The short answer
For a small-business website in Canada, you'll generally see four price bands: do-it-yourself builders at roughly $15–$50 per month, freelancers at roughly $500–$5,000 one-time, agencies at roughly $3,000–$15,000+ one-time, and fully custom or e-commerce builds that run well beyond that.
The right number depends less on how many pages you have and more on who builds it, how custom it is, and what it has to do. Below is what actually drives the cost — and the ongoing fees that rarely make it into the headline quote.
The options compared
Here's roughly what each route costs and who it suits:
| Option | Typical cost (CAD) | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $15–$50 / month | Tight budgets, simple needs, hands-on owners | Your time, generic templates, ongoing rent, weaker local SEO |
| Freelancer | $500–$5,000 one-time | Simple sites, smaller budgets | Variable quality, availability, support after launch |
| Agency | $3,000–$15,000+ one-time | Established businesses wanting a polished build | Long timelines, markup, change-order fees |
| Custom / e-commerce | $10,000+ | Complex apps, large catalogues, integrations | Cost and timeline can balloon without tight scope |
| SiteCrate | $997 or $3,997 fixed | Small businesses wanting agency quality, fast, for a fixed price | Best for sites, not enterprise software (that's our custom Platform tier) |
What actually drives the price
Two sites with the same number of pages can differ wildly in cost. The real drivers are:
- Custom design vs a template — original design takes more skill and time
- Functionality — bookings, e-commerce, payments and integrations add work
- Content — who writes the copy and sources the photos
- SEO — whether the build is actually set up to be found on Google
- Who builds it — a solo freelancer, an agency team, or an AI-assisted studio
The ongoing costs no one mentions
The build price is only part of it. Budget for these too:
- Domain name: roughly $15–$25 per year
- Hosting: roughly $0–$50 per month depending on the platform
- Maintenance, updates and backups: often $50–$200+ per month with an agency
- Changes after launch: many shops charge per change order
Why the cheapest option can cost the most
A $0 DIY site isn't free — it costs your time, and the result often looks generic and ranks poorly, which costs you customers. A bargain freelancer who disappears after launch can leave you stuck.
The goal isn't the lowest sticker price; it's the best return: a site that loads fast, looks credible, and brings in enough business to pay for itself.
Where SiteCrate fits
We built SiteCrate for the gap in the middle: agency-quality design and SEO, delivered in about a week, for a fixed, transparent price. Presence is $997 for a 5–7 page professional site; Growth is $3,997 with a CMS, blog and e-commerce. No hourly billing, no surprise change-order fees.
We use AI to do the first draft and a human designer to polish it — that's how we keep the price and timeline down without shipping a template. And we'll tell you honestly when a DIY builder is the smarter choice for your situation.
How to choose (and red flags to avoid)
Before you sign anything, check:
- Do you own the site, code and domain afterward? (You should.)
- Is SEO and Google Business Profile setup included, or extra?
- What does it cost to make a change after launch?
- Can you see real examples of their work?
- Red flag: a quote with no fixed scope, or that locks you into a platform you can't leave.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to get a website in Canada?
A DIY builder like Wix or Squarespace (roughly $15–$50/month) is cheapest up front, if you build it yourself and don't mind a template. Just budget for your time and weaker local SEO.
Is a one-time fee or monthly subscription better?
A one-time build you own is usually better long-term value than renting a site forever — provided you also have affordable hosting/maintenance. SiteCrate sites are one-time with an optional care plan from $49/month.
How much should a small-business website cost?
For most Canadian small businesses, a professional site lands somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000 one-time. SiteCrate's fixed $997 and $3,997 plans sit right in that range with agency-level quality.