Website prices in Chicago are all over the place. Here's how the main options compare for a typical local business site, and what you get for the money.
Typical price ranges
| Option | Typical cost | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace and similar) | Roughly $200–$550 a year in plan fees | Cheapest, but it takes your time, and SEO and design are on you |
| Freelance designer | Often a few thousand dollars | Quality and SEO setup vary a lot |
| Chicago agency | Often $5,000–$20,000+ plus retainers | Full service, priced for bigger companies |
| Refined Creative | $800 Starter ($599 fall sale), $1,200 Pro, or $99/mo | Custom, phone-first, with Google setup included in Pro |
What drives the price up
- Number of pages: each service, location and info page adds design and writing time.
- Copywriting: if the designer writes your content, it costs more than if you supply it, but it's usually worth it.
- Booking, payments and e-commerce: connecting booking or selling products adds setup.
- Custom features: calculators, member areas and integrations take longer to build.
- Ongoing care: hosting, updates and edits are often a monthly cost.
What a local business actually needs
Most local service businesses don't need a $15,000 site. They need a fast, clear site that works on phones, a page for each service, real photos, a way to call, text, quote or book in one tap, and Google set up properly. That's what our packages are built around.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Do I own my domain, and can I take my site with me?
- Is SEO setup included, or is it extra?
- Will you set up Google Search Console and Analytics?
- Who writes the content?
- What does hosting cost per month after launch?
- Who do I talk to when I need a change?
Quick answers
What's the cheapest way to get a professional website?
A DIY builder is cheapest in dollars, but costs time. A Starter site with us is $800 ($599 during the fall sale through Nov 30) and we do the work.
Is a monthly website plan worth it?
It can be if you don't want a large upfront cost. Our Monthly plan is $99 a month with $0 down, including hosting and updates, with a 12-month minimum.
Want us to handle it?
We build sites and set up Google for Chicago local businesses.