Website cost by who builds it
The single biggest factor in price is who builds the site. Here is what each route costs in 2026 and what you actually get.
| Option | Typical cost | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $150 to $500 / year | Days to weeks of your time | Owners with time who want full control |
| Freelancer | $500 to $5,000 | 2 to 6 weeks | One-off projects, variable quality |
| Traditional agency | $2,500 to $12,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Larger budgets, complex sites |
| S7 Digital | $499 to $1,499 one-time | 3 to 5 days | Local businesses that want calls fast |
DIY builders look cheap but cost you time, and the result often does not rank or convert. Agencies deliver quality but at a price and timeline most local businesses do not need. A focused studio sits in the sweet spot: custom, fast, and built to get phone calls.
Website cost by business type
Different local businesses need different things. Here is a realistic 2026 range for a professional, mobile-first site by industry.
| Business type | Typical market price | S7 Digital price |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber, HVAC, electrician | $2,000 to $8,000 | From $499 |
| Roofing and contractors | $2,500 to $10,000 | From $499 |
| Restaurant | $1,500 to $7,000 | From $499 |
| Law firm and attorneys | $3,000 to $12,000 | From $499 |
| Dentist, chiropractor, med spa | $2,500 to $9,000 | From $499 |
| Salon, barbershop, yoga studio | $1,500 to $6,000 | From $499 |
See the dedicated pages for plumbers, HVAC, roofers, restaurants, law firms, and our full pricing.
What changes the price
- Number of pages. A 5-page site costs less than a 10-page site with service and location pages.
- Custom design vs template. Custom work that matches your brand costs more than a stock template, and converts better.
- Get found on Google. Sites built to rank in your city include schema, Google Business setup, and on-page setup.
- Features. Online booking, payments, or a blog add scope.
- Timeline. Faster delivery usually costs more elsewhere. We keep it flat.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Monthly lock-in. Some builders rent you the site forever. Prefer one-time pricing where you own it.
- SEO add-ons. Basic on-page setup should be included, not an upsell.
- Revision fees. Ask for unlimited revisions until launch so changes do not cost extra.
- Domain and hosting. Budget about $12 to $20 per year for a domain and free to $20 per month for hosting.
Is a cheap website worth it?
Price is not the real question. The real question is whether the site is fast, works on phones, and turns visitors into calls. A $200 template that loads slowly and looks dated can cost you more in lost customers than a well-built site costs to make. Focus on speed, mobile-first design, a clear phone number, and real reviews on the page. That is what gets a local business hired.