Websites
How much does a small-business website cost in Knoxville?
It's the first question almost every business owner asks me, and it's the one most web designers won't answer on their website. So here's a straight answer: what a small-business website costs in Knoxville and the rest of Tennessee, what you get at each price level, and the costs that sneak up on people after launch.
The short answer
Most small businesses in East Tennessee spend somewhere between $1,500 and $5,000 on a professionally built website, plus a yearly cost for hosting and your domain. You can spend less with a do-it-yourself builder, and you can spend a lot more with a large agency. But for a local service business that wants the phone to ring, that range covers most of what you need.
What you get at each level
Around $1,500: a solid starter site
This is the right fit if you're new or you've never had a real website. Expect up to five pages (Home, About, Services, Contact and maybe a gallery), a design that works on phones, a contact form, tap-to-call buttons and the basics that help Google understand where you are and what you do. My Essential website is $1,495 and launches in about three weeks.
Around $3,000: a site built to win local search
This is where most established businesses land. You get more pages, including pages for the cities you serve, so you can show up when someone in Maryville or Oak Ridge searches, not only Knoxville. The copy is written for you, online booking is built in, and there's a place to show your Google reviews. My Professional website is $2,995 and it's the one most clients choose.
$5,000 and up: growing or multi-location businesses
If you sell online, have more than one location, or want a blog and email sign-ups connected from day one, you're in this range. My Premium website starts at $4,995.
The hidden costs to ask about
The build price is only part of the picture. Before you hire anyone, ask about these:
- Hosting. Your site has to live somewhere. Good hosting with security and backups usually runs a few hundred dollars a year. (Mine is $225 a year on Duda.)
- Your domain name. Usually around $15 to $30 a year. Make sure it's registered in your name, not your designer's.
- Changes after launch. Will you pay by the hour every time you need to update your hours or add a photo? Ask whether there's a care plan.
- Who owns the site. Some agencies "rent" you a site you can't take with you. You should own your website, your domain and your accounts.
- Copywriting and photos. Some quotes assume you'll write every word and supply every image yourself. That's a lot of work to discover after you've paid a deposit.
Why a cheap site can cost you more
A $300 template that looks fine on a laptop but is hard to use on a phone, loads slowly, and never shows up on Google isn't a bargain. Most of your customers will find you on their phone, and they'll leave in seconds if they can't tap to call or see your hours. A website is only worth what it brings in, so the real question isn't "what does it cost?" It's "how many calls does it need to bring in to pay for itself?" For most service businesses, the answer is just a few.
How to get a real number for your business
Every business is a little different, which is why I publish my prices on my Packages page and then help you pick the right fit. If you're not sure where to start, book a free 15-minute Website & Google Checkup. I'll look at what you have now and give you three fixes, whether we work together or not.
Book your Checkup or call 865-243-0962.
