Three honest tiers, per 2026 pricing guides: DIY builders at $15–$50/month plus your weekends; template-based professional builds at $2,000–$7,000; custom design at $10,000+. The 'right' tier is the cheapest one that loads fast, reads clearly on a phone, and converts. Many businesses overbuy design and underbuy clarity.
The costs owners forget to count: hosting/SSL, plugins or apps, maintenance, and content updates. Commonly adding $500–$2,000+ per year to any non-DIY site. Ask every proposal 'what does year two cost?' before signing year one.
The evaluation that matters more than price: who owns it (your accounts, your domain, exportable content), and whether it passes the five-second test. What you do, where, and how to contact you, instantly.