Website Cost Calculator FAQ
Answers are intentionally different by question; repeated generic responses are not allowed by AR-01.
How much does a small business website cost?
A basic website estimate can be modeled as setup cost plus recurring cost. Example: total first-year cost = design/build + copy + hosting × 12 + plugins × 12 + maintenance. A five-page brochure site may be mostly design and copy; a lead-generation site adds forms, analytics and monthly improvement work.
What recurring website costs are easy to miss?
Common recurring costs include hosting, domain renewal, paid plugins, email delivery, backups, security monitoring, analytics tools and content updates. Maintenance often matters more than the initial theme cost because neglected plugins or broken forms can reduce leads.
When is a custom build necessary?
A custom build is justified when the site needs user accounts, dashboards, custom workflows, complex integrations or performance requirements that off-the-shelf themes cannot handle. If the site only needs pages, forms and a blog, a CMS or hosted builder is usually cheaper.