How Much Does a Business Website Cost in 2026?
A business website typically costs $500-$2,500 for a simple brochure site, $2,500-$8,000 for a custom business website, and $8,000-$30,000+ for e-commerce or a custom web application. Where you land in that range depends far less on your location than on scope: design complexity, functionality, and what level of ongoing support is included.
If you've collected quotes from a few agencies and they don't seem to be pricing "the same website," you're not wrong. They usually aren't. Here's what actually drives the number, so you can compare quotes properly instead of just picking the cheapest one.
What Determines Website Cost
Every quote is really pricing a combination of these factors:
Design: a templated theme vs. a custom-designed layout built around your brand
Page count and content complexity: a 5-page brochure site vs. a 30-page catalog or resource hub
Functionality: contact forms are cheap; booking systems, payment integration, or multi-language support are not
Platform: a static site, a CMS (like WordPress or Webflow), or a fully custom-built web application
E-commerce: product catalogs, inventory sync, and payment gateway integration add real engineering time
Ongoing support: hosting, security updates, and maintenance are sometimes bundled, sometimes billed separately. This is where a lot of "cheap" quotes catch up with you later.
The lowest and highest quotes you receive usually aren't pricing the same scope of work, even when the request sounds identical on paper.
Typical Price Ranges by Website Type
Simple brochure site (3-6 pages)
Typical range: $500-$2,500
What's usually included: Template-based design, basic contact form, standard hosting setup
Custom business website (5-10 pages)
Typical range: $2,500-$8,000
What's usually included: Custom design, CMS for self-editing, on-page SEO basics
E-commerce store
Typical range: $5,000-$15,000
What's usually included: Product catalog, payment gateway, inventory management
Custom web application
Typical range: $10,000-$30,000+
What's usually included: Bespoke functionality, booking systems, CRM integration, custom dashboards
Agencies based in higher-cost markets (UK, US, Western Europe) typically price toward the upper half of these bands; remote-friendly or distributed teams can often deliver the same scope closer to the lower half without a drop in quality. It's worth asking any agency you're comparing where their team is actually based.
What's Often Left Out of Cheap Quotes
A low quote isn't necessarily a bad deal, but it's worth checking what's missing before you sign off:
Hosting and domain renewal: sometimes billed as a surprise annual fee after year one
Security and SSL: a basic requirement, but not always included by default
Post-launch support: what happens when you need a text change or a bug fixed three weeks after launch?
Mobile responsiveness testing: a site that looks fine on desktop but breaks on mobile costs you customers, not money saved
SEO basics: proper meta titles, alt text, and page speed aren't automatic just because a site "looks done"
None of these are dealbreakers on their own. The problem is when several of them are missing and nobody told you.
How Garlic Collective Prices Projects
Rather than issuing a flat quote based on a phone call, we use an interactive quote builder that walks you through the same factors listed above, page count, functionality, e-commerce needs, and support level, so the number you see reflects your actual project, not a generic package. As a distributed team working with clients internationally, we're able to scope projects at rates that don't carry the overhead of a traditional single-market agency.
For projects with more specific requirements, CRM integration, workflow automation, or a custom web application, our web development team can scope it properly rather than forcing it into a fixed package.
FAQ
How long does a website take to build?
A simple brochure site typically takes 2-4 weeks. Custom sites or e-commerce builds usually run 6-10 weeks, and custom web applications can take 3 months or more depending on scope.
Does it matter where my web development agency is based?
Not for quality, but often for price. Agencies in high-cost markets carry more overhead, which shows up in their rates. A distributed or remote-first team can frequently deliver the same result at a lower cost. Location is worth asking about when comparing quotes.
Do I need to pay extra for hosting?
It depends on the agency. Some bundle the first year of hosting into the project cost; others bill it separately from day one. Always ask this explicitly before comparing quotes side by side.
Can I get an exact quote before committing to anything?
Yes. Our quote builder gives you a real estimate based on your specific requirements, with no obligation to proceed.
Is a cheaper website always a worse investment?
Not necessarily, if it matches your actual needs. A simple brochure site doesn't need e-commerce-level engineering. The risk is paying "custom" prices for template-level work, or the reverse, buying the cheapest option and outgrowing it in six months.
Ready to See What Your Project Would Actually Cost?
Try the quote builder or get in touch and we'll walk you through it.