce almost always costs more than a basic business site.
Who writes the text and supplies the photos
Many quotes assume you provide the words and photos. Professional copywriting and photography are separate skills and are often priced separately. Ask which one your quote assumes.
Extras
Logos, blogs, booking systems, member areas and custom features all add to the price. Some are simple add-ons. Others need custom development.
"The cheapest website is rarely the one with the lowest price. It's the one you don't have to rebuild in two years."
Real numbers: our published prices
Here's what we charge, straight from our Utah website design packages page. Use it as a reference point when you compare quotes from anyone.
| Package | Price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| AI+ Website Package | $1,450 | 5 pages, designed with AI with web designer oversight and delivery. About 1 week once we have your content. |
| Designer+ Website Package | $2,250 | 5 pages, custom designed by a web designer with AI assistance. About 2 weeks once we have your content. |
| Service Plans | From $79/mo | Hosting, daily backups, weekly updates and checks, security, and content update time. |
Both packages include a mobile-friendly design, a contact form, Google Maps, social media links, an XML sitemap and more. Add-ons like extra pages, a blog, a logo or an online store are listed with their prices, and the "Get your exact price" calculator on our packages page shows your total before you commit.
Every website package includes one of our Service Plans, because a site with no one looking after it doesn't stay healthy for long.
Bottom line: a fair website quote tells you the build price, the monthly price, and exactly what each one includes.
Why "cheap" can end up expensive
Low upfront prices sometimes hide costs that show up later:
- No updates: sites that never get updated are easier to hack and more likely to break.
- No backups: if something goes wrong and there's no backup, you may be paying for a whole new site.
- You don't own the domain: if someone else registered it, leaving them can mean losing your web address.
- Locked-in custom code: a site built in a one-off system can be hard for anyone else to support or edit.
We build on WordPress with the Divi 5 page builder and host on managed WPMU DEV hosting. Those are standard, widely supported tools, so your site isn't trapped with one person.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- How many pages are included, and what does each extra page cost?
- Who writes the text and supplies photos?
- What's the monthly cost after launch, and what does it include?
- Who owns the domain name, the hosting account and the website files?
- How long will it take, and when does the clock start?
- If I leave someday, how do I get my website?
If you're local, our guide to hiring a web designer in Cedar City or St. George covers more of what to look for.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic small business website cost?
It depends on pages, design and features. As a reference, our 5-page packages are $1,450 (AI+) and $2,250 (Designer+), with Service Plans from $79/mo. Get a few quotes and compare what each one includes, not just the total.
Why do I have to pay monthly for a website?
Your site needs a server to live on, regular software updates, backups and security. The monthly fee covers keeping it online, safe and working. Without it, problems build up quietly.
Is a cheaper website builder app a better deal?
It can be for very simple needs. Look at the long-term monthly cost, what happens if you outgrow it, and whether you can move your site elsewhere later.
Do I need to write my own content?
Many quotes, including ours, assume you provide your text and photos. Ask up front so there are no surprises.
How long does a small business website take?
Our AI+ package takes about 1 week and Designer+ about 2 weeks, once we have everything we need from you. Content is usually the step that takes longest.
Want an exact price for your website?
SU Web Agency has built and cared for small business websites since 2010. Tell us what you need and we'll give you a clear quote, with no hidden fees.
Already have a website? Our Service Plans keep it fast, secure and up to date, starting at $79/mo.
