Pricing your first websites is hard because you are slower than an experienced developer, your portfolio is thin, and every project looks different. The good news: small businesses expect to pay real money for a website, and you do not need to be the cheapest option to win work.
What websites cost in 2026
| Type of website | Typical freelance price |
|---|---|
| Landing page (freelancer) | $500–3,000 |
| Template customization (freelancer) | From about $1,500 |
| Small business website (freelancer) | $2,000–8,000 |
| E-commerce site (freelancer) | $3,000–15,000 |
| Small business website (agency) | $5,000–15,000 |
Most US small businesses spend $2,000 to $8,000 on a freelance-built website. By hourly rate, budget freelance web designers charge around $25 to $45, mid-range $50 to $85, and premium designers $90 to $150+.
Where a beginner should price
For your first few client sites, a simple 5-page website priced around $800 to $1,500 is a reasonable starting point in many markets. It is well below the typical range, which makes the decision easy for the client, but still pays you properly for your time. Adjust for your local market and your country's cost of living.
The formula: hours × rate + buffer
| Phase | Beginner hours (5-page site) |
|---|---|
| Discovery call, sitemap, and content plan | 3 |
| Design in Figma or the template | 6–8 |
| Build and responsive testing | 10–12 |
| Content upload, forms, basic SEO | 3–4 |
| Revisions and launch | 3–4 |
| Total | 25–31 hours |
Then add a 20 to 30% buffer. Website projects almost always run over because of late content, extra pages, and "one small change" requests. Clients feel this too: one 2026 cost breakdown estimates that the original quote is only about 60% of what a business ends up spending once content, fixes, and maintenance are added.
Example beginner packages
| Landing page | Business site | Business site + extras | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example price | $500 | $1,200 | $1,800 |
| Pages | 1 | Up to 5 | Up to 8 |
| Revision rounds | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Extras | Contact form | Contact form, basic SEO, Google Maps | Blog setup, booking integration, 30-day support |
Define the scope or lose money
Write these into your proposal and agreement before you start:
- Number of pages and what counts as a page
- Who writes the copy and provides images, and the deadline for handing them over
- Revision rounds at the design stage and the build stage
- Hosting and domain: the client should own and pay for both
- Post-launch support: for example, 30 days of bug fixes, not unlimited changes
- Payment schedule: 50% upfront, 25% at design approval, 25% before launch
Add recurring income with a care plan
Every site you launch needs updates, backups, and small edits. Offer a monthly care plan at launch. Client-side cost estimates for ongoing maintenance run roughly $200 to $650 a month. A beginner might offer a simple $50 to $150 plan covering updates, backups, uptime checks, and 1 hour of edits. Ten clients on a care plan is steady income before you take a single new project.
Website redesign pricing
Price a redesign like a new build unless you are genuinely reusing the structure and content. Redesigns often take longer because you have to migrate content, keep existing URLs working for SEO, and deal with old plugins or code.
When to raise your price
- After 3 to 5 launched sites with testimonials
- When you are booked more than a month ahead
- When clients accept your quote without negotiating
- When you can show results, like faster load times or more enquiries
Ready to find those first clients? Our cold DM templates include a script written for local businesses with slow websites.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a beginner charge for a website?
Many beginners start around $800 to $1,500 for a simple 5-page site, below the typical $2,000 to $8,000 small businesses pay experienced freelancers. Check the price against your hours and hourly rate.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A beginner can expect about 25 to 30 hours for a 5-page template-based site, spread over 2 to 4 weeks depending on how quickly the client provides content and feedback.
Should I charge monthly for website maintenance?
Yes. A monthly care plan covering updates, backups, and small edits creates recurring income. Beginners often charge $50 to $150 a month.