How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Ontario?

Let’s Talk Real Ontario Website Costs

If you’ve been Googling “how much does a small business website cost in Ontario?” you’ve probably seen answers ranging anywhere from $500 to $20,000+. That’s… not helpful.

So let’s simplify things. No fluff. No agency jargon. Just a clear breakdown of what small business owners actually pay — and what drives the cost up (or keeps it down).

At Lume Creative, we design websites for businesses across Ontario every day, and we can promise you this: your website budget should match your business stage, your goals, and the complexity of what you offer.

Ontario Small Business Website Pricing Breakdown

DIY Option | $300–$1,200+

Perfect for:

Brand-new businesses with a smaller budget
Entrepreneurs testing an idea before investing
Anyone comfortable learning a website platform

Includes typically:

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify
Pre-designed templates
Basic mobile responsiveness
Self editing

But here’s the honest truth:
DIY sites can be a great short-term solution, but they come with limitations. The Design, SEO performance, mobile layout quirks, and design consistency often take a hit. And eventually… most DIY sites get rebuilt professionally once the business grows.

Starter Websites $1,500–$5,500+ — (3–5 Pages)

Perfect for:

New businesses
Solo service providers
Anyone who needs a clean, credible online presence

Includes typically:

A simple 3–4 page website
Clean design using a professional layout
Light copy cleanup (client provides content)
Mobile-friendly build
Basic SEO setup

This tier is great if you just need to look professional online without the extra layers. It’s straightforward, efficient, and gives your business a solid starting point.

Professional Websites | $5,000–$9,000+

Perfect for:

Growing businesses with multiple services
Companies needing stronger branding and messaging
Businesses ready to elevate their online presence
Established business with outdated website

Includes typically:

Custom layout and design
Full website strategy
Copywriting support
On-page SEO optimization
Forms, integrations, and service structure
5–10 pages depending on needs

This is the most common choice for established small businesses in Ontario. It balances strategy, design, and SEO. It gives you a website built to convert, not just exist.

High-Level Custom Websites | $9,000–$20,000+

Perfect for:

Established companies
Businesses with complex services or multiple locations
Anyone needing advanced functionality

Includes typically:

Fully custom design
Multi-service or multi-location structure
Dynamic content (portfolios, case studies, filtering)
Custom integrations and advanced forms
High-level SEO strategy
Copywriting Support and brand alignment

This is for businesses who want their website to function like a full digital tool, not just a brochure. It’s strategic, intentionally built, and reflects the level of your business.

What Makes the Website Price Go Up or Down?

The price can shift a lot depending on what your business needs, how custom the build is, and the level of expertise behind it.

Number of Pages
Naturally more pages = more strategy, design, writing, and SEO.

A simple 4 page website requires a focused effort. A 15-page site involves a more comprehensive process with additional planning and detail.

Timeline
Tighter deadlines or rush projects require priority scheduling, which could raises the cost.

SEO Level
Basic SEO gives Google the essentials. Strategic SEO digs deeper with keywords, structure, metadata, and competitor research, which requires more time and increases the investment.

Functionality
Booking tools, portfolios, filters, multi-locations, e-commerce, or integrations all add build time and complexity.

Branding Requirements
If your branding isn’t consistent or needs refinement, the website build naturally expands to include brand alignment.

Content Needs
If your content needs rewriting or full copywriting, it adds time and expertise. Strong messaging is one of the biggest drivers of a website’s success , and cost.

Expertise of the Designer
More seasoned teams have refined processes and higher-quality output and the investment reflects the level of experience.

This is for businesses who want their website to function like a full digital tool, not just a brochure. It’s strategic, intentionally built, and reflects the level of your business.

How Much Should You Budget?

Your website budget should align with the stage and complexity of your business.

A smaller service business only needs a clear, streamlined site. A more established business benefits from stronger strategy, SEO, messaging, and functionality and the budget naturally reflects that.

In short: Choose the website that matches the size of your business and the quality of clients you want to attract.

What You Get When You Invest in a Good Website

A good website does more than sit online. It quietly makes your business stronger every day. When your site is clear, professional, and built with intention, people understand you faster, trust you quicker, and feel more confident choosing you.

It also takes pressure off you. A well-built site answers questions for you, explains your services properly, and makes it easy for people to reach out. It reduces the back and forth, the confusion, and the moments where people are unsure how to contact you or what you offer.

And honestly, it just feels good. There is a real confidence that comes with having a website you are proud to share. When your online presence reflects the quality and care you put into your work, people notice.

A strong website supports your growth, shows your value clearly, and gives your business the professional presence it deserves.

Ready to Plan Your Website Budget?

We build websites for Ontario businesses every day. Simple, clean, thoughtful sites that feel like an honest reflection of the people behind them.

We feel pretty lucky to partner with so many incredible business owners and learn what makes their work meaningful. If you are ready for a website that feels true to who you are and supports the next stage of your business, we would love to chat and help you plan what makes sense.

Tell us about your business