It’s the first question every contractor asks, and it deserves a straight answer: how much does a professional website actually cost?
The problem is that most web design companies dodge this question. They say “it depends” or ask you to “schedule a consultation.” Meanwhile, you just want a number so you can decide whether it makes sense for your business.
Here’s an honest breakdown of what contractor websites cost in 2026, what you get at different price points, and how to figure out which option actually makes sense for your situation.
The Three Options Most Contractors Consider
When contractors start looking into getting a website, they usually encounter three paths:
Option 1: DIY Website Builders ($0 – $300/year)
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or GoDaddy let you build a website yourself using drag-and-drop tools. Monthly costs run $12-25 per month, and you might spend $0-50 on a template.
What you get:
- A functional website you build yourself
- Basic templates to choose from
- Built-in hosting
- Simple contact forms
What you don’t get:
- Custom design that differentiates you from competitors
- Professional copywriting
- Local SEO optimization
- Someone to maintain and update it
- A site optimized for lead generation
The real cost: Your time. Most contractors who go this route spend 20-40 hours building a site that looks like it was built by someone who’s not a web designer — because it was. That’s time you could spend on billable work. At $50-100/hour for your trade, you’ve already “spent” $1,000-4,000 in opportunity cost, and the result rarely generates meaningful leads.
Option 2: Freelancer or Budget Agency ($500 – $2,000)
Hiring a freelancer from platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, or a budget agency, gets you a step up from DIY.
What you typically get:
- A WordPress or Squarespace site with a pre-made theme
- Basic customization (your logo, colors, photos)
- 3-5 pages of content
- A contact form
What you typically don’t get:
- Industry-specific expertise
- Professional copywriting (you’ll likely write your own content)
- Local SEO strategy
- Ongoing maintenance or support
- Conversion-focused design
The real cost: The upfront price is lower, but you often end up with a generic-looking site that needs significant work to actually perform. Many contractors at this price point end up paying again within a year or two for a redesign because the original site doesn’t generate leads.
Option 3: Specialized Contractor Web Designer ($2,500 – $7,500)
This is what companies like MG Group Solutions offer: a website built specifically for your trade, your market, and your goals.
What you get:
- Custom design tailored to your trade and brand
- Professional copywriting that speaks to your customers
- Mobile-first design (critical for local service businesses)
- Local SEO foundation (service area pages, keyword optimization, Google Business Profile integration)
- Contact forms strategically placed to maximize conversions
- Project gallery and testimonial sections
- Speed optimization for better Google rankings
- Launch in days, not months
The real cost: Higher upfront, but the ROI math makes it compelling. If your average job is worth $3,000-15,000, you only need one or two additional leads per month to more than cover the investment. Most properly built contractor websites generate far more than that.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
Beyond the design itself, there are ongoing costs every website has:
- Domain name: $10-15/year
- Hosting: $5-50/month depending on quality
- SSL certificate: Often included with hosting, otherwise $50-100/year
- Maintenance: Plugin updates, security monitoring, backups — $50-200/month if outsourced
- Content updates: Adding new projects, updating services, blog posts
A good web design partner bundles many of these into a maintenance plan so you’re not dealing with multiple vendors and surprise costs.
How to Calculate Your Website ROI
Here’s the simple math that most contractors never do:
- What’s your average job value? (Example: $5,000)
- What’s your close rate on leads? (Example: 30%)
- So you need roughly 3 leads to close 1 job worth $5,000
- If your website generates just 6 extra leads per month, that’s 2 additional jobs = $10,000/month in new revenue
- Even at $5,000 for the website, you’ve paid for itself in the first month
The question isn’t really “can I afford a website?” It’s “can I afford to NOT have one?”
Red Flags to Watch For
As you evaluate web designers, watch out for:
- No portfolio of contractor sites. If they’ve never built a site for your industry, they’re learning on your dime.
- Long-term contracts required upfront. You should be able to see results before committing long-term.
- Ownership restrictions. Make sure you own your website and domain. Some companies hold these hostage.
- Unrealistic timelines. A professional site should take 1-4 weeks, not 3-6 months.
- No discussion of SEO. A beautiful site that nobody finds is a waste of money.
What We Recommend
If you’re an Atlanta-area contractor serious about growing your business, invest in a purpose-built website from someone who understands your industry. The difference between a $500 template site and a $3,000-5,000 professionally built contractor site is the difference between a business card and a lead generation machine.
Not sure where to start? Get a free site audit and we’ll show you exactly where your current online presence stands and what it would take to start competing effectively online. No cost, no obligation, and you’ll have your results within 24 hours.
