How Much Does a Custom Website Cost?
If you’ve started looking for a web designer, you’ve probably noticed that pricing is all over the place. And I mean really all over the place. According to Digital Applied’s 2026 website development cost data, small business websites typically range from about $3,000 to $15,000, and that’s before you even get into more complex custom websites that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
So, why can one designer charge a few thousand dollars while another studio charges $10,000+? And do you actually need to spend that much to get a good website?
The short answer is that not all “custom websites” are the same. The amount of time and thought that goes into the project, the designer’s experience and capabilities, the features your website needs, and how it’s actually built can all have a huge impact on the price.
Why do some websites cost $10,000+?
At the higher end, you may be paying for a completely custom design with a developer coding parts, or even most, of the website specifically for your business. There may be extensive strategy, wireframing, copywriting, custom functionality, integrations, SEO, and an entire team involved in bringing everything together. That kind of website requires a lot of time and specialized expertise, so the price makes sense.
There are also a lot of different people who fall under the title of “web designer,” and who you hire can make a big difference in both the process and the price. I break down the types of web designers you’ll meet in the wild in another post if you want to understand what you're actually hiring.
But a $10,000+ website isn't automatically the right website for every business. If you run a smaller service-based business and need a website that explains what you do, showcases your work, collects inquiries, and maybe handles things like booking, blogging, or payments, you probably don't need a developer building your entire website from scratch.
How your website is built matters
Website builders like Squarespace can handle a lot of what a small business needs without requiring every element to be custom coded. A designer can start with that existing infrastructure and spend more of their time on the actual design, user experience, and customization of your website.
That can make the entire process faster and more affordable without necessarily looking like the more affordable option.
Of course, Squarespace isn't the only way to build a website. WordPress, Wix, Shopify, fully custom development, and other platforms all have their place depending on what your business needs. I go much deeper into the differences between website builders and how to figure out what makes sense for your business in another post.
The point isn't that one way of building a website is always better than another. It's that you don't necessarily need to pay for the most complicated option just because it exists.
But cheaper isn't automatically better either
On the other end of the spectrum, choosing the cheapest website you can find isn't necessarily going to save you money in the long run. If someone is offering a custom website for significantly less than everyone else you're talking to, it's worth understanding why.
Maybe they have a shorter process, include fewer pages, or offer fewer rounds of revisions. That could be completely fine if that's all you need. But the lower price could also mean you're sacrificing design capabilities, strategy, experience, mobile optimization, features, or the ability for your website to grow alongside your business. You could also be getting a lightly customized template rather than something actually designed around your business.
That doesn't make an inexpensive website inherently bad. It just means you should know what you're getting.
So, what are you actually paying for?
When you hire a web designer, you're not just paying someone to drag things onto a page and make them look nice. You're paying for their time, experience, design capabilities, process, and the thought that goes into figuring out how your website should work for your business and the people using it.
A $1,000 website and a $10,000 website can both be appropriately priced because they may be solving two completely different problems. Instead of asking how little you can spend or assuming you need to spend a huge amount to get something good, start by figuring out what your business actually needs.
For a small business, the sweet spot is often somewhere in the middle: enough website to support your business and give you room to grow, without paying for a whole lot of website you don't need.
How I build websites at Chartreuse Studio
At Chartreuse Studio, I build custom websites using Squarespace, with custom code where it makes sense to really make the design pop. I love working this way because Squarespace gives me a solid foundation to build on, which allows me to work faster and more efficiently. That helps keep the cost down for you without giving you a website that looks like the cheaper option.
You still get a website thoughtfully designed around your brand and business, with the flexibility to add custom touches and functionality where they're actually needed. And because your site is built on Squarespace, you're not dependent on a developer every time you want to make a simple update to your own website.
I offer two custom website design packages depending on what your business needs. The Core Website covers the essentials for a small business that needs a professional, strategic home online. The Powerhouse Website is for businesses that need more pages, features, and functionality.
Here’s a side-by-side look at what comes with each:
| Core Website | Powerhouse Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Squarespace 7.1 Design | ✷ | ✷ |
| Strategic Layout + UX | ✷ | ✷ |
| Mobile-Responsive Design | ✷ | ✷ |
| Website Pages | Up to 5 | Expanded |
| Contact / Inquiry Forms | ✷ | ✷ |
| Newsletter Integration | ✷ | ✷ |
| Basic On-Page SEO | ✷ | ✷ |
| Domain Connection | ✷ | ✷ |
| Squarespace Training | ✷ | ✷ |
| E-Commerce | — | ✷ |
| Scheduling + Booking | — | ✷ |
| Courses / Member Areas | — | ✷ |
| Payment Integration | — | ✷ |
| Advanced Customer Flows | — | ✷ |
| Additional Integrations | — | ✷ |
Not sure which one makes sense for you? Fill out my inquiry form to set up a discovery call. We'll get to know each other, talk through your business and what you need your website to do, and figure out which option is the best fit.
