so... how much should a website really cost?

 

the answer you'll hear the most: it depends. even though that's true, it doesn't have to be a total mystery.

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the cost of a website can vary greatly based on the types of features you're looking to include, but the cost of website design should fall within a general range. instead of having to ask lots of web design providers for quotes, we've put together some guidelines for website prices:

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simple, custom-designed websites (1-10 pages): $500 - $10,000

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• i.e. site designed from scratch

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complex sites (10+ pages or websites with lots of enhanced features): $5,000 - $30,000

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• i.e. customized social media integrations, automated relationship management tools

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for reference: a typical small business website costs between $1,500 and $6,000.

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CAN I GET A CUSTOM WEBSITE FOR LESS THAN $1,000?

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absolutely, but you probably won't be happy with the end result. you can get a custom website for as low as $400 - $500, but like almost everything else, you get what you pay for. if you want to use your website as a tool to help your brand and business grow and succeed, spend a bit more on a higher quality site. a quality site from a U.S. firm will typically start around $4,000, depending on the size of the firm and your site's unique features. with e-commerce functionality, sites typically start at $6,000.

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WHAT ABOUT HOURLY RATES?

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clients often ask about hourly rates and you may run into some designers that charge by the hour, especially freelance designers. but if you're working on a big project - like a website - proceed with caution. your budget could go out the window if your designer hits a snafu or isn't honest about keeping track of their time. try to avoid hourly rates and get estimates by project. if you do pay hourly, make sure you sign a contract that specifies a maximum number of hours you can be charged. 

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typical hourly rates:

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• Internationally-sourced work: $5 - $40/hour

• Freelance: $30 - $90/hour

• Professional: $45 - $120+/hour

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OTHER WEBSITE COSTS

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domain registration: approximately $15/year

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Registering your domain annually grants you the exclusive right to use your domain name. You can register a domain on your own or have your web design form register one for you. Note: web design firms can sometimes take advantage by charging a client an unreasonably high domain transfer fee ($500+!) To prevent that situation, you can ask your web design firm to register the domain in your name rather than theirs.

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website hosting: $5 - $50 /month

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Your website hosting fee is basically like paying rent to house your website on the internet. Simple websites shouldn't need more than 1GB of storage per year and 3-10 GB of bandwidth. It will depend on your file storage, features and number of visitors, but your web designer can help to determine what hosting capabilities your site needs. Note: you do not need to change hosting providers in order to redesign your site. most web design firms will work with your existing hosting provider (if you already have one).

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THAT'S ABOUT IT!

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Rhapsody Creative typically charges $1,500 for a small business website which includes a high quality, custom design, a collaborative approach with the client, and marketing support to launch your website. Contact us to get a free, customized quote for your website project.