Business6 min read
How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
Published by Samsiani
For a small business, a website acts as an online shop window. Whether you work online, offline or both, investing in a professional website matters. So, how much does a small business website cost?
A small business typically spends between ₾2,000 and ₾10,000 on a website. The final cost depends on its features. More functionality and custom components usually mean greater complexity and a higher price.
Want to understand what goes into the cost of a small business website?
Consider:
- Which factors determine your development costs
- Whether to use an existing platform or build from scratch
- How much to budget for technical expenses
For a prompt, accurate estimate for your own business, contact us for a free consultation. You can also explore our portfolio to get a clearer sense of our work's quality and style.
What is the average cost of building a small business website?
The average range is ₾2,000–₾10,000. This covers website design and development; the domain, hosting and SSL certificate are separate annual expenses. The resources needed depend on the website's size, features and complexity.
Seven factors that affect small business website development costs
You now have a typical price range, but what determines it? Several factors influence the cost of developing a small business website, and many are essential.
A website budget will usually include these seven components:
| Small business website development costs | Cost |
|---|---|
| Domain name | ₾30–₾60 per year |
| Hosting | ₾60–₾600 per year |
| SSL certificate | ₾0–₾1,500 per year |
| Design | ₾2,000–₾15,000 |
| Pages | ₾1,000–₾5,000 |
| Functionality | ₾2,000–₾25,000 |
| Content management system (CMS) | ₾2,000–₾25,000 |
Domain name: ₾30–₾60 per year
Your domain name is your online address. Apple's website, for example, is at apple.com: that is the company's domain name. Businesses generally choose a domain that matches their name, as Apple has done.
A domain typically costs ₾30–₾60 per year. You can browse and buy domains with generic extensions such as .com, .net and .org from companies including GoDaddy, HostGator and DreamHost. You can register a .ge domain through Georgian providers, including Cloud9, Registrator, GRENA and others. If your preferred name is already registered, you may need an alternative. You can approach the existing owner, but acquiring the name that way is usually more expensive.
Hosting: ₾60–₾600 per year
If a domain is your online address, hosting is what keeps the website running. You need hosting to make your site available online. In practical terms, it provides space and tools on an internet-connected server so that people can access the website.
Hosting prices vary considerably. A dedicated server may cost several thousand lari a year, but small business costs are usually lower. Most small websites use shared hosting, typically priced at around ₾60–₾600 annually.
Budget hosting packages provide more limited server resources, but they generally work well for small websites with modest requirements.
If you need more resources, perhaps because the website has slowed down, you can upgrade your package.
SSL certificate: ₾0–₾1,500 per year
An SSL certificate helps protect the connection between your website and its visitors, safeguarding data in transit.
Although a website can operate without one, most businesses consider an SSL certificate essential. A secure connection is a trust signal that can make visitors more comfortable completing a contact form or buying a product. Encryption helps protect their data from interception and, in turn, helps protect your business and brand.
In some cases, your company can obtain an SSL certificate free of charge.
Your hosting package may include an SSL certificate alongside other tools. Depending on your needs, you can also purchase different types of certificate, with prices reaching ₾1,500 a year.
Design: ₾2,000–₾15,000
Design is one of the main factors in small business development costs. One company may want a simple appearance; another may need a sophisticated, complex structure requiring more design time.
You may also need different designs or templates for pages such as:
- Homepage
- Product or service page
- Contact page
Website design can therefore cost between ₾2,000 and ₾15,000.
In most cases, small business website design costs stay below ₾15,000.
Ask agencies about design costs when discussing your project. Request examples of both simple and more elaborate designs so that you can set a realistic budget.
Pages: ₾1,000–₾5,000
Page count is one measure of a website's size.
An ecommerce store may have more than 100 pages, while a service business may need fewer than 10. Designing and creating those pages takes time, even when they share a layout.
For example, an online shop may have 50 product pages using the same template. Each still needs its images, videos and other content added, and its functionality checked. This takes time, which is why websites with more pages generally cost more.
Page creation can cost between ₾1,000 and ₾5,000. Agencies often price pages in bands, such as 1–10 or 10–20. A business needing eight pages would fall into the 1–10-page band and pay the price set for that group.
Functionality: ₾2,000–₾25,000
Website functionality covers a wide range of features, many related to ecommerce. If you want to accept online payments or orders, include these features in your development budget.
Online payments may also be useful for service businesses such as landscaping, plumbing or home maintenance. Many customers find paying online convenient. Offering it can distinguish your business and help attract clients.
Developing functional website modules can cost between ₾2,000 and ₾25,000.
A small business's costs are likely to sit nearer the lower end. Smaller websites do not usually need the extensive payment infrastructure and complex features used by a business such as Amazon.
Content management system (CMS): ₾2,000–₾25,000
A CMS or ecommerce platform, such as WordPress, WooCommerce, Drupal or Magento, can be a valuable tool for your website.
A content management system lets your business manage and update website content without knowing how to code.
With a CMS, your company can edit and update the website easily. For example, you can log in and change a product or service price without contacting a developer.
CMS implementation typically costs between ₾2,000 and ₾25,000.
The investment generally depends on your chosen system and the level of customisation. The more time developers spend building and adapting it, the greater the cost.
Building it yourself versus hiring professionals
The resources you need depend heavily on whether you build the site yourself or hire a professional agency. A self-built website typically costs ₾0–₾600, compared with ₾2,000–₾10,000 for professional development.
Building it yourself may look economical, but it has drawbacks:
- You have to do all the work, which may delay completion and launch.
- You need to learn how to manage the website's technical aspects and troubleshoot problems.
- You must meet the requirements for protecting customer information and keeping the website secure.
Although you may spend less money initially, you also invest your time. You need to learn the tools, understand important considerations and documentation, and become familiar with basic SEO practices to build a quality website for your business.
Ask yourself: ‘Do I have time for this?’
If the answer is no, consider professional development. A team of web developers can create an attractive, functional website that helps your company reach new customers. Over time, that investment can deliver increasing value to your business.
