Page count and structure
A five-page brochure site and a thirty-page service site with location pages are different projects. Every distinct template adds design and build time.
How much does a website cost in Houston?
A straight answer with real numbers — including mine. What Houston businesses actually pay in 2026 for each approach, what drives the price up or down, and how to read a quote before you sign one.
BY RORY ULLOA — AUG 23, 2026 — 7 MIN READ
The short answer
In Houston in 2026, a small-business website lands in one of three bands: a DIY builder subscription that costs little money but a lot of your time, a template-based freelancer build in the low four figures, or a custom design and build from the mid four figures upward. The right band depends on one question: is your website decoration, or is it supposed to bring in business?
What each approach costs
| APPROACH | TYPICAL COST | WHAT YOU GET | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Squarespace, Wix) | $20–$50 / month | Templates, hosting and a drag-and-drop editor. You supply the time, the copy and the design judgement. | Pre-revenue ideas and simple brochure sites. |
| Template freelancer | $1,000–$3,000 one-time | An off-the-shelf theme with your logo and colours dropped in. Quality varies enormously at this price. | Businesses that need something passable, fast. |
| Custom design + build | $5,000–$15,000+ one-time | Strategy, custom design, copy shaped around your customers, and a build tuned for speed and search. | Businesses where the website is a primary source of leads. |
What actually drives the price
Who writes the words
Copy is the single biggest quality lever on a small-business site. If the quote assumes you'll 'provide content', price in the hours that actually takes you — or pay for it to be written properly.
Custom design vs a themed template
A template with your colours is cheap because thousands of sites share its layout. Custom design costs more because it's built around your message, your customers and your conversion path.
Integrations
Booking systems, payment collection, CRMs, quote calculators and member areas all add build and testing time. List every tool your site must talk to before asking for quotes.
Ongoing care
Websites need updates, backups and small improvements. Budget either a monthly retainer or your own time — a site nobody maintains drifts out of date within a year.
What I charge, in the open
Most designers hide pricing until a sales call. I'd rather you self-qualify, so here are my real numbers — the same ones on my pricing page, with 50% deposits to start:
Brand Sprint
from $2,500
Logo system, palette, type and brand guidelines for early-stage teams.
Website / UI-UX design
from $5,000
Full visual design: wireframes, high-fidelity screens, clickable prototype.
Design + Build
from $8,000
Everything in design, plus the no-code build, CMS, and performance & SEO basics.
Retainer
$3,000 / month
Ongoing design capacity for teams shipping continuously.
Add-ons are published too: extra revision round $350, rush delivery $750, extra landing page $900. If a quote you're comparing against doesn't itemise like this, ask why.
How to read a quote
Three questions cut through most proposals. First: what exactly ships — page count, templates, and who writes the copy? Second: what happens after launch — is any support window included? Third: what do I own — domain, content, design files, and the ability to leave without penalty? A confident designer answers all three in writing. If you're weighing a builder subscription against custom work, read my Squarespace vs custom cost breakdown next.
NO-OBLIGATION NUMBERS
See my exact pricing
Every tier I offer is published with deposits, add-ons and what's included — the same numbers quoted in this article. If it fits, you can start with a 50% deposit today.