This is one of the most Googled questions in web design, and the answers out there are all over the place. Some say $500. Some say $50,000. The truth is somewhere in between, and it depends entirely on what you need.
I am going to give you a real, honest breakdown. No upselling. No hidden costs. Just what things actually cost in 2026 so you can make the best decision for your business.
Option 1: DIY Website Builders ($0 to $400/year)
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress.com let you build a site yourself. Here is what that actually looks like:
- Cost: Free plans exist but they show ads and use ugly URLs. Paid plans run $12 to $40 per month.
- Pros: Cheapest option. You can launch today. Templates look decent out of the box.
- Cons: Limited customization. SEO is average at best. You spend hours fighting the builder instead of running your business. And your site looks like everyone else's.
DIY is fine if you have more time than money and your business does not depend heavily on online visibility. But most New Hampshire small business owners I work with tried DIY first and came to me after because it was not getting them results.
Option 2: Freelance Web Designer ($1,500 to $5,000)
Hiring a freelancer gets you a custom site built by someone who knows what they are doing. Pricing varies wildly based on experience and location.
- Cost: $1,500 to $5,000 for a typical 5 to 10 page small business site.
- Pros: Custom design. Better SEO. Someone else handles the tech so you can focus on your business.
- Cons: Quality varies a lot. Cheaper freelancers may deliver something that looks nice but performs poorly. Some disappear after the project.
This is where MayhemTBD lives. We are a local, affordable web design studio in Bedford, NH. We build custom sites that look great and actually work for search engines. And we do not disappear. I am literally your neighbor.
Option 3: Agency ($10,000 to $50,000+)
Big agencies charge big money. You get a team of designers, developers, project managers, and strategists.
- Cost: $10,000 to $50,000+ depending on scope.
- Pros: High-end design. Complex features. Ongoing support teams.
- Cons: Way overkill for most small businesses. You are paying for overhead, not just your website. Timelines are long. Communication goes through layers of people.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
No matter which option you pick, there are recurring costs:
- Domain name: $10 to $20 per year
- Hosting: $5 to $50 per month (we include this in our plans)
- SSL certificate: Usually free now, but some hosts charge for it
- Maintenance and updates: $50 to $200 per month if you want someone to keep things running
- Content updates: Adding new pages, blog posts, photos. Either your time or theirs.
What We Charge at MayhemTBD
We keep it simple. Our website packages start with a clear scope, a clear price, and no surprise invoices. We offer payment plans because we know not every NH small business has thousands sitting around to spend upfront.
Every site we build includes mobile optimization, basic SEO setup, accessibility review, and a real human you can call when something breaks.
How to Decide What You Need
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I need to be found on Google? (If yes, skip DIY.)
- Is my industry regulated? (If yes, you need someone who understands industry-specific website rules.)
- Do I have time to build and maintain a site myself? (Be honest.)
- What is a new customer worth to me? (If the answer is more than the cost of a website, the math speaks for itself.)
Not sure where you stand? Grab a free checkup if you have an existing site, or drop me a line and let us figure it out together. No pressure, no pitch. Just real talk from someone in your community.