Small business website design searches grew nearly 42% in the past year. A real build, not just a template swap, typically takes 20 to 60 hours. At hourly rates from $5.62 to $11, that lands well under a typical agency quote.
Small business website design searches grew almost 42% over the past year, and the gap between a template and a real build is exactly why. A template looks fine in a screenshot. A real build is designed around what your business actually needs visitors to do.
Ranges vary with page count, custom features and how much content you're providing versus asking us to write.
What real small business website design includes
- A full build: pages, layout and copy structure, not just a theme swap.
- Custom website development in WordPress, plain HTML or Squarespace.
- A mobile-first layout, tested on phone before desktop.
- Launch: hosting, domain and DNS handled end to end.
- Basic on-page SEO: meta tags, headings and structure done correctly.
WordPress vs. HTML vs. Squarespace website design
Pick WordPress if you'll add blog posts or edit content regularly. Pick plain HTML if the site is simple and you'll rarely touch it; it loads fast and has nothing to update. Squarespace website design suits founders who want a hosted, all-in-one platform without managing separate hosting.
What it actually costs
Agency quotes for a small business site commonly run $3,000 to $10,000 or more. On an hourly plan, a 40-hour build at the Starter rate costs a small fraction of that, and you can start with a 12-hour block to scope the work before committing to the full build.
Redesigning an old site without losing traffic
If you already rank for some searches, a redesign needs to keep the URLs and content structure that Google already indexed, or add redirects where they change. This is worth flagging before the rebuild starts, not after launch.
Stop sending prospects to a site that undersells you. See the website design service or start for $1.
Frequently asked questions
How long does small business website design take?
Most small sites take 20 to 60 hours across design, build and launch, depending on page count and custom features.
WordPress, HTML or Squarespace for a small business?
WordPress if you'll update content often, plain HTML for a simple site you rarely touch, Squarespace for an all-in-one hosted platform.
How much cheaper is this than an agency?
Agency quotes for a small business site commonly run $3,000 to $10,000+. Hourly custom website development on a 40-hour build costs a fraction of that.
What is doing this yourself costing you?
Doing it yourself: $2,165 a month of your time.
The same hours at our $12/hr pay-as-you-go rate: $520. Dedicated plans start at $5.62/hr.
Simple maths from the numbers you enter. It assumes a VA can take on those hours.
Start for $1Written by the MyRemoteVA team. Search-trend figures come from Google Trends. Prices shown are our current plans. Last updated September 25, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.
Web Development
Small business website design and custom website development, in WordPress, plain HTML or Squarespace, built by one person from first draft to launch.
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