How much does a website cost for a contractor?
The honest answer is anywhere from a few dollars a month to many thousands, depending on who builds it and what you need it to do. Here is how the options actually compare.
Do it yourself
Website builders charge a monthly subscription and you do the work. The cost is low, but your time is not free, and most owners end up with a site that looks like a template because it is one.
This works if you enjoy it and have the evenings to spare. It rarely works for owners who are on job sites all day.
A freelancer
A freelancer builds the site for a one-time fee. Quality varies widely, and the common problem comes later: hosting, security updates and changes are often not included, so the site slowly goes stale or breaks.
Before hiring one, ask who hosts the site, who fixes it if it goes down, and what a small change costs.
An agency or a monthly plan
Agencies and studios usually charge a setup fee plus a monthly amount that covers hosting, security and changes. The monthly part is what keeps the site working and current.
At Structor, plans start at $99 a month with a one-time $1,999 setup. If you would rather own the site outright with no monthly bill, that is $2,499 once. Fully custom builds start at $3,500.
Costs owners forget
Your domain name renews every year. Hosting has to be paid somewhere. Someone has to update photos, hours and services. And if the site is slow or broken on phones, the cost is the calls you never knew you missed.
When you compare prices, compare what is included over a full year, not just the first bill.