"How much does a website cost?" is one of the first questions every business owner asks, and the usual answer, "it depends", isn't much help. So here's a straight answer for small businesses in Tupelo and North Mississippi, including what you get at each price and what you should actually be paying for.
The three ways to get a website
1. Build it yourself: about $200–$500 a year. Platforms like Squarespace, Wix and Shopify let you build a site with a template. You pay for the plan and your domain name. It's the cheapest route, and fine if you have time, a good eye and some patience. The hidden cost is your time, and most DIY sites never get set up for search, so customers can't find them on Google.
2. Hire a local freelancer: usually $1,500–$5,000. You get a custom design, professional writing and photos, and someone who sets the site up properly for search. You also get a real person in town you can call when something needs to change. For most small businesses this is the sweet spot.
3. Hire an agency: often $5,000–$15,000 and up. Agencies make sense for larger companies that need complex features, a big team or a full marketing department. For a local service business, you're often paying for overhead you don't need.
What actually drives the price
Number of pages. A simple 3–5 page site (Home, About, Services, Contact) costs less than a 20-page site with a page for every service.
Photos and video. Stock photos are cheap but generic. Real photos of your team, your work and your space build trust and make the site yours.
Writing. Clear copy that explains what you do and who you do it for is the biggest difference between a site that looks nice and one that brings in customers.
Search setup (SEO). Page titles, descriptions, your Google Business Profile and local keywords are what help people in Tupelo find you instead of a competitor.
Extras. Online booking, payments, an AI chat assistant, or connecting the site to your CRM all add value and cost.
What I charge, and what's included
I build on Squarespace because it's reliable, secure and easy for business owners to update themselves. My Starter Presence package starts at $1,500 and includes:
A custom 3–5 page website
A professional photoshoot with 10–15 edited images
Social media profile setup
Basic SEO so you show up for local searches
Need more? The Premium Brand Package (from $3,500) adds a brand style guide and a promotional video. You can see everything on the packages page.
Ongoing costs to plan for
After launch, expect to pay for:
Hosting/platform: roughly $200–$400 a year on Squarespace, depending on the plan
Domain name: about $20–$70 a year
Updates: either you make them yourself, or you pay someone for an hour here and there
Be wary of anyone who charges a big monthly fee just to "host" a simple site.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
Will I own the website and the domain name?
Can I update it myself without calling you?
Is search setup (SEO) included, or extra?
Who's providing the photos and the writing?
What happens if I need changes after launch?
If you get clear answers to those five, you'll avoid most of the website horror stories I hear from local business owners.
Ready to talk about your site?
I'm Ben McAlilly, a web designer, photographer and AI automation builder based in Tupelo. If you'd like a straight quote for your business, book a free call or call (662) 205-8582. You can also see examples on my websites page.