Affordable web design for small business: what you should get for the money.

What actually drives the cost of a website

Two quotes for "a small business website" can differ several times over. The difference is almost always one of these six things.

• Number of pages. Each page needs design, writing and testing on phones. Five well-made pages beat fifteen thin ones.
• Custom design or a template. A template is faster and cheaper. A custom design costs more and looks like your business instead of everyone else's.
• Who writes the words. If you supply the text, the build is cheaper. If the designer writes it, you are paying for that time.
• Photography. Real photos of your shop, team and work convert better than stock images, and they are a separate cost.
• Selling online. A store with products, payments and shipping is a bigger project than a site that asks people to call.
• Connections to other software. Booking systems, payment tools and customer databases each add setup and testing.

Your three realistic options

None of these is wrong. A brand-new business with no budget is often right to start with a single page and upgrade when customers arrive. What matters is knowing what you are giving up.

What an affordable website must still include

These are not upgrades. A site missing any of them will cost you more in lost customers than you saved on the build.

• It works properly on a phone. Most local customers will see it there first.
• It loads quickly. People leave slow pages before they read a word.
• It has HTTPS. Without a valid security certificate, browsers warn visitors away.
• It covers the search basics. A clear title, description and heading on each page, so Google knows what you do and where.
• It makes contact easy. A tap-to-call phone number and a short form that reaches you.
• It has analytics. You should be able to see how many people visit and how many get in touch.
• You own it. The domain, the content and the design should be yours if you leave.

How to keep your quote down

1. Have your content ready. Text, logo, photos and account logins supplied up front is the biggest saving, in money and in weeks.
2. Start with fewer pages. Home, services, about, reviews and contact covers most local businesses. Add more once you see what customers ask for.
3. Decide once. Every extra round of "can we try it another way" is billable time somewhere. Collect feedback from everyone, then send it together.
4. Phase the extras. Online booking, a store or a photoshoot can come in month three. The site does not need everything on day one.
5. Ask what is included, in writing. Mobile layout, search setup, forms, analytics and security should be in the base price.

What we charge, and what that covers

At Bizzefy, small business websites start at $999 for our Launch build. That covers a 5-page custom website, mobile-first responsive design, basic SEO setup, and a contact form and analytics. Payment is 50% to start and 50% on launch.

A Launch build is typically 2 weeks after we receive all content, approvals and required account access. Most websites launch in 2–4 weeks, depending on scope and how quickly content and approvals are provided.

If $999 is more than you can spend right now, we also build a free one-page website for local businesses, with no card required. And if you want someone watching the site after launch, hosting and care is a separate monthly plan from $49/mo. It is optional, and a one-time project stays one-time. The full list is on the pricing page.