StonelineIf you're a contractor, plumber, electrician, or any trades business owner looking for a new website, the first question is always: how much is this going to cost me?
The honest answer is: it depends. But that's not helpful, so let's break down exactly what you get at each price point so you can make an informed decision.
The DIY route: $0–$500/year
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy Website Builder let you build a site yourself for $15–$40/month. You pick a template, swap in your logo and photos, and you're live.
The reality:These sites look like every other template on the internet. They load slowly (most score 40–60 on Google's speed test), give you limited SEO control, and make it nearly impossible to rank above competitors with custom sites. If your goal is just “having a website,” this works. If your goal is generating leads, it won't.
Freelancer on Fiverr/Upwork: $500–$2,500
You can find freelancers who will build a WordPress site for $500–$2,500. Some are talented. Many are using the same templates as the DIY route and just installing them for you.
The risk:Quality is inconsistent. There's often no ongoing support, no SEO strategy, and no one to call when something breaks six months later. You also typically get a WordPress site loaded with plugins — each one a potential security vulnerability and performance drag.
Professional agency (small/specialized): $2,500–$10,000
This is where you start getting real, custom work. A specialized agency will research your competitors, plan your site structure for SEO, design something unique to your brand, and build it on modern technology that's fast and secure.
What you get: A site designed specifically to generate leads for your business. Mobile-first design, local SEO optimization, contact forms, click-to-call buttons, service area pages, and analytics to track results. This is the sweet spot for most trades businesses.
Large agency: $10,000–$50,000+
Big agencies like Scorpion, Blue Corona, or Hook Agency charge premium prices — often $1,500–$5,000/month on long-term contracts. You get a dedicated team, but you're also paying for their office space, account managers, and overhead.
The catch:Many of these agencies lock you into contracts. You don't own the website — they do. If you leave, you start from scratch. For most small to mid-size trades businesses, this is overkill.
What should YOU spend?
The right answer depends on your revenue and goals:
- Just starting out, under $200K revenue:A $2,500 Starter package gets you a professional site that's light-years ahead of a Wix template.
- Established, $200K–$1M revenue: A $5,000–$6,500 Growth package with CRM integration, analytics, and service area pages will actively generate leads.
- Scaling, $1M+ revenue: A $10,000+ Premium build with booking systems, review automation, and SEO content gives you a competitive moat online.
The ROI perspective
Here's the question that actually matters: how many jobs does your website need to bring in to pay for itself?
If you're a plumber and your average job is $350, a $2,500 website needs to bring in about 7 jobs to break even. If you're a roofer with a $10,000 average job, one single job pays for the entire site.
A well-built website lasts 3–5 years and generates leads every single month. The math works in your favor — fast.
Bottom line
Don't buy the cheapest website. Don't buy the most expensive one either. Buy the one that will generate enough leads to pay for itself quickly and keep generating returns for years. For most trades businesses, that's in the $2,500–$10,000 range.
Want to see what a custom site would look like for your business? Get a free video auditand we'll show you exactly what we'd build — and why.