How much does a small business website cost?

If you are budgeting for a website, you have probably seen quotes that are hard to compare: an hourly rate here, a monthly bundle there, a price that only appears after a long call. This guide sets out what changes the price, what you pay once and what you pay every month, and the questions worth asking before you pay anyone. The prices below are our own, and you can see all four cuts and what each includes.

What changes the price

• A proven layout or a blank page. A Template site sets your words, photos and brand into a layout that already works. A Custom site is designed from a blank page around your business, with its own design system. Designing from scratch takes longer, so it costs more. If you are unsure which you need, read Template or custom: which do you need?
• How many pages. A Template site has up to 5 pages and a Custom site up to 10. A one-page site and a twenty-page site are different jobs.
• Who writes the words. Good copy is a large part of the work. Copywriting is included on every Runverra site, so it is not a separate line on your quote.
• What the site must do. Taking bookings with deposits, selling gift cards or running a small store adds work. Each of these has its own flat price, listed with our extras like booking, a store or a second language.
• More than one language. Each extra language is US$100: a real translation, reviewed by people, on its own address.
• Motion, 3D or film. Scroll-driven 3D scenes or an original film at the top of the homepage are the most involved work, which is why 3D and Cinematic sit at the top of the range.
• What you already have. If you have a logo and good photos, we build around them. If something is missing, we say so up front and quote it separately.

One-time cost and monthly cost

The build is a one-time fee. After launch, every website has a few running costs: the domain name, hosting, security updates and the odd edit when your hours or prices change.

You can look after those yourself, or choose the Website Plan at US$50 a month for hosting, updates, backups and small edits, done by the person who built your site. The first months are free: one with Template or Custom, two with 3D, three with Cinematic. The plan is optional. If you would rather host the site somewhere else, we hand over the files for free.

Flat fee or hourly rate

An hourly rate puts the risk on you: if the build runs long, the bill grows. A flat fee in writing puts that risk on the studio. You know the full price before any work starts, and if the build takes longer than planned, that is on us, not you.

Runverra only works on flat fees. You get one price, in writing, within 24 hours of us having what we need.

What to ask before you pay anyone

• Do I own the domain, the words and the site files?
• How many rounds of changes are included, and what counts as a round?
• What is not included in this price?
• When do I pay, how much, and what happens if I cancel? Ask to see the refund policy; ours is here.
• Can I leave and take the site with me?
• How long until the site is live?
• Is there a monthly fee, and what exactly does it cover?

Our answers: you own all of it, every tier has three rounds of changes, your written quote lists what is and is not included, and you can leave with your files at any time.

How long it takes

A Template site is usually live in about a week. Custom, 3D and Cinematic websites take two to six weeks, depending on the pages, the 3D work and the film.

Does the price change by industry?

The same four prices apply to every kind of business. What changes is what the site needs to do: a plumber needs calls and quote requests, a hair salon needs bookings, and a dental clinic needs new patients to get in touch. You can find your industry or see sample sites, each made for an invented business.

See your website before you pay anything

Every Runverra website starts with a free demo of your site, made before you pay anything. If you like it, you get a flat fee in writing. If you don't, you pay nothing.

Questions

Is a cheap website worth it?

It can be, if it is fast on a phone, has a clear call or booking button, and you own it. Run the free website check on any site to see how it scores.

Are there monthly fees?

Only if you choose the Website Plan, at US$50 a month for hosting, updates, backups and small edits. The first months are free: one with Template or Custom, two with 3D, three with Cinematic. The website itself is a one-time flat fee.

How do I pay?

By Stripe, after you have seen and approved the free demo. Projects under US$1,000 are paid in full upfront. Projects of US$1,000 and over are paid 50% to start and 50% before launch, by Stripe invoice.

Do I own my website?

Yes. You always own your domain, your content and your site files. If you leave, we hand over the files for free.

What if I don't like the demo?

Then you don't pay anything. Tell us what feels wrong and we can try another direction, or you can simply walk away.

Can I start small and upgrade later?

Yes. A site can move up later, for example from Template to Custom or 3D, and you pay only the difference between the two flat prices.

Do you charge in USD or CAD?

Clients in Canada are quoted and pay in Canadian dollars; everyone else in US dollars. Prices on this page switch to match, and you can change the currency in the footer.