Website Development Pricing: What You Can Expect to Pay

If you're launching a new business, rebranding, or upgrading your online presence, one of your first questions is likely related to cost. We hear this question often: "How much does website development cost?" The short answer is that it depends. But we want to give you the longer, more useful answer, with real numbers, clear examples, and what factors influence the final price tag.

We specialize in custom website development for small businesses, nonprofits, and startups. And we believe in full transparency when it comes to pricing.

How Much Does Website Development Cost?

Based on national industry averages (and what we often see in our own work), here’s what you can expect

• Basic Website: $1500 – $6,000
• Custom Small Business Website: $6,000 – $15,000
• Complex or Large-Scale Website: $15,000 – $50,000+

These aren't hard rules, but they reflect national industry averages and what we see in our own studio work. Pricing depends on your project's size, features, timeline, and scope.

What Affects Website Development Pricing?

Before you get a quote, it's helpful to understand the factors that go into it. These are the key elements that influence the cost of website design and development:

Number of Pages

A five-page brochure site is vastly different from a 30-page nonprofit resource hub. More pages mean more content formatting, more design layout variations, and more development time.

Custom Design vs. Template

A fully custom-designed site will always cost more than one based on a prebuilt theme. We offer both options, depending on your needs and budget. We also guide you on when a template makes strategic sense and when to invest in a unique design.

Functionality and Features

Need online booking, e-commerce, gated content, interactive maps, or member portals? These kinds of features add complexity, and with that comes added time and cost.

Content Strategy and Copywriting

Do you already have your content written? If not, professional SEO-optimized copywriting or content migration will be part of your quote. (And trust us, good content makes a big difference.)

SEO and Performance Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential if you want your site to be found on Google. We include foundational SEO in every project, but advanced optimization may require a larger scope.

CMS and Platform Choice

Whether we build your site on Webflow, WordPress, or another platform can influence cost. Each has pros and cons for different use cases. We'll help you choose the right one based on your goals.

What's Included in a Website Development Quote?

Our website development packages are designed to be comprehensive. A typical project includes:

• Strategy and planning session
• Sitemap creation and UX wireframes
• Mobile-first, responsive design
• Website development and CMS setup
• Basic on-page SEO
• QA testing and launch support
• Ongoing support for updates and changes. We're not a one-and-done studio; we're a partner with your business for as long as you need us for ongoing maintenance and communication updates, because a great website is never truly done.

Website Maintenance Costs After Launch

Many of our clients prefer our subscription model - unlimited or defined number of monthly requests and updates, fast turnaround, and the flexibility to pause anytime, so you always have design and web support without the stress of project-by-project fees.

• Hosting: $10–$50/month depending on platform
• Domain renewal: ~$15/year
• Maintenance and updates: $100–$500+/month, depending on complexity

We offer flexible hosting, maintenance and update plans so you're never stuck fixing bugs or making updates on your own. Need us to publish new blog posts, add team members, or run A/B tests? We're on it.

How to Get an Accurate Website Quote

The best way to get a tailored website development quote is to book a discovery call. We'll talk about your goals, users, pain points, content needs, and technical requirements. From there, we'll provide a transparent proposal that outlines:

• Project scope
• Timeline
• Pricing breakdown
• Deliverables and milestones

Our goal is to eliminate surprises and keep the process collaborative from day one.

Why Should You Invest in Professional Website Development?

Cheap DIY websites might seem tempting, but they often cost more in the long run. A professionally designed and developed site builds trust with your audience, ranks better on search engines, loads faster, performs better, and converts visitors into customers.

Think of your website as an employee who works 24/7. It should be designed to represent you well and grow with your business.

Why Businesses Choose Peak Digital Studio

We’re built for long-term relationships. Many of our clients stay with us for years because we provide ongoing support, not just one-off builds. We're local to Truckee–Tahoe, so we know how to support mountain-based businesses and mission-driven organizations.

We'd love to help you figure out exactly what you need, without the pressure. Just honest guidance and clean, intentional websites that support your goals. Contact us here to request a quote.