In the minds of modern customers, interacting with a company via its website has long become a well-established and expected practice. This is one of the top tools to attract and retain customers, improve your brand awareness and streamline sales. However, 28% of small companies globally still don’t have a website but if your business is also among them, now is the right time to get started with your online presence development.

In this article, we will dwell on the most cost-effective ways to build a website for a small business, comparing the opportunities and costs. 

3-Types Website Classification and Cost-Dependency

The website design and redesign costs for a small business largely depend on the specifics of your company and its core goal. There are three types of websites you can build, and the final price to create each of them will be different as well. 

• eCommerce. These apps are usually the most expensive ones since they come with multi-level architecture, advanced features, and multiple integrations. Designing an eCommerce website can also be challenging since you have to align the user’s journey with UI/UX and the company’s branding. 
• Professional. A professionally developed website for other industries is likely to cost less compared to an eCommerce platform. However, this rule also has exceptions – for example, professional healthcare solutions will still be more expensive. 
• Simple. Simple websites are easy and budget-friendly to build. On average, they cost up to $5000. 

Different Ways to Build Digital Presence for a Small Business

According to the Website Design and User Engagement research, “Different industries have different objectives in designing websites. For example, online businesses and marketers seek to design websites that optimize brand loyalty, purchase, and profit. Healthcare providers are more likely to prioritize privacy/confidentiality.” 

That’s why the ways to build custom healthcare software and eCommerce websites, for example, will be crucially different. Below are the most popular strategies to design a website tailored to the use case and business goal. 

• Drag-and-drop online builders. Simple websites like freelance portfolios or landing pages for local businesses can be created using drag-and-drop platforms, for example, Tilda or Wix. The cost to create a website in this case will be $100-300, depending on the chosen platform, the number of integrations, the level of theme customization, and domain/hosting costs. 
• WordPress development. This is a more expensive option compared to the previous one, however, the website created with WP will have a more professional and well-designed look. WordPress is suitable for any industry, and with this platform, you can create a website either on your own or with the help of professional developers. The final cost, in this case, is $500-$5000 depending on the website specifics. 
• Low to no-code platforms. As one more option, you can consider no and low-code platforms. They work like online builders but come with more advanced features, pre-developed user journeys, and more flexible design themes. In this case, you may need professional tech support, however, the whole development process is likely to be seamless and fast. 
• Custom development. This is the most expensive way to build a website which is often chosen by the companies prioritizing the highest-end user experience, unique functionality, and highly branded design. The cost to create a custom web app from scratch may reach $50,000 depending on the industry and the complexity of the features. 

What’s The Most Cost-Effective Way to Hire a Team

The final price also depends on the way to hire a design and development team. While you can create your website on your own with the help of an online builder, WordPress development, the use of low-code platforms, and custom website building require professional help. 

• Gather an in-house team. Hiring an in-house team is the most expensive option, which isn’t suitable for small companies which need to create a single and simple website. 
• Hire a freelance designer. This is a most reasonable option for a small business since you can get in touch with a professional designer pretty quickly, validate their experience, read the reviews of the previous customers and agree on the price for the services. 
• Outsource your project development. Getting in touch with a development vendor is also a feasible strategy for small businesses, especially if the cost to develop a website with local specialists is higher compared to the hourly rates of remote developers. In this case, you can save up to 60% of the development budget. 

Conclusion

The price gap to develop a website is pretty deep and multiple-factors dependent. While the simplest website created on your own will cost nearly $100-200, the price for a more sophisticated solution can reach several thousand dollars, depending on the business specifics, the tools and frameworks used, the complexity of the features, and the location of your tech team. 

FAQ

• Which website is good for a small business?

A website that’s perfectly tailored to the business goal is good for the companies, regardless of their size. The cost and time to create it will also be different, depending on the project specifics. For example, a freelance business can be well-promoted with a simple landing page, while a retail company needs a more advanced website with complex features. 

• What is the main reason for a small business to use a website?

The main reason to use a website for a small business is to get an additional sales channel. This is especially relevant for small businesses operating locally since more than half of Google searches are searches for local products and services. 

• What are the 3 types of websites for small businesses?

There are several classifications of websites suitable for a small business. For example, it is possible to divide them into simple and professional solutions. There are also eCommerce websites as a separate category which are one of the most difficult and expensive to build. 

• Does it cost money to make a website for a small business?

Yes, it costs but the price gap is pretty deep. With the help of an online builder, you can create a website even with $100 in your pocket, while custom development may cost a fortune.