You're not the first small business owner who's frustrated by this question.

If you’ve tried to Google “how much does a website cost?”, you’ve probably seen prices anywhere from $500 to $10,000. Some platforms promise you can “build your website for free.” Some agencies quote thousands. And if you ask a few friends? They all give you different answers.

At Webnso, I speak with business owners across Ontario — in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and across the GTA — who feel the same confusion.

They know they need a website.
They know it’s important for their business.
But nobody gives them a real, honest number.

In this guide, I’m going to walk you through exactly what a small business website actually costs — breaking down the options, the stages, and what you’re really paying for.

But these numbers only make sense if you understand what’s behind them.

What You're Actually Buying

The reason pricing varies so much isn’t just about the number of pages. It’s about how much work goes into building you something that actually works for your business.

Behind every website are 5 key ingredients:

1️⃣ Strategy — Who’s visiting your site, and what do they need to see?
2️⃣ Content — Who’s writing your service pages, headlines, and calls to action?
3️⃣ Design — Is your brand being represented professionally?
4️⃣ SEO — Will your business show up when customers search on Google?
5️⃣ Development & Support — Who handles the tech, setup, and updates after launch?

When you hire a professional, you’re paying to have these handled properly — and to save yourself 40+ frustrating hours trying to figure it all out.

Stage 1: The Basic "I Just Need to Be Online" Website

Many small businesses start here — trades, contractors, consultants, local personal services.
You simply need:

• A clean, professional one-page website

• Your contact info, services, Google Map, email and phone links

• Basic SEO setup (titles, meta descriptions, alt tags)

• Fully mobile-responsive design

What this costs:
👉 $700 to $1,000 CAD

How long it takes:
👉 7–10 business days

This is the “make me look professional” stage — not fancy, not overbuilt, but functional and trustworthy.

Stage 2: The Business Builder Website (Where Most Clients Land)

This is where most small business owners in Ontario land after their first year or two.

Your referrals are bringing you leads, but people Google you before they call. Now your website needs to build trust, explain your services properly, and convince people to contact you.

What you need:

• 5–8 fully customized pages

• A real About page with your story and credentials

• Service pages explaining what you offer

• Testimonials, social proof, and contact forms

• Google-optimized SEO setup (targeting your city/region)

• Analytics installed so you can track traffic

• Blog structure for future SEO content

What this costs:
👉 $1,500 to $3,000 CAD

Timeline:
👉 3–4 weeks

This stage is where your website starts to actually drive leads, not just sit there as a business card online.

Stage 3: Full Branding, SEO & Long-Term Growth

At this level, you’re not just trying to “have a website” — you want your website to:

• Generate leads consistently

• Rank on Google for your services

• Support your entire marketing system

• Grow as your business grows

What you’re investing in:

• 10+ fully customized pages

• Complete brand design (logo, color palette, font system)

• SEO keyword research specific to your services and city

• Blog content planning to pull in organic search traffic

• Lead magnets, opt-ins, or resource pages

• Conversion tracking to monitor inquiries

• Ongoing support for updates

What this costs:
👉 $3,000 to $6,000+ CAD

Timeline:
👉 4–6 weeks

This is the stage where your website becomes a business growth tool, not just a digital brochure.

The Hidden Cost of DIY

Let’s be honest:
Most small business owners try building their first website themselves. Wix, Shopify, Squarespace — they all promise quick and easy solutions.

And technically? You can build something.

But here’s where DIY gets expensive:

• You lose 40-60 hours of your own time learning the platform.

• You end up rewriting your content 5 times because you’re unsure what’s “good enough.”

• You have no SEO structure, so Google never ranks your site.

• Your design ends up looking like every other template site — and it hurts trust.

And after a year of frustration?
Most DIY business owners come to me anyway — because doing it right the first time would have been cheaper.

What You're Actually Buying (Beyond Just A Website)

When you hire a professional, you’re buying:

• Expertise in structure and messaging

• Content that converts visitors into leads

• SEO that makes Google actually rank your business

• Designs that make your business look trustworthy

• A process that saves you dozens of frustrating hours

This isn’t a luxury expense.
It’s your 24/7 silent sales team that works while you’re asleep.

Why Webnso Exists (And How We Price Differently)

At Webnso, I work specifically with small business owners across Ontario — because I know exactly what challenges you face.

• You don’t need $10,000 corporate agency quotes.

• You don’t need confusing jargon or bloated proposals.

• You need clear pricing, solid work, and a partner who handles the web stuff while you run your business.

That’s why all my packages are built for where your business is today — whether you're just starting out or scaling up.

Still Not Sure Where You Fit?

That’s exactly why I offer free consultations.
We’ll review your situation, your goals, and your stage — and I’ll show you exactly which option makes sense.

No pressure. No upsells. No confusion.

👉 Book your free consultation here.