How Much Does a Custom Website Cost for a Small Business in 2026?

You are ready to get a website for your business, and you want to know the price before you call anyone. That is the right way to start.

Here is the short answer: custom website cost for a small business starts at $150 for a 5-page site and goes up to $500 for a 10-page site with local SEO built in. Online stores, web apps, and other custom platforms are quoted separately, based on what you need.

Why does the price change so much? Because a website is not one thing. The number of pages, the features, and the amount of SEO work all change the total. A simple site for a local plumber and a booking site for a growing clinic are very different projects.

In this guide, we explain what affects the cost, what each budget gets you, and which costs show up after launch. The prices come from the packages we offer at ARMS Technologies, a team that provides web development services for small businesses and startups. So you get real numbers, not just “it depends.”

Custom Website Cost at a Glance

Here is what our packages cost, how many pages each one includes, and how long each one usually takes.

Custom Website Packages and Prices for Small Businesses (2026)

These are one-time prices for the pages and features in each package. Need an online store, a web app, or something more custom? We quote those separately after we understand what you need. Want to see every plan side by side? Check the pricing section on our homepage.

What Affects the Cost of a Custom Website

Two websites can look alike and still have very different prices. Here are the main things that change the cost to build a website.

Number of Pages

Pages are the easiest way to see the size of a project. Our Basic package covers up to 5 pages, Growth up to 7, and Premium up to 10. More pages mean more design and more testing.

Custom Design

A custom design is built around your brand, not copied from a template. The more unique layouts and details you want, the more design time it takes.

Features

A contact form is simple. Online booking, user accounts, or an online store take much more work. Projects like these are quoted separately, because every business needs something different.

Your Content

Your text, photos, and logo need to be ready before launch. If you have them, the project moves faster. If not, plan some extra time or budget to create them.

SEO Setup

A website that nobody finds does not help your business. Every package includes SEO basics like page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and Google Search Console setup. Growth adds keyword strategy and full on-page SEO. Premium adds local SEO and Google Business Profile setup. If you want ongoing help after launch, our SEO and growth marketing team can support you.

Tools and integrations

Connecting your site to other tools adds work. Our packages include a contact form with email integration, social media links, and Google Analytics setup. Premium also adds email marketing integration.

Platform and technology

Websites can be built on WordPress or on modern frameworks like Next.js. The right choice depends on your goals and on who will update the site later. We build with both. Learn more about our approach in our web architecture guide.

The good news is that you do not need every item above. Start with what your business needs most, and add the rest later.

What Each Budget Gets You

Here is what each package includes, and what kind of business it fits best.

Basic: $150 (1–3 days)

This is the right choice if you need a clean, professional site to get your business online.

What you get (list):

1. Custom website with up to 5 pages
2. 30-minute strategy call

3. Contact form and email integration

4. Page speed optimization
5. Google Analytics and Search Console setup
6. 2 weeks of follow-up support

Good fit for:

A local service business, a freelancer’s portfolio, or a small shop that needs an online presence.

Growth: $300 (1–2 weeks)

Choose this when you want your site to bring in leads from Google, not just exist.

What you get (list):

1. Everything in Basic, with up to 7 pages
2. SEO keyword strategy
3. Full on-page SEO
4. Conversion-focused page structure

Good fit for:

A growing business that wants more calls and enquiries from search.

Premium: $500 (2–3 weeks)

This one is built for local businesses that want to be found in their area.

What you get (list):

1. Up to 10 pages
2. 60-minute strategy and planning call
3. Local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization
4. Basic schema markup
5. Email marketing integration
6. 30 days of follow-up support, plus priority support

Good fit for:
A clinic, restaurant, salon, or any business that depends on local customers.

Online stores, web apps, and AI projects

If you need an online store, a customer portal, or a web app, the price depends on what it must do. Our AI Solutions plan, which covers custom web apps with AI features, starts at $799. For anything else, tell us about your project and we will give you a custom quote.

