Web design guide
How Much Should a Small Business Website Cost in Canada? (2026)
"How much does a website cost?" is the wrong first question. The better one is whether you want to rent your site forever or own the files. Here is an honest look at small business website cost in Canada in 2026, so you can figure out what you need and what is fair to pay.
The two ways to pay: rent forever or own once
There are really only two pricing models. With subscription builders you pay every month for as long as the site is live. With a one-time custom build you pay once and keep the finished files and your domain.
Renting can feel cheap month to month. But a $20 monthly plan is $240 a year, every year. Over five years that is well past a thousand dollars, and you still own nothing. A one-time owned site flips that math: pay once, then your only ongoing cost is your domain and hosting, which you can keep anywhere.
Subscription builders: Wix and Squarespace
Wix runs about $17 to $159 per month, and Squarespace runs about $16 to $99 per month. Both are real, capable tools, and the monthly fee covers hosting and updates. That suits some owners fine.
The catch is lock-in. Wix is a closed platform: you cannot export your site's design if you leave. You can pull some content like contacts or store data as a CSV, but not the look of the site. Squarespace offers limited XML export with no images, and Squarespace 7.1 does not support XML export at all. So if you ever stop paying, you mostly start over.
Freelancers and agencies: one-time, but a wide range
Hiring a freelancer for a one-time custom build in Canada typically runs $500 to $5,000. You get a person who tailors the site to your business, and you usually own the result. Quality and reliability vary a lot, so check their past work.
Agencies sit higher, often $5,000 to $50,000 or more. That buys strategy, design teams, and polish. For most local businesses, a phone-book-fancy agency build is more than they need. The point of sharing the full range is so you can see where a fair price sits for your size.
Where GetFavours fits: own it, do not rent it
GetFavours builds custom sites you pay for once, and you get the finished files and keep your domain. Starter, a single page, is from $249 one-time. Business, a multi-page site with online booking or a quote form, is from $599 one-time. Custom builds start from $1,200 one-time.
You get a plain-English PDF guide so you can edit the site yourself, and you can host it anywhere, even locally. There is no GetFavours subscription and no lock-in; your domain and hosting are paid directly to those companies. An optional care plan to host and manage it for you is from $39 a month if you want hands-off, but it is never required.
So what should you actually pay?
Start with what you need, not the price tag. A simple one-page site to show your hours, services, and phone number is a Starter job. If you take bookings or send quotes, you want a multi-page site with a form. Only reach for a big custom or agency build if you have complex needs like a store or member logins.
Then weigh rent versus own. If you are fine paying monthly forever and never moving, a builder works. If you want to pay once, keep your files, and never get locked in, a one-time owned site is the value pick for most small businesses in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small business website cost in Canada in 2026?
It depends on the model. Subscription builders run about $16 to $159 per month forever. One-time freelancer builds typically run $500 to $5,000, and agencies $5,000 to $50,000 or more. GetFavours builds owned sites from $249 one-time for a single page, from $599 for multi-page with booking, and from $1,200 for custom.
Is it cheaper to rent a website or own one?
Renting can look cheaper month to month, but you pay forever and own nothing. A one-time owned site costs more upfront in some cases but ends after one payment, leaving only your domain and hosting, which you control.
Can I move my Wix or Squarespace site somewhere else later?
Not really. Wix is a closed platform and you cannot export your site's design. Squarespace allows only limited XML export with no images, and Squarespace 7.1 does not support XML export at all. With an owned site you keep all the files and can host them anywhere.
Do I need monthly