Guides

Website guides for small businesses.

Straight answers to the questions owners ask before they spend money on a website: what it should cost, who to hire, what to ask them, and how to make sure the site ends up yours.

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Every guide uses commonly cited 2026 price ranges with sources listed, plus our own published prices where they're relevant. No invented numbers.

  1. How much does a small business website cost in 2026?Price ranges for every route from DIY to agency, the ongoing costs, a 3-year total, and our own published prices.Read the guide
  2. What it costs to hire a web designer in 2026Hourly and project rates on Fiverr, Upwork, and with freelancers, studios, and agencies, and what each price actually buys.Read the guide
  3. Freelancer, agency, or studio: who should build your website?Cost, speed, risk, ownership, and support compared, with an honest pick for each situation.Read the guide
  4. Fiverr vs Upwork for building your business websiteHow the two marketplaces differ on price, vetting, ownership, and support, plus the option most owners miss.Read the guide
  5. Questions to ask a web designer before you hire them17 questions to ask before you sign, the answers that should worry you, and a printable checklist.Read the guide
  6. Who owns your website after a designer builds it?Domains, hosting logins, and code rights explained, the warning signs of a hostage situation, and how to get your access back.Read the guide

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