6 practical ways small businesses can use AI today
Skip the hype. These are the AI uses that save small businesses real time and money right now, and how to start with one.
Read article“How much does a website cost?” is the first question almost every client asks us, and the honest answer is: it depends on what the website has to do. A five-page site for a local bakery and a 20-page site for a growing company with a booking system are very different projects. This guide breaks the price into parts, so you can see what you're paying for and avoid surprises later.
The five things that decide the price
1. Number of pages
Every page needs a layout, content and testing. A simple business site usually needs a home page, an about page, a services page, a contact page and maybe a gallery or FAQ. That's five pages. Add a page per service, a blog, or location pages and you quickly reach 10 to 20.
2. Design and custom features
A clean layout built on a proven structure costs less than a fully custom design with animations, custom illustrations and complex interactions. Features such as online booking, an online store, membership areas or multiple languages add development and testing time.
3. Content
Someone has to write the text and supply the photos. If you already have them, the project is faster. If you need copywriting, product photography or logo work, budget for it.
4. Search engine setup
A website that Google can't understand won't bring you customers. Proper SEO setup includes page titles and descriptions, a clean heading structure, fast-loading images, structured data, and connecting Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
5. Running costs
After launch you pay for a domain name (usually renewed yearly), hosting, and ongoing updates and backups. These are small monthly amounts, but they're easy to forget when comparing quotes.
Typical price ranges
To give you real numbers, here is how our own packages are structured:
- Starter websites ($119 to $549): 5 to 20 pages, mobile responsive, SEO optimized, SSL certificate, backups and hosting with CDN and DDoS protection. A good fit for small businesses, freelancers and new brands.
- Business websites ($2,000 to $3,500): the same page ranges, plus website migration and security auditing, for established businesses moving from an old site or needing a more thorough build.
Every package also includes a free domain and 24/7 support. Custom projects such as online stores or web applications are quoted separately.
Costs people forget to ask about
- Domain renewal after the first year.
- Hosting after any free period ends.
- Business email on your own domain.
- Changes after launch: is there a support plan, or is every edit billed?
- Who owns the site: make sure you get full control of your domain, hosting and website files.
Checklist before you buy
- Write down the pages you need and the one action you want visitors to take (call, enquire, buy).
- Gather your logo, photos and any text you already have.
- Ask what is included: SSL, hosting, backups, SEO setup, mobile design.
- Ask for an estimated completion date. We usually aim to finish within four weeks of the start date.
- Check the running costs for year two, not just the launch price.
Not sure which package fits? Send us a short description of your business and we'll recommend one and send you a free quote.