How much does a small business website cost in Washington?
Short answer
Most Washington small businesses spend somewhere between $0 and $10,000+ on a website, depending on who builds it. DIY builders cost roughly $15 to $50 a month forever, freelancers and small studios usually charge about $800 to $5,000 one time, and agencies often start around $5,000. Don't forget the ongoing costs (hosting, domain, maintenance) and Washington sales tax, which now applies to website development.
What are the typical price ranges?
| Option | Upfront | Ongoing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $0 | About $15 to $50/month | Owners with time who enjoy tinkering |
| Freelancer or small studio | About $800 to $5,000 | $0 to $200/month, depending on hosting and care plans | Most local service businesses |
| Agency | About $5,000 to $25,000+ | Often $100+/month | Larger companies with marketing teams |
Those are wide ranges because "a website" can mean a one-page brochure or a full web app with logins and payments. For a typical local business, like a plumber, salon, landscaper, or law office, a solid 3 to 5 page site sits at the low end of the freelancer range.
What costs do people forget?
- The domain name: about $10 to $20 a year. Always register it in your own name.
- Hosting: anywhere from free (static sites on services like Cloudflare Pages) to $30+ a month for managed WordPress hosting.
- Maintenance: WordPress sites need plugin and security updates. Someone has to do them, and if it's not you, it costs money.
- Email: a branded inbox can cost $6 to $7 per user per month, though free forwarding works fine for many small businesses.
- Sales tax: since October 2025, Washington treats custom website development as a retail sale, so sales tax applies. A legitimate Washington web designer will add it to your invoice.
What does it cost over five years?
Comparing upfront prices alone is misleading. A $0 builder at $30 a month costs $1,800 over five years, and you're still doing the work yourself. A one-time $799 site on free hosting costs roughly $860 over five years, counting the domain. The cheapest option on day one isn't always the cheapest one overall. We break this down further in Wix and Squarespace vs. a custom website.
What's actually worth paying for?
- A site that works perfectly on phones, because that's where most local searches happen.
- Clear calls to action: tap-to-call, a short contact form, directions.
- Fast loading and HTTPS. Slow or "Not Secure" sites lose customers.
- Basic local SEO and a connection to your Google Business Profile.
- Owning everything: domain, hosting account, and code.
What's usually not worth paying for at the start: elaborate animations, dozens of pages nobody visits, or a long-term contract.
What does Hardline WebWorks charge?
Websites start at $799 one time, with no monthly fees: the site is hosted free on a Cloudflare account in your name. Sites with booking, ordering, or logins are quoted per project. You see a free preview of your homepage before you pay anything. Details are on the services and pricing page.
Common questions
Is a $500 website a scam?
Not necessarily, but ask what's included, who owns the domain and hosting, and what it costs per month afterward. Very cheap sites sometimes make their money on mandatory monthly fees or by keeping control of your domain.
Do I have to pay sales tax on a website in Washington?
Yes. Since October 1, 2025, Washington treats custom website development services as a retail sale, so sales tax applies. It should appear as its own line on your invoice.
How long does a small business website take?
A focused 3 to 5 page site usually takes one to two weeks, most of which is waiting on photos and approvals. Hardline WebWorks aims for about 7 days after you approve the preview.
Founder of Hardline WebWorks in Lacey, Washington. Web developer with a background in networking and offensive security. About Isaiah