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2026 pricing guide

How much does a website
actually cost in Canada?

The answer ranges from $0 to $50,000+, which isn't very helpful on its own. Here's a practical breakdown of what different options cost, what you get for the money, and where the best value is for small businesses.

The spectrum

Every option, compared clearly.

DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com)

$0–$50/mo

Free to start, with real plans running $16 to $50/month. You're trading money for time, and you should expect to spend 20 to 40 hours building something passable, plus ongoing time maintaining it. After two years of Squarespace Business at $33/month, you've spent $792 and still don't own the site. Templates tend to look generic, and you're locked into the platform's ecosystem.

Your time: 20–40 hrs 2-year cost: $400–$1,200 You don't own it

Budget freelancer (Fiverr, Upwork)

$100–$500

You'll get a WordPress theme with your logo dropped in, minimal customisation, and typically no ongoing support. Communication can be spotty, revisions are limited, and you often get what you pay for. The site might look okay on day one, but there's nobody to call when something breaks six months later.

Turnaround: 3–14 days Template-based No ongoing support

Independent web designer

$500–$3,000 Sweet spot

This is where quality and affordability overlap. A skilled independent designer builds your site from scratch with custom design, clean code, responsive layout, and fast load times. You deal with one person directly, you own the finished product, and there's a real human to contact when you need changes. Fixed pricing means no surprises.

Custom design You own it Ongoing support available

Web design agency

$3,000–$15,000+

Agencies bring teams that include designers, developers, project managers, and copywriters. You're paying for process, meetings, and overhead. This makes sense for large companies with complex requirements like e-commerce, custom apps, or enterprise integrations. For a small business that needs a clean five-page site, it's usually more than you need.

Timeline: 4–12 weeks Best for complex projects High overhead

Enterprise / custom platform

$15,000–$50,000+

Custom-built platforms, web applications, e-commerce at scale, member portals, API integrations. This is software development, not web design. If you're reading this article, you almost certainly don't need this.

Months-long timeline Not for small businesses

The costs that aren't always obvious.

Your time

DIY builders are "free" until you count the 30+ hours you'll spend learning, building, and fixing things. If your time is worth $50/hour, that adds up to $1,500 of unpaid labour on a website you may not even be happy with.

Hosting & domain

Every website needs hosting ($50 to $350/year) and a domain ($15 to $20/year). Some quotes include this and some don't, so it's always worth asking. With my Essentials package, hosting is separate at $350/year with the care plan. Signature and Full include the first year.

Ongoing updates

Websites aren't something you can set up and forget about. You'll need to update content, swap photos, and adjust pricing over time. Some designers charge per update while others include a set number. My care plan includes three minor updates per year, with additional updates at $60 each.

Platform lock-in

With Wix or Squarespace, you can't take your site with you. If you stop paying, the site disappears. With a custom-built site, you own the code and can move it to any hosting provider at any time without needing anyone's permission.

So what should you spend?

If you're a small business, a sole proprietor, or a practitioner in private practice, the best value is typically in the $500 to $2,000 range. That gets you a custom-designed, professionally built website that loads fast, looks great on every device, and that you actually own.

At the $500 level, you're getting a clean one-page site with your contact details displayed. At $1,150, you're adding copywriting help, stock imagery, a working contact form, and hosting for the first year. At $1,800, you're getting a proper multi-page site with SEO setup and branding polish.

The key is to pay for quality without paying for overhead. An independent designer gives you the craftsmanship of an agency without the project managers, the office rent, and the markup.

That's how I work: fixed quotes, no hourly billing, and you talk to a real person from start to finish. If you're curious what your specific project would cost, just reach out and I'll give you a straightforward answer.

Want a real quote? Just ask.

Tell me about your business and what you need, and I'll come back with a fixed price. No ranges, no "it depends," and no sales call. You'll get a clear number and a timeline.

Get a quote → See my pricing →