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It depends mostly on whether you build it yourself or hire someone, how many pages you need, and whether hosting and updates are included. You can pay a monthly subscription to build it yourself, pay a designer once plus a monthly hosting fee, or pay nothing upfront and a monthly plan that covers everything. Below is what changes the price and what to watch out for.
By Alex Kollin, web designer in Bloomfield Hills, MI · Updated October 2026
Do it yourself. Website builders like Wix or Squarespace charge a monthly subscription. Cheapest in dollars, most expensive in your time.
One-time build plus a monthly fee. You pay upfront for the design and a smaller monthly amount for hosting and updates.
No money down, monthly plan. Nothing upfront. You pay a monthly amount that covers the build, hosting and updates, usually with a minimum term. This is popular with small businesses that want to keep cash free.
I offer both a one-time build with a monthly hosting fee and a no-money-down monthly plan for businesses across Metro Detroit. The fastest way to get an exact number is to send me one sentence about your business; I'll send back a free sample and a plan with pricing.
In dollars, usually yes. In time, usually no. Most owners who build their own site spend many hours on it and still end up with something that doesn't bring in calls. The real question is what an extra job or two a month is worth to you.
Almost always. Every site needs hosting and a domain name, and most need occasional updates and security fixes. Some designers include these in a monthly plan.
Yes. Some designers, including me, offer plans with nothing upfront and a monthly payment that covers the build, hosting and updates, usually with a minimum term.
A small business site can be built in a few weeks. The biggest factor is usually how quickly the owner can share photos, details and feedback.
Free website sample
Tell me about your business in one sentence and I'll send you a free sample site and a plan with exact pricing.