How much does a website cost for a trades business?
A small, professional website for a plumber, roofer, electrician or HVAC company can cost anything from a monthly do-it-yourself subscription to several thousand dollars for an agency build, plus hosting and upkeep. At Wark Digital it's $500 one time for a site you own, or $150 a month with hosting, Google upkeep and edits included.
Why quotes are all over the place
Ask three people what a website costs and you'll get three very different numbers, because they're quoting different things. The price depends on who builds it, how many pages it has, who writes the words, and whether hosting and changes are included or billed later.
- Do-it-yourself builders charge a monthly subscription. Cheap to start, but you supply the design, the writing, the photos and the hours.
- Freelancers quote anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. What's included varies a lot, so read the quote closely.
- Marketing agencies often start in the thousands and may bundle ongoing services you didn't ask for.
What you're actually paying for
| Cost | What it is | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Design and build | Creating the pages, writing the words, setting up the contact form | One-time, the biggest piece |
| Domain name | Your address, like yourbusiness.com | Usually $10 to $30 a year |
| Hosting and security | The server, the SSL padlock, backups and updates | Monthly |
| Changes | New services, photos, hours, prices | Included, hourly, or do-it-yourself |
| Mailboxes like you@yourbusiness.com | A few dollars per mailbox per month, from Google or Microsoft |
Logo design and professional photography are separate costs with most builders, including us. You don't need either to start: your current logo and your own job photos are fine.
What we charge
Our prices are published, and every project starts with a free Preview, so you see the finished design before you pay anything.
- Starter, $500 one time. Up to 5 pages, written for you, with 2 rounds of changes before launch. You own the site once it's paid for. Host it anywhere, or with us for $25 a month.
- Care, $150 a month. The same site, plus hosting, security, daily backups, search and Google Business Profile upkeep, and an hour of edits every month. Month to month, 30 days' notice to cancel.
- Extras. We can register and hold your domain for $15 a month. Work outside your plan is $75 an hour in 15-minute steps, always quoted by email first.
Full details are on our plans and prices page.
Questions to ask any web designer
- Who owns the site when it's done? And what happens if you stop paying? Here's how ownership works.
- Who writes the words? If it's you, budget the hours.
- What does hosting include? Backups, security updates and the SSL certificate should all be in it.
- How much do changes cost after launch? Get the hourly rate in writing.
- Can I see it before I pay? With us, yes.
Common questions
Is a $500 website any good?
It depends what's in it. Ours is a custom design of up to 5 pages, written for your business, mobile-first, with tap-to-call, a contact form and search basics set up at launch. You see the finished Preview before you pay, so you can judge it yourself.
Is it cheaper to build my own website?
In dollars, often yes. In hours, rarely. A builder subscription still needs someone to design the pages, write about each service, pick photos and set up search basics, which is time most trades owners would rather spend on jobs.
Are there costs after the website is built?
Usually: your domain renewal every year, hosting every month, and any changes. On our Care plan, hosting and an hour of edits a month are included in the $150.
See your website before you decide what it's worth.
Your Preview is free and there's nothing to sign.