How to start a business website and grow it
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A business website needs four things: somewhere to build it, a domain, a way to keep in touch with visitors, and a plan to be found on Google. Here is how to choose each without overpaying.
Website builder or hosting?
A website builder is the fastest route: design, hosting and security in one subscription, with no updates to manage. Hosting with WordPress costs less per month and gives you full control and thousands of plugins, but you look after updates and backups.
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webflow | Free plan, then USD 15 per site per month, billed yearly | Yes | Pricing |
| Framer | Free plan, then USD 10 per month | Yes | Pricing |
| Carrd | From USD 9 per year | No | Pricing |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
Selling products? Online store builders such as Shopify and Wix are compared in online store builders.
Watch the renewal price on hosting
Hosting intro prices need you to prepay one to four years and then renew at two to six times the price. Compare the renewal price, not just the headline:
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namecheap | From USD 5.88 per month, monthly billing | No | Pricing |
| Hostinger | From USD 2.99 per month, 48-month term | No | Pricing |
| SiteGround | From USD 2.99 per month, 12-month term | No | Pricing |
| Bluehost | From USD 3.99 per month, 36-month term | No | Pricing |
| DreamHost | From USD 2.89 per month, first year | No | Pricing |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
See Hostinger vs Bluehost and Hostinger vs SiteGround. Check your uptime promise with the uptime calculator and protect the site with our security checklist.
Start a mailing list on day one
Email is the one channel you own. Put a sign-up form on the site from the start; most tools are free for small lists:
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Free plan, then USD 9 per month (from) | Yes | Pricing |
| MailerLite | Free plan, then USD 12 per month (from) | Yes | Pricing |
| Mailchimp | Free plan, then USD 13 per month (from) | Yes | Pricing |
| Kit | Free plan, then USD 33 per month | Yes | Pricing |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
Compare Mailchimp vs Brevo and Kit vs MailerLite. Tag your links with the UTM builder to see which emails bring sales.
Get found on Google
- Give every page one clear topic and a title that matches what people search.
- Answer real customer questions in plain language.
- Make pages fast and readable on a phone.
- Track your rankings and fix technical errors with an SEO tool:
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Free plan, then USD 29 per month | Yes | Pricing |
| SE Ranking | From USD 129 per month | No | Pricing |
| Surfer | From USD 49 per month, billed yearly | No | Pricing |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
Compare Ahrefs vs SE Ranking and Ahrefs vs Surfer.
Questions
How much does a small business website cost?
From a few dollars a month on intro hosting deals to around USD 15–30 a month on a website builder, plus a domain after the first year. Check renewal prices before you commit.
Do I need a website builder or WordPress?
Choose a builder if you want speed and no maintenance; choose hosting with WordPress if you want the lowest cost and full control.