How Much Does It Cost to Design and Run a Website?
Short answer! Most small businesses invest $3,000–$10,000 to design and launch a quality site, then budget $50–$300+/mo for basic “run” costs, or $1500–$3,000+/mo when you include active SEO, content, and conversion work. Below, Visibility Vault breaks down the math so you can plan with confidence.
Design & Build: Real Price Ranges
Starter / Local Service (5–7 sections or pages): $3000 – $4,500
Small Business Growth (8–20 pages, light integrations): $5,000 – $12,000
Custom / Feature-Rich (booking, directories, memberships, complex forms): $12,000 – $35,000+
Hourly enhancements (U.S.): $75 – $180/hr depending on seniority/scope
These ranges reflect strategy, content planning, design, development, QA, accessibility, performance, analytics setup, and launch, not just “pretty pages.”
What’s Included in a Professional Build
- Strategy & IA: sitemap, user flows, keyword mapping
- Design: brand-consistent, mobile-first, conversion-focused UI
- Build: WordPress + Elementor components, clean semantic HTML
- SEO Foundations: titles/meta, internal links, image alts, schema
- Performance: Core Web Vitals, image optimization, and caching
- Analytics & Launch: GA4, GSC, goal tracking, redirects
Explore related services: Web Design · SEO · Hosting & Care · Portfolio.
Monthly “Run” Costs (After Launch)
After the site goes live, you’ll carry ongoing operational costs. Plan for the following line items…
- Managed hosting – $100–$300+/mo (speed, backups, security)
- Premium licenses – $10–$50+/mo (Elementor Pro, forms, booking)
- Content & SEO – $1500–$3,000+/mo (blogs, landing pages, link building, CRO)
- Maintenance & updates – often included in hosting/care plans
- Media/stock or photoshoots – ad-hoc as needed
- Compliance & accessibility – policy updates, WCAG improvements
Rule of thumb – budget at least 10–20% of build cost per year for growth and upkeep. If rankings and leads matter, invest in ongoing SEO/content, not just hosting.
Real-World Examples by Industry
- Healthcare & Wellness: Elevate Wellness, clear services and booking create quick wins.
- Home Services: Preferred Fencing LLC | Action Heating & Cooling.
- Legal: Warrior Lawyers | Kerns Law Group.
- Logistics: ACV Freight, quote-driven layouts that convert.
- Bail Bonds: All In Bail Bonds, immediate clarity and phone CTA for 24/7 calls.
How to Budget (and Avoid Surprises)
- Define scope early. Pages, features, and content needs drive price more than anything else.
- Decide on a roadmap. Launch an MVP, then expand with SEO landing pages and CRO experiments.
- Itemize licenses. Keep a simple list of recurring plugins to prevent “subscription creep.”
- Measure ROI. Track calls, forms, bookings, and pipeline, invest where returns are highest.
- Maintain speed & accessibility. Performance and usability protect rankings and conversions.
FAQ
How much should I pay for someone to build my website?
Most small businesses invest $3,000–$10,000 for a conversion-ready site. Feature-rich projects can run higher. We’ll scope your exact needs up front, no surprises.
What are common hidden website costs?
Premium plugins, licensed media, accessibility adjustments, performance/CDN tools, and ongoing SEO/content. We itemize each line so you can plan adequately.
What does it cost to run a website monthly?
Expect $100–$300+/mo for hosting and licenses; $1500–$3,000+/mo if you include active SEO/content to drive growth.
Can I phase the project to fit my budget?
Yes, launch a focused v1 (services + contact + core SEO), then iterate with blogs, landing pages, and CRO as revenue grows.
Get a Fast, Transparent Quote
Tell Visibility Vault your goals, and we’ll recommend the most cost-effective path to ROI, whether that’s a streamlined v1 or a complete custom build.
About Visibility Vault
We build SEO-first WordPress + Elementor websites for Wichita businesses and beyond. Our portfolio spans wellness, home services, legal, logistics, and more, each project optimized for speed, accessibility, and conversions.
