At Corner Post Web in Leander, my Foundation website package costs $2,400 to $4,400 flat for up to five pages. You own the domain, files and accounts. The final scope and price are agreed before work starts.
I build websites for small businesses around Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown and Liberty Hill. This guide explains how to compare a website quote: what is included, who owns the accounts and what you will pay after launch.
The short answer
My Foundation package is $2,400 to $4,400 flat for up to five pages. Other providers and DIY platforms price their work differently. Compare the scope, ownership and ongoing costs before treating two prices as equivalent.
Here is what I would check in each option.
Option 1: DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy)
Advertised cost: Check the current plan price and billing term.
Full cost: Include the plan, domain, email, paid features and your time.
A builder can be a good fit if you want to write and maintain the site yourself. Compare the plan features and the work you will need to do before choosing it.
Before choosing a builder, check these points:
- Domain and branding. Check whether the plan supports your own domain and whether it displays the platform branding.
- Features and renewal costs. Check the billing term, renewal price and whether forms, scheduling and email cost extra.
- Your time. You will need to write the pages, choose images, build the layout and test it on a phone. Include that work when you compare DIY with hiring someone.
DIY can make sense if you have the time and want to manage the site yourself. If you would rather spend that time on your business, compare the full scope of a professional build.
Option 2: Freelancers and marketplace sites (Fiverr, Upwork)
Cost: Compare the written quote and deliverables for the specific project.
A marketplace can connect you with a designer. Before hiring, ask how the site will be built, what you can edit and who will own the domain and hosting accounts.
These are the questions I would settle before paying:
- Ownership. Will the domain and hosting accounts be in your name, and will you receive the logins and site files?
- Search scope. Does the quote include Business Profile help, service pages or technical SEO? Ask what is included rather than assuming a website build covers all of it.
- Support after delivery. Who handles changes and repairs, what do they cost and what happens if you stop working together?
If you go this route, the questions to ask before paying: Who owns the domain registration? Whose name is on the hosting account? What happens when I need a change next year? Vague answers to any of those are your cue to walk.
Option 3: Agencies
Cost: Request a project quote and any ongoing fees in writing.
An agency may suit a business that needs a wider team or several services managed together. Check who will do the work and which parts of the proposal your business needs.
Ask what discovery, design, writing, development and launch each include. Agree on the timeline, review rounds and ongoing support before work starts.
Option 4: A local designer with a fixed price
My Foundation price: $2,400 to $4,400 flat for up to five pages.
I work directly with you from Leander, and I quote the scope before starting. Whether you choose me or another designer, compare the pages, writing, ownership and support included.
Here is what I would ask a designer to put in the proposal:
- A site that works on a phone. Ask to test the navigation, contact form and phone link on your own phone.
- A clear search scope. Ask whether Business Profile setup, help with verification, service pages and technical SEO are included or quoted separately.
- You own everything from day one. Domain in your name, hosting in your account, logins handed over. This is the single biggest thing separating a good deal from a trap.
- A written timeline. Agree on the review dates, what you need to provide and the planned launch date.
- Speed and usability. Open examples on your phone and try the main tasks. Ask how the designer checks loading and layout before launch.
The hidden monthly fees, all in one place
Whatever route you pick, know the recurring costs going in:
| Item | What to check | Required or optional? |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Registration and renewal price, and whose account holds it | Needed for your own domain |
| Hosting | Monthly or annual price, limits and whether it is bundled | Needed to publish the site |
| Business email | Price per inbox and renewal terms | Optional |
| HTTPS | Whether certificate setup and renewal are included | Ask the provider to include it |
| SEO | Written scope, deliverables and fees | Separate from the website build unless included |
| Builder upgrades | Whether the features you need require another plan | Depends on the platform |
| Site care | Support scope, cancellation terms and account ownership | My optional care is $95 a month |
A low upfront price may come with ongoing fees. Ask for the first-year total, renewal costs and cancellation terms, including what happens to the site and domain.
What I charge, and why it's a flat number
My Foundation package costs $2,400 to $4,400 flat for up to five pages, written for you. It includes a contact form, click to call and Google Business Profile setup. You own the domain, files and accounts. Local SEO is scoped separately; optional site care is $95 a month.
I price it flat so you know the scope and cost before saying yes. If the scope changes, we agree on the new price before I start the extra work.
See the Foundation package and larger website options, or send me your project for a clear price. Compare the full scope, ownership and ongoing fees before choosing a provider.
Quick answers
How much does a website cost for a small business in Texas?
My Foundation package is $2,400 to $4,400 flat for up to five pages. The right comparison is the complete scope, ownership and ongoing fees. Ask each provider for those details in writing.
Can I get a decent website for under $1,000?
Check the current builder plans or request a written quote. At any price, ask what is included, who owns the domain and hosting accounts and what changes cost after launch.
What's the biggest pricing red flag?
Unclear ownership or cancellation terms. Ask whose name is on the domain and hosting accounts, whether you receive the files and logins and what happens if you leave.
What should a website cost per month after it's built?
That depends on the domain, hosting and services you choose. My optional site care is $95 a month. Ask for renewal prices and a clear list of included work.
Corey Putney runs Corner Post Web, a one-designer web studio in Central Texas building fast, mobile-first websites for local businesses in Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Liberty Hill. Questions about your project? Reach out at corey@cornerpostweb.com or 512-285-0332.
