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What does a small business website cost in Chicago?
The honest answer is "it depends on what it has to do." Here's what actually moves the price, and what I charge, so you can compare quotes without a sales call.
The short answer: my prices
I publish mine because most web designers don't, and it makes comparing quotes hard:
| Package | Setup | Monthly | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $399 | $49 | 1 to 3 |
| Local Growth | $699 | $99 | Up to 5 |
| Premium | $1,199 | $149 | Up to 8 |
The setup fee is split into two equal payments, half to start and half at launch. The monthly plan starts at launch and covers hosting and basic technical maintenance. There's no long contract: after launch the plan runs month to month, and you can cancel any time with 30 days' notice by email.
What drives the price of any website
Whoever you hire, these six things decide most of what you'll pay:
- Number of pages. A one-page site and an eight-page site with a page per service are different amounts of work.
- Template or custom design. A template with your logo and colors is faster. A fully custom design takes longer and costs more.
- Who writes the words. If you supply the text, it costs less. If the designer writes all of it, you're paying for copywriting too.
- Local SEO setup. Linking your Google Business Profile, adding LocalBusiness schema and submitting your sitemap to Search Console takes time, but it's what helps Google understand where you work.
- Booking and integrations. A contact form is simple. Online booking, quote calculators and CRM connections add work.
- Ongoing hosting and care. Every site needs hosting, updates and someone to fix things. Ask whether that's included or extra.
What about building it yourself?
Website builders are a fine tool. The cost people forget is time: evenings spent building a site instead of doing paid work, and the things DIY sites usually skip, like a call button at the top, the towns you serve, and real photos and reviews.
Three questions to ask before you pay anyone
- Who owns my domain? With me, your domain is registered in your name whenever possible.
- What happens if I cancel?
- Will I talk to the person actually building it?
Vague answers are your answer.
Which one fits a contractor?
For most trades, I'd start with Local Growth: up to 5 pages, a work gallery, online booking and the local SEO setup. See websites for Chicago contractors and trades for what's included and example sites.
Frank's Web Studio · Serving Chicagoland and the Midwest · (773) 474-4780 · [email protected]
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