An independent bookstore site costs more or less depending on how much of your community life you want online. A shop that only needs hours and a story is simple, while one with weekly events, staff picks and special orders needs more space.
The price at a glance
Most bookstores fit Business Plus: $989 one-time for up to 20 pages, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly performance checks, A/B testing and up to 30 minutes of small edits each month. A typical bookstore site covers Home with events and picks, Events, Staff picks, Special orders and Contact.
What changes the price for a bookstore
- ✓Events and author visits — A calendar of readings, clubs and signings must be easy to scan and easy for you to update, which takes structure.
- ✓Staff picks and recommendations — Curated lists are the reason people choose a local shop, and a page that stays fresh needs a layout built for regular changes.
- ✓Special orders and online shop — Whether you take orders by form, email or a link to an existing online store changes how the request path is built.
- ✓Community features — Book clubs, kids story time or school partnerships may deserve their own sections, which adds content and navigation.
What keeps you in the smaller plan
A smaller shop can show hours, a short story, a handful of staff picks and a single events list. Link out to your online store if you already have one, and use a simple form for special orders. Keep the calendar to upcoming events only.
Costs that sit outside the website
- ✓Online store or inventory system — If you sell through a platform, its subscription and fees belong to that provider and we link to it.
- ✓Event ticketing — Paid author events may use a ticket tool with its own fees.
- ✓Cover images — Book covers are usually available from publishers or distributors, and you should follow their terms.
- ✓Domain and email — A shop name as the web address and a matching email give customers an easy way to reach you.
When it makes sense to step up
Look at the next package when you host events every week, run several clubs, or maintain multiple curated lists such as seasonal reads and kids picks. A dedicated special order page with clear steps and a separate section for school or library partnerships are also signs you have outgrown the basics.
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
Websites for bookstores · Launch checklist for bookstores · Website cost calculator · Small business website cost