How Our Prices Compare With Freelancers, Agencies, and Website Builders

You may wonder how these prices compare with the rest of the market. Here is what published 2026 pricing guides report for small business websites.

Typical Small Business Website Costs by Approach (2026)

Website builders are the cheapest way to start. Wix lists plans from $17.77 to $39.77 per month on its main tiers with yearly billing, and Squarespace starts at about $19 to $25 per month, depending on billing. The catch is that you build and update the site yourself, and you work within the builder’s templates and features.

Freelancers can be a good fit for a basic custom site, but quality varies, so always check their past work. Agencies bring more people and process. Their projects usually cost more and often take one to three months.

Our packages are built around a fixed scope: a set number of pages and a clear list of what is included. That keeps the price clear from day one. If your project needs more, we quote it separately. And whoever you choose, ask to see live websites they have built, and ask who owns the code. With ARMS Technologies, you own your website and its source code.

Sources: Leadpages, Sayenko Design, The Lonely Entrepreneur, FactoryJet, Wix, Squarespace (checked October 2026).

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Website After Launch?

Building the site is only part of the budget. Here are the costs that continue after launch.

Domain name

Your web address costs about $10 to $20 per year. Some providers charge another $10 to $15 per year for privacy protection.

Hosting

Hosting keeps your site online. Shared hosting runs about $3 to $15 per month. Website builders include hosting in their monthly price, and the security padlock (SSL) is often free with your host or builder.

Maintenance and updates

Software updates, backups, and security checks keep your site safe and working. Pricing guides put maintenance for a custom site at about $50 to $200 per month if you pay someone to handle it. Our packages include 2 weeks of follow-up support (Basic and Growth) or 30 days (Premium), and ongoing maintenance and support are available after that.

New content

New photos and text cost money too. One guide lists copywriting at about $50 to $150 per page and professional photos at about $500 to $2,000. You only pay this when you add or refresh content.

Marketing and SEO

A website works best when people can find it. Ongoing SEO, email, or ads are optional, but plan for them if growth is your goal. Our SEO and growth marketing team can help when you are ready.

Closing paragraph:

Whoever builds your site, ask for a clear list of what is included and what is not. That way, there are no surprises after launch.

Sources: Leadpages, Sayenko Design, The Lonely Entrepreneur (checked October 2026).

How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom Website?

Time and price usually go together, because bigger sites need more work. Here is what to expect from each package:

• Basic: 1–3 days
• Growth: 1–2 weeks
• Premium: 2–3 weeks

Timelines also depend on how quickly you share your content and feedback. The fastest way to launch on time is to have your text, photos, and logo ready from the start. If content or approvals come late, the launch date moves too.

How to Get the Best Value From Your Website Budget

You do not need a big budget to get a good website. These five steps help you spend wisely.

Start with the pages you need most

Most small businesses need a Home page, an About page, a Services page, and a contact page. You can add more pages later.

Write down one clear goal

Do you want visitors to call you, book an appointment, or fill in a form? A clear goal keeps the design and the budget focused.

Match the package to your goal

If you just need to be online, Basic may be enough. If you want leads from Google, Growth adds keyword strategy and on-page SEO. Choose Premium when local customers are your main source of business.

Ask what is included

Before you sign, check what is covered: domain, hosting, support, and who owns the source code.

Launch first, improve later

Go live with the essentials, see how visitors use your site, and then add the pages or features that matter most.

Conclusion

Custom website cost for a small business depends on your pages, features, and SEO needs. At ARMS Technologies, packages run from $150 for up to 5 pages to $500 for up to 10 pages with local SEO, and bigger projects are quoted separately. Remember the smaller costs too, like your domain, hosting, and updates.

To keep your budget under control, start with the pages you need most, write down one clear goal, and ask exactly what is included.

Ready to get started? Tell us about your business, your goals, and your budget, and we will suggest the right plan and timeline. Contact ARMS Technologies for a free consultation. We usually reply within one business day. You can also learn more about who we are before you reach out.