It's the first question most small business owners ask, and it's a fair one. You've seen websites that look like they cost $50,000 and websites that look like they cost $50. You need something in between — something that actually works, ranks on Google, and doesn't embarrass you — but you have no idea what that should cost.
I'm Trevor Pennell, a web designer based in Bethel, Maine. I work with small businesses across western Maine and remotely across the US. Here's the honest breakdown of what websites actually cost in 2026 and what drives the price up or down.
The Short Answer
For a small business website in Maine, expect to pay somewhere between $650 and $5,500 depending on what you need.
| Type | Price Range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Landing Page | $650–$950 | Simple offers, fast launches, one service |
| Launch Site (5–8 pages) | $1,200–$2,400 | Service businesses, local companies |
| Ecommerce / Shopify | $2,800–$5,500 | Stores, product catalogs, online sales |
| Redesign | $800–$3,000 | Existing site that needs modernizing |
What Makes a Website More Expensive?
A few things reliably push the price up: more pages, more custom features, ecommerce functionality, and tight timelines. Booking systems, members areas, custom product configurators, and deep third-party integrations all add hours and cost.
Platform choice matters too. A Wix launch site is faster and cheaper to build than a fully custom WordPress site with WooCommerce. Shopify stores have their own complexity around product setup, collections, shipping, and checkout configuration.
The biggest cost driver: Content. If you hand over finished copy, photos, and a clear idea of what you want — the build goes fast. If the designer has to write your copy and figure out your business model along the way — that adds significant time and cost.
What About Website Builders — Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy?
You can build a site yourself on Squarespace or Wix for $15–$35/month. If your business is simple and you're comfortable spending a few weekends on it, that's a legitimate option. The tradeoff is your time, a less customized result, and less control over SEO and technical details.
Most small business owners find that the DIY route costs more in time than hiring someone — and the result often looks like a DIY site. For a business where first impressions matter, that's worth thinking about.
What's Included in a Professionally Built Site?
A properly built small business website should include mobile-first responsive design, basic on-page SEO, a working contact form, Google Analytics, fast load times, and a clean handoff where you own everything — your domain, your hosting, your logins.
What I include on every project: Mobile-first layout, basic SEO setup, contact form, analytics, 30-day post-launch support, and a plain-English handoff so you know how to manage your own site.
What Should a Maine Small Business Actually Budget?
For most local service businesses in Maine — landscapers, contractors, therapists, retail shops, restaurants, tradespeople — a launch site in the $1,200–$2,400 range is the right investment. It's enough to do the job properly without overspending on features you don't need.
If you're selling products online, budget for $2,800 minimum. Ecommerce has more moving parts — products, shipping, payments, returns — and cutting corners on setup costs more later.
If budget is tight, a well-built $700 landing page that ranks locally and converts visitors is more valuable than a 10-page site built cheap that nobody can find.
Get a straight quote for your Maine business website
No sales pitch. Send a message about your project and I'll give you an honest estimate — what it'll cost, how long it takes, and whether I'm the right fit.
Get a Quote from Trevor →