How Much Does It Costs To Hire Someone To Make A Website?

Ask five people how much does it cost to create a website, and you’ll get five different answers. 

That’s because there’s no universal pricing model, i.e., what you pay depends on who builds it, what features you need, and how flexible or future-ready you want it to be.

Take WordPress, for example. It runs nearly 44% of all websites that use a content management system, and that includes everything from scrappy freelancer portfolios to enterprise-level platforms. Though the cost? That’s all over the place. You could spend $100 doing it yourself… or drop $30,000+ if you’re going the custom agency route.

Most people just want to know what it’s really going to cost to get their site online. Whether you’re trying to spin up a clean business website, set up an online store that actually sells, or build something a bit more custom, this guide will help you figure out what fits your needs and budget.

This blog gives you complete information on every pricing scenario, be it DIY or enterprise. Read further to successfully plan your budget with confidence and avoid getting overcharged or underdelivered.

Let’s begin!

How Much Does a Website Cost? (It’s Just Step One)

Let’s get this out of the way: the cost of a website can swing wildly.

A simple DIY site might cost under $100. A fully custom, feature-rich platform? Easily six figures. Both might be perfectly valid depending on your goals, team, and the kind of support you need.

Here’s a quick snapshot of typical price ranges to set the stage:

Don’t stop reading here. 

These numbers don’t explain why costs vary or what you might be missing (or overpaying for). Whether you’re trying to create a website for your business or revamp an existing one, the next sections will help you spend smarter and build better.

6 Key Factors That Decide How Much Your Website Will Really Cost

If you’ve ever Googled “How much does it cost to make a website?,” you’ve likely seen wildly different numbers, and here’s why: pricing depends on more than just the final product; it’s shaped by how you build it, who builds it, and what you need it to do.

Whether you’re exploring options on your own or talking to website design firms, these six factors will always influence the price you’re quoted:

1. Type of Website

What you’re building sets the tone for the entire project. A personal blog, online portfolio, restaurant site, corporate homepage, ecommerce store, or SaaS product, each has different requirements. A portfolio site with five pages costs far less than a store with 200+ products and a live chat system.

2. Design Approach

Using a pre-built template can significantly lower costs, while going fully custom means hiring designers and developers to shape every part of your site. 

Website builders offer speed and affordability, while platforms like WordPress allow full control and long-term scalability, particularly when you compare WordPress vs website builders from a cost and flexibility perspective.

3. Functionality Requirements

Do you need just a contact form and a few service pages, or are you adding booking systems, user logins, galleries, or interactive features? Each extra feature requires more dev time, plugins, testing, and possible integration with third-party tools.

4. Content Scope

How many pages will your site have? Who’s creating the text, visuals, and videos? If you’re supplying all content yourself, that’s cost-saving. But if your developer or agency needs to produce it, copywriting and media production can add hundreds (or thousands) to your budget.

5. Developer Type

Freelancers are usually more affordable and flexible but may lack scale for complex builds. Agencies come with broader expertise and processes but also bigger invoices. Want long-term control? Hiring in-house offers reliability but adds payroll and HR overhead.

6. Location & Experience Level

Hiring locally in North America or Western Europe costs more than working with offshore teams in Asia or Eastern Europe. Junior developers may charge $20–$40/hour, while seasoned professionals or specialists can run $100+/hour. Some clients mix both, using offshore teams with senior oversight.

If you’re still figuring out “how to create a website for my business” without going over budget, keep these six factors in mind. Most of your savings (or surprise costs) will come from choices made right here and not at checkout.

How Much Will a Website Cost Based on What You’re Building?

One of the most common questions people ask is how much will a website cost and the answer often depends on what kind of site you’re building. A one-page portfolio isn’t in the same league (or price bracket) as a multi-functional ecommerce platform or a fully custom SaaS product.

Below is an overview of real-world pricing patterns:

A one-page site might just need a clean layout and a contact form. An e-commerce site with 100+ products is a whole different game where you’ll need payment gateways, product filtering, and a stronger backend.

For most small businesses, expect to spend $1,000–$5,000, mostly if you want a custom look, lead capture forms, and mobile responsiveness without going full enterprise.

Still figuring out how to build a website on my own or hire help? Read the next section to understand real pros and cons of doing it yourself vs bringing in freelancers or agencies.

Freelancer vs Agency: What Are You Really Paying For?

When people ask how much does it cost to build a website, the answer often hinges on who you hire to build it. Freelancers and agencies offer very different experiences, pricing models, and outcomes, and both come with trade-offs.

Here’s how they compare:

Freelancers are often more affordable and flexible which is a good option if you’re building a simple website and have the time to manage the project. Agencies, on the other hand, bring depth and coordination. If you’re dealing with advanced features, multiple stakeholders, or strict launch deadlines, agency support can save a lot of headaches.

Though there’s a third path many overlook: outsourcing to fully managed remote professionals. Unlike freelancers, you get structure. Unlike agencies, you avoid the inflated costs. Companies like Invedus offer access to vetted developers and digital specialists often the same talent website design companies hire, in our case, it is starting at just $7.99/hr.

If you’re stuck between going solo or paying agency rates, learn how outsourcing to Invedus could offer the best of both worlds.

Add-Ons That Affect Cost and Ways to Budget Smarter

Once you’ve scoped out your design and development needs, the next question is how much does it cost to create a website when you factor in everything else like tools, support, and ongoing upkeep. These are the often-overlooked expenses that can quietly stack up.

These are the common extras that influence your total cost:

Tips to Keep Costs Lean (Without Sacrificing Quality)

If you’re watching your budget, these strategies can help reduce the overall cost:

Start with essential pages only

A full website doesn’t have to mean 20+ pages. Many businesses launch with just a homepage, about page, services, contact, and one offer page — what you’d call a lean page website design. More can come later.

Use free plugins and starter themes

WordPress and other platforms offer free tools that cover SEO, backups, forms, and caching. Upgrade only when your traffic or goals demand it.

Phase out your build

You don’t need every feature at launch. Start with the must-haves, then roll out extras like booking systems, chatbots, or gated content as revenue grows.

Invest in performance, not bells & whistles

A lightning-fast site with clean UX beats a bloated design packed with unused sliders and animations. It also saves you on hosting and plugin costs long-term.

Outsource selectively

Content writing, plugin configuration, or support tasks can often be outsourced affordably. Invedus offers fully managed support options, so you’re not stuck hiring separate contractors for tech fixes, blog uploads, or basic security updates.

Whether you’re figuring out how to build a website on my own or working with pros, budgeting smartly around these add-ons can save you hundreds (or thousands) over the life of your site.

Continue Your Research: The Checklist Every Solopreneur Needs Before Hiring an Offshore Web Development Team

Website Builders vs WordPress vs Custom

Your platform choice has a major impact on flexibility, cost, and long-term effort. Here’s how the three most common options compare:

Using a website builder is great when you just need a basic site up fast i.e. something clean, clickable, and easy to edit. Though don’t expect much when it comes to customization or performance.

WordPress gives you more control. With the right theme and plugins (and maybe a freelancer), you can build a flexible business site that looks good and works well. It’s also easier to manage the cost to build a website by adding features only when you need them.

A custom build makes sense if you’re building something users will interact with daily, such as a SaaS tool, marketplace, or product-heavy ecommerce site. It’s expensive, but that’s the price of owning every detail.

So what’s right for you? That depends on how complex your idea is and how much you’re ready to invest in both website design and website development team in the long run.

DIY or Hire a Pro? Learn How to Decide and What to Ask Before You Commit

Not every website needs a professional touch. However, not every founder has the time (or patience) to do it alone either. So before you Google website design & development services, take a second to ask yourself:

• Do you have time to build and maintain the site yourself?
• Are you comfortable with platforms like Elementor, SeedProd, or B12?
• Will a pre-made theme do the job, or do you need something unique?
• Is launching fast more important than having every feature in place?

If your answer leans toward DIY, you can get started for under $500 with the right tools. Even so, if you’d rather avoid the learning curve, hiring someone to build your site may actually save time and money long-term.

That leads to the next question: how much does it cost to hire a website designer who actually delivers what you need?

More than just price, what you’re really paying for is clarity, support, and execution. Before you sign anything, ask these:

• Can I see your portfolio with relevant projects?
• What’s your typical timeline from start to finish?
• Do you include post-launch support and updates?
• How many revisions are part of the package?
• Do you handle SEO, content, or hosting, or just the build?

The clearer the answers, the fewer surprises later!

What’s the Real Cost to Maintain and Run a Website Yearly?

Launching your site is just step one. Keeping it secure, fast, and functional requires ongoing investment. In many businesses, this part gets overlooked during planning.

What’s the actual cost to maintain a website? Here’s an estimate of typical yearly expenses:

All in, you’re likely looking at $500 a year just to keep a basic site running and easily a few thousand if you’re managing a large store or publishing new content regularly.

If you’re tech-savvy, you might handle most updates yourself. Yet, many business owners hand this off to a freelancer, agency, or virtual assistant who can stay on top of plugin updates, backups, and small fixes without eating into their own time.

What Should You Actually Pay (and What to Avoid)?

Overpaying usually starts when you jump in without a clear plan or fall for vague offers. Before signing anything:

• Ask for a written scope: feature, timeline, and deliverable.
• Avoid paying everything upfront: break payments into milestones.
• Be cautious of quotes that seem too good: they usually miss key services.

Now, when it comes to actual costs, here’s what most businesses pay across tiers:

Of course, custom web design pricing varies depending on who you hire, what platform you use, and how much you want to outsource, which is where Invedus makes things easier.

Do You Want to Skip Inflated Agency Rates?

At Invedus, you can hire WordPress web developers starting at just $7.99/hr, with full project support, built-in flexibility, and zero overhead.

• No long-term contracts
• Choose your own talent
• Managed onboarding & collaboration

Book a free consultation or contact us at +1-888-346-8646 (US/CA) or +44-208-051-2646 (UK) to get a tailored quote for your next website project.