In 2026, a WordPress website for a service business typically costs $1,000 to $5,000 to build with an agency. Under $1,000 usually means a template with your logo on it, or a one-page site. Over $10,000 should include something custom, like a booking flow, a quote tool or integrations. On top of the build, expect roughly $200 to $1,500 a year for hosting, domain, licences and care.
What does a WordPress website cost in 2026?
WordPress itself is free. What you pay for is the design, the build, the writing, and the work to make it fast and findable. Here’s how prices usually break down by site type:
| Site type | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| One page | $500–$1,000 | A single landing page: who you are, what you do, a contact form |
| Small business site (5–10 pages) | $1,000–$5,000 | Home, about, a page per service, contact, and a blog |
| Online shop | $2,000–$8,000 | WooCommerce with products, payments, shipping and stock |
| Custom build | $10,000+ | Custom tools, client areas, integrations with your other systems |
We have built 100+ WordPress sites, and for comparison, ours start at $697 for a single page, $1,297 for a full site from 7 pages, and $1,997 for a WooCommerce shop from 30 products. Each includes a year of hosting and 30 days of fixes after launch. See our pricing for the full list.
What changes the price?
Number of pages
Each page needs its own layout, copy and checks. Seven pages costs less than fifteen. A page per service and a page per city add up quickly.
Who writes the words
Copy is often the hidden cost. If you supply finished text, the price drops. If the agency writes it, especially pages built to answer buyer questions, expect it to cost more.
Custom features
Calculators, booking flows, gated reports and dashboards are quoted on their own. They’re where most of the $10,000+ builds come from.
Speed and quality of build
A site built on a heavy theme is quick to set up and slow to load. A light build with custom code takes longer but stays fast as you add pages.
What do you pay every year after launch?
This is the part most quotes leave out. A website has running costs, even if nobody touches it.
| Cost | Typical per year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | $10–$40 | More for some country domains |
| Hosting | $100–$600 | Shared hosting is cheaper; managed WordPress hosting costs more |
| Premium plugins and theme licences | $0–$300 | Page builders, forms, SEO and backup plugins often renew yearly |
| Care plan (updates, security, backups) | $600–$1,800 | Optional, but someone has to do the updates |
| Content changes | Varies | New pages, edits and design changes |
Our first year of hosting is included in the build price, and Website Care starts from $97 a month after that. If you’re comparing plans, here’s what a WordPress care plan should include.
Freelancer, agency or DIY: what do you get?
| Option | Cost | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY with a theme | $100–$500 plus your time | Very early businesses testing an idea | Slow sites, no structure, hours of your time |
| Freelancer | $500–$3,000 | Simple sites with a clear brief | One person, so slow replies when they’re busy or gone |
| Agency | $1,000–$10,000+ | Sites that need to bring in leads, with support after launch | Hidden yearly costs and lock-in to their hosting |
Whoever you pick, the domain, hosting and WordPress logins should be in your name. With our WordPress websites, you own the site, the domain and the content, and get every login.
How do you get an accurate quote?
A good quote is in writing and lists what’s included. Before you ask for one, have these ready:
- A list of the pages you needincluding one per service
- Who will write the wordsand whether photos exist
- Any features beyond a contact formbooking, quotes, payments, client logins
- Two or three sites you likeand why
- Your deadlineand when your content will be ready
Then ask every agency the same three questions: what’s included after launch, who owns the logins, and what it costs per year to run.
Common questions
Why do quotes for the same website vary so much?
Because they include different things. One quote may include copywriting, speed work and a year of support; another may be a template with your logo. Compare what’s included, not just the price.
How long does it take to build a WordPress website?
Most small business sites take about two weeks from the day the content is ready. Sites with custom features can take more than a month.
Is WordPress still worth it in 2026?
For most service businesses, yes. You own it, it’s easy to edit, and it can be made fast and readable for both Google and AI tools.
Do you need to pay the full amount upfront?
Not usually. We take 50% to start and 50% on launch, which is common.
