How much does it cost to create a website for a small business?
It mostly depends on who builds it: an agency or freelancer charges a one-off fee (plus maintenance later), do-it-yourself builders are cheap but the work is yours, and managed services like WebGenPro include everything in one monthly fee. This guide explains what each model really costs — including the costs nobody mentions.
The three ways to get a website (and what they cost)
Typical figures for a small business presentation website.
Agency or freelancer
A custom project paid once. Quality varies widely with budget, and future changes, hosting and maintenance are usually billed separately. Makes sense for complex projects with a dedicated budget.
Do-it-yourself builder
Platforms like Wix or Squarespace, where you assemble the site yourself from templates. The plan is cheap — the real cost is your hours building, tweaking and maintaining it, and the result depends on your eye for design.
Managed service (WebGenPro)
We design, publish and maintain the site for you: custom design, hosting and SSL included, live in minutes with no setup fees. The 1-page site is free; more pages, a blog and your own domain on paid plans. The best of both worlds for a local business.
Quick comparison (2026)
| Model | Typical cost | Who does the work | Time to go live |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency / freelancer | €500–5,000+ (one-off) | Them (then: extras) | 2–8 weeks |
| DIY builder (Wix, site.pt, Webnode) | €10–40/month | You | Days to weeks |
| Managed service (WebGenPro) | free · from €19/month | Us | Live in minutes |
What is included — from the free plan to the paid ones
- Professional design done by us, from the business's photos and data
- Hosting and SSL certificate
- A site that works on a phone
- Contact form
- A free 1-page site, no card, no deadline
- No lock-in — change plan whenever you want
- Custom domain on Professional (first year free on the annual plan) and included on Premium
The costs nobody tells you about
The domain renews every year
A .com or country-code domain typically costs 10–25 EUR/year. Many platforms offer the first year and charge for renewal. At WebGenPro a custom domain is included on Premium, or +50 EUR/year on Professional; the free plan uses a webgenpro.com address.
Hosting and SSL certificate
A website needs to live on a server and be served over HTTPS. Bought separately, hosting typically costs 3–15 EUR/month. It is also included in our plans.
Changes and maintenance
Prices, opening hours, photos and services change. On an agency project, each change may be billed; on a builder, you make it yourself. On a managed service, you ask and it is done.
Your time
The most ignored cost. Dozens of hours assembling a do-it-yourself site are hours taken from your business — at the value of your hour, the 'cheap' model often ends up expensive.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a website?
In 2026 a presentation site from an agency or freelancer typically costs €500–5,000 up front; a do-it-yourself builder (Wix, Squarespace, Webnode) is about €10–40/month, but you do the work. At WebGenPro the 1-page site is free, no card, with design and hosting included; paid plans, with more pages and your own domain, start at €19/month.
How much does a website cost?
It depends on who builds it. Agency: hundreds to thousands of euros up front, plus maintenance. DIY: the monthly fee is low, the real cost is your hours. WebGenPro: a free 1-page site; paid plans from €19/month, no setup fee. The table on this page compares the three models.
How much does it cost to set up a website?
Setting up a site is more than the design: domain (€10–25/year), hosting, SSL and later changes. On a builder that work is yours; at an agency, extras. At WebGenPro hosting and SSL are included, even on the free plan — live in minutes, no lock-in.
What does it cost to have a website made?
If you hire someone, budget €500–5,000 plus maintenance. If you do it yourself, add your time to a €10–40/month plan. If you want us to do it: the 1-page site is free, and the Professional and Premium plans are €19 and €35 per month.
How much does a simple small-business website cost?
A presentation website built by an agency or freelancer typically costs between a few hundred and several thousand euros, paid up front. Alternatively, at WebGenPro a simple 1-page site is free — design, hosting and SSL included — and paid plans add pages, a blog and your own domain for a fixed monthly fee.
Why do agency quotes vary so much?
Because the price reflects hours of work: number of pages, custom design vs template, copywriting, photography, SEO and deadlines. Two quotes for 'a website' can describe completely different projects — always compare what is included, not just the final number.
Is a 'free' website really free?
It depends on who offers it. Generic builders' free plans put ads on your site, cap what you can do and the result depends on your eye for design. WebGenPro's free plan is different: a professional 1-page site designed by us, no ads, hosting and SSL included — on a webgenpro.com address. You only pay if you want more pages, a blog or your own domain.
What is included in WebGenPro's monthly fee?
On paid plans: professional design done by us, hosting, SSL certificate, multiple pages, contact form and changes to the site — no setup fees and no hidden lock-in. Custom domain included on Premium. The free plan covers the essentials for 1 page.
How much does a WebGenPro website cost in 2026?
The 1-page site is free — no card, no deadline. Professional is €19/month and Premium €35/month. There is no setup fee. A custom domain is included on Premium; on Professional the first year is free on annual billing, then €50/year. Professional email is €5/month per mailbox, on paid plans.
Plans simple and transparent
Professional websites from €19/month, with your own domain. There's a free plan if you only need one page on webgenpro.com.
A 1-page site, live in minutes. No card, no deadline.
- 1-page site, live in minutes
- Your address on webgenpro.com
- 5 AI edits per month
Your own domain, multiple pages and the full editor.
- Everything in Free
- Your own domain — first year free on the annual plan
- Complete multi-page site
- Full editor: services, social links, CTA and SEO
All included: your own domain, monthly blog and template choice.
- Everything in Professional
- Your own domain included (no yearly fee)
- Monthly blog included
- Unlimited AI edits
All plans include hosting, free SSL and technical support. No setup fee.