If you only need an address to share with a few friends, a free builder may be all you need. If customers will find you on a search and judge you in ten seconds, the limits start to cost something. The way to decide is to look at what you give up, not at the price tag.
What free usually means
Free plans typically give you a subdomain, which puts the builder’s name in your address. They may show the provider’s ads or branding, limit the number of pages and restrict forms and storage. Some charge to connect your own domain or to remove the branding.
You also spend your own hours. Choosing a template, writing every page, resizing photos and fixing what looks wrong on a small screen is real work, and for many owners it is the part that never gets finished.
When free is fine
- ✓A hobby or a personal page — nothing depends on it
- ✓A short test of an idea — you are not ready to commit
- ✓You enjoy building it — and have the time
- ✓A temporary event page — a short life, a small audience
When paying makes more sense
If customers need to find and trust you, a branded domain and a clean layout carry weight. If you want the writing done, the page structure planned and someone to ask when something breaks, a paid site saves your time.
A done-for-you package starts at $399 one time for up to 5 pages, with Website Care at $30/month for hosting and upkeep. Copy, mobile design, a contact form and 10 revision rounds are included. Whether that beats free depends on how much your time and your first impression are worth.
Questions to ask yourself
- ✓Will customers search for me by name — a branded address helps
- ✓Do I have hours to build and maintain it
- ✓What would an outage cost — someone should be watching
- ✓Will I need more pages later — check the page limits
- ✓Do I want to keep the address — moving later takes work
What to expect, honestly
- ✓Free can be the right answer — we say so when it is
- ✓We do not criticize any builder by name — compare features yourself
- ✓Paid does not guarantee customers — it removes obstacles
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
No monthly fees, the honest answer · DIY or hire a designer · Template or custom website
