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 | $799 to $2,999 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.
What you actually pay over 24 months
Upfront price is only half the story. Here is the same website compared across the three common models over two years:
| Model | Cost structure | 24-month total | Who owns the site? |
|---|---|---|---|
| S7 Digital (one-time) | $799 to $2,999 once | $799 to $2,999 | You, forever |
| $0-down monthly designers | around $175/month, 12-month minimum | around $4,200 | Often the agency |
| Marketing incumbents (Hibu, Townsquare type) | $300 to $500/month | $7,200 to $12,000 | Usually not you; sites often vanish on cancellation |
| DIY builders | $16 to $50/month | $400 to $1,200 plus your own hours | You (you also do the work) |
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.