Website cost
How much does a website cost?
Two fixed starting points, not a quote you have to chase: a $500 Conversion Website, and a $1,500-$3,000 Search-Ready Website. What changes the number, what a fixed scope buys you, and what to ask before you pay anyone for a website.
A professional small-business website from Digital Handshake Media starts at $500 for a three-page Conversion Website, and runs $1,500-$3,000 for a Search-Ready Website built around search intent and architecture. What moves the number inside that range: how many pages the site genuinely needs, how much search research and architecture it requires, whether ecommerce is involved, and whether an AI Receptionist ($1,500/month) is added. Ongoing support after launch runs $97-$297 a month, separate from the build.
What actually moves the price
| Factor | Keeps cost down | Pushes cost up |
|---|---|---|
| Page count | 3 core pages, genuinely enough for the business | Real service or location architecture the business actually needs |
| Search research | Not required for a straightforward local business | Transactional keyword mapping and intent research for a competitive market |
| Content | 10-minute structured intake, AI-assisted refinement | Long-form, interview-based copywriting |
| Ecommerce | None, or a lean catalogue/digital product/booking deposit | Large catalogues, inventory sync, custom checkout logic |
| Automation | Basic form/chat/CRM/calendar | An AI Receptionist and deeper lead-routing logic |
| Revisions | The included structured rounds | Open-ended, unstructured revision requests |
More pages does not automatically mean a better site. A page built without a real user or search purpose is a page that dilutes the site's architecture instead of strengthening it — see how Search-Ready architecture actually gets decided.
The two starting points
From $500
Conversion Website
3 core pages, form + chat + booking, CRM contact creation, basic automated follow-up, launch and foundational tracking included. 3-5 business days once inputs are in. Full scope on the web design hub.
$1,500-$3,000
Search-Ready Website
Intent research, service/location architecture, internal linking, full technical SEO and conversion tracking. Roughly 8 pages at the $1,500 end, up to 15 at the $3,000 end. 10-30 days depending on scope. Full detail on the SEO web design page.
Two things run alongside either product: an AI Receptionist for 24/7 lead handling, $1,500/month (see what it does and doesn't do), and ongoing support after launch, $97-$297/month, for edits and active maintenance the initial build doesn't include.
Ecommerce, briefly
DHM supports ecommerce within a defined scope: lean catalogues, digital products, small inventories, subscriptions, service or booking deposits, Stripe-connected payments and Shopify-related integrations where appropriate. Large catalogues, complex inventory systems, warehouse or ERP sync and 3PL integrations are custom scope, priced separately. Detail on ecommerce web design.
What to ask before you pay anyone for a website
- What exactly is included, in writing? A price without a written scope is a quote that can grow after you've paid.
- What happens to leads after the form is submitted? A site with no CRM connection is a brochure, not a lead system.
- How many revision rounds, specifically? "Unlimited revisions" on a fixed-price build usually means the price wasn't really fixed.
- Who owns the domain, hosting and content after launch? Know this before you start, not after a dispute.
- What is the realistic delivery timeline, and what does it depend on? A firm date with no dependency on your own inputs is not a realistic date.
- What is not included? The honest answer to this question tells you more about the price than anything else on the list.
Questions we get
Frequently asked questions
Why does the price range so much between $500 and $3,000?
The $500 Conversion Website and the $1,500-$3,000 Search-Ready Website are genuinely different products, not the same site with a discount. The Conversion Website is a fixed, 3-page build. The Search-Ready Website adds search-intent research, service/location architecture and deeper technical SEO before a page of copy gets written, which is why it takes longer and costs more.
Is there a cheaper option than $500?
Not from DHM as a built product. Below that price point, the honest options are usually a DIY website builder or a template with no lead-capture or follow-up system behind it. The fixed $500 scope exists so the price stays real rather than growing once work starts.
Does the price include ongoing maintenance?
No. The build price covers launch, the stated revision rounds and the stated technical setup. Ongoing edits, active maintenance and further optimization are a separate service, $97-$297/month, so the two are never bundled in a way that hides what each one actually costs.
Do you charge more if my website needs SEO too?
Local SEO is a separate, ongoing service from the website build itself, priced from $1,000/month — see full pricing. Many clients run both, but a Search-Ready Website does not require an ongoing SEO retainer, and an SEO retainer does not require a new website.
Read next
Where to go from here
Next step
See what your website is costing you
A free, short review against Core Web Vitals, mobile UX, CTA visibility, lead capture and follow-up capability — or a fixed quote if you already know what you need.
Or call 778-200-8644 · No fake discounts, no fake urgency · No guaranteed rankings