So you need a website and you want to know, “How much is this going to set me back?”
$5,000 – for those who are looking for a quick number without getting into the details.
If you are a business owner and really want to understand why website costs vary as much as Toronto’s weather – keep reading, I’ll make it informative and interesting.
Why Invest in a Professional Website?
I am sure by now everyone knows the “why you need a website”; I am just going to say that your website is like your digital storefront. Imagine walking past a store on Queen Street – one has a gorgeous, well-lit window display (i.e. The Bay on Queen), while the other looks like a garage sale exploded. Which would you step into?
A professional website builds trust, conveys credibility, and, let’s face it, makes you look like you know what you’re doing. In an era where SEO, mobile responsiveness, and fast loading times are non-negotiable, skimping on your website is like putting dollar-store tires on a Ferrari.
Now, don’t get confused – when I say “professional website” I don’t refer to shiny, beautiful and well designed websites, I am talking about a website that can bring business (actual value) – a website that will make your prospective customers pick up that phone and call you as opposed to your competitors. And believe me, this is not a trivial task and this is what sets Gilmedia apart from other website design companies.
Types of Websites and Their Costs
Here’s a handy table to show how much you can expect to spend depending on your website type.
| Website Type | DIY Builders | Freelancer | Toronto Based Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Portfolio | $10–$50/month | $500–$2,500 | $3,000–$4,000 |
| Small Business (10-15 pages) | $20–$100/month | $1,000–$4,000 | $4,000–$15,000 |
| eCommerce Website | $30–$2,000/month | $5,000–$15,000 | $7,000–$30,000 |
| Custom Web Application | N/A | $10,000–$50,000 | $30,000–$100,000+ |
Who’s Advertising Website Costs?
Some companies like Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify lure you in with ads like, “Build your website for just $10/month!” – and while this sounds amazing, they don’t mention the extras:
- Custom domain? Extra.
- Advanced eCommerce features? Extra.
- Transactions fees? Extra.
- Increased price based on the number of products? Extra.
- Addons? Extra (monthly recurring).
- SEO tools that actually work? You guessed it, extra.
Let’s compare:
| Feature | Wix | Squarespace | Shopify | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Cost | $23/month | $33/month | $39/month | Starts at $4,000 |
| SEO Optimization | Limited | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
| Design Flexibility | Good | Moderate | Low | Unlimited |
| Long-term ROI | Low | Moderate | High | Very High |
Online Builders – DYI Options
Data as of Jan 2025
A professional website is not for everyone, even we suggest our clients to go with a website builder in some cases. If you just need a simple “online business card” and plan not to advertise your website, an online builder may be your perfect choice. Let’s discuss some of those differences so we get this off our shoulders.
DIY Builders vs. Self-Hosted Websites
DIY Online Website Builders
Pros: Affordable upfront, quick to set up, and no coding required.
Cons: Limited customization, hidden fees, and they scream “cookie-cutter”. Very limited when it comes to SEO and limited in customization.
Self-Hosted Websites
Pros: Full control, better scalability, custom branded design, better conversion rate, and superior SEO capabilities.
Cons: Requires some technical knowledge and higher upfront investment. Need to ensure annual domain and hosting fees are taken care of (if forgotten, you can lose your domain/website).
DIY platforms are like assembling furniture from IKEA – you get the job done, but one wobbly leg later, you’ll wish you had called a carpenter. Self-hosted websites, on the other hand, are like commissioning a custom table – it’s sturdy, lasts a lifetime, and fits perfectly in your space.
SEO and How It Affects Costs
Investing in a website without SEO is like buying a sports car and never leaving the driveway. Professional web design agencies, especially in Toronto, ensure your website ranks for local searches (e.g., “appliance repair in Toronto” or “Toronto web design company”).
Throughout our experience, we realized that Canadian companies take good care of their websites and understand the importance of SEO, while companies in the USA do not pay much attention to the way their websites look and prefer to run paid marketing campaigns vs. investing in their domain name to rank higher for SEO – just an observation.
A site optimized for SEO might cost more upfront but saves you thousands in digital marketing in the long run. Search engines reward quality of content, UX/UI design, fast-loading, helpful features, and mobile-responsive websites.
What About Maintenance?
Building a website isn’t a one-and-done deal. Here’s what ongoing costs look like:
| Expense | DIY Builders | Professional Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Registrar | $10-$20/year | $10 – $20/year |
| Hosting (server) | Included in monthly fee | $10 – $250/month |
| Maintenance & Updates | You handle it | $100 – $500/month (Optional) |
Final Thoughts
If you need a good website, and you want it done right, get ready to pay for it. Even professional websites may be built in a different way. Some agencies use templated solutions – they purchase a template for $59 and customize it (change images and content) – at Gilmedia we utilize a hybrid approach, where the design is completely custom built based on our understanding of the clients’ business and to ensure the visitors are going to convert. The custom design is then attached to a powerful UX builder – this allows our clients to manage the website on their own from the back-end (no need to know coding).
Want to know more about professional web design? Check out our page on “Toronto Web Design Company”.
Let’s make your website the envy of the 6ix!