How Much Should You Really Pay for a Website?

Kris Castillo
Sep 28
3 min read

1. What Agencies Charge (and Why)

Big agencies carry big overhead:

Account managers and layers of staff – people you’ll never meet, but you’ll pay for
Multiple meetings and processes – adding time and cost
Premium markups – every task is billed at agency rates

That’s why a simple 5-page business site that a freelancer can complete in 2–3 weeks might cost $5,000–$10,000 through an agency.

2. Don’t Fall for the “Speed & Performance” Up sell

One of the oldest tricks in the agency playbook is promising “super-fast websites” or “exclusive speed enhancements.”Here’s the reality: modern website builders and hosting platforms are already lightning fast.Whether your site is on Wix, or WordPress, the base technology provides excellent speed and performance out of the box.

You’ll get the same page speed from a well-built freelancer site as you would from a big-name agency—without the extra thousands.Don’t let anyone convince you to pay for speed that’s already included.

3. Don’t Get Caught in the “Custom Code” Pitch

Many larger agencies also justify their price tags by claiming you need a fully “custom-coded” website. In reality, modern website builders like Wix, WordPress, and Hostinger are incredibly powerful.With today’s technology, you can get a fully responsive, professional site—complete with e-commerce, booking, and SEO tools—without a single line of custom code.

The results? Indistinguishable to your visitors.A professionally designed site built on a leading platform looks and performs the same as a “from-scratch” coded site, but costs a fraction of the price and is easier to update.

This means you can still get:

Fast load times
Top-tier SEO capabilities
A fully unique design

…all without paying agency-level fees for something you don’t need.

4. What Most Small Businesses Actually Need

Contractors, restaurants, salons, and local shops typically just need:

A clean, modern design that works on mobile
Key pages like Home, Services, Portfolio/Projects, About, and Contact
Basic SEO so Google can find you
Easy-to-update content

All of this can be built for hundreds, not thousands, when you work with the right freelancer.

5. Why Freelancers Make More Sense

Freelancers focus on your site—not their overhead.Benefits include:

Direct communication and quick revisions
Custom design, not a cookie-cutter template
Flexible pricing—you only pay for what you need
Ongoing support and updates at an hourly rate instead of expensive retainers

A freelancer can often deliver a 5-page professional site for around $600–$1,200, depending on complexity.That’s CastleDigi’s sweet spot.

(Bonus: many freelancers are local, so they understand your market and can help with targeted SEO and quick updates.)

6. Hidden Ongoing Fees You Don’t Need

Many agencies will quote a “maintenance plan” of $200–$500 a month for updates, backups, or security.Truth is, modern website builders already handle most of this automatically.A freelancer can easily provide updates when you truly need them, at an hourly or per-project rate, saving you hundreds every month.

7. Ownership & Flexibility = Real Control

Some agencies build on closed systems or keep hosting in their own accounts, which means you don’t fully own your website.That can trap you if you ever want to move providers.A good freelancer builds on platforms like Wix, WordPress, or Hostinger where you keep full control of your site and content, and you can update or migrate anytime.

8. How to Spot a Good Freelancer

Not all freelancers are created equal. Look for someone who:

Shows a portfolio of live websites
Offers transparent, flat-rate pricing
Includes SEO basics and launch support
Knows modern platforms inside out

These are signs they can deliver agency-quality work without the agency markup.

The Bottom Line

Don’t overpay for fancy boardrooms, endless meetings, or fake “speed” and “custom code” up-sells. If you’re a small business owner, a trusted freelancer is the smarter investment—you’ll save thousands and still get a site that looks and performs like it came from a top-tier agency.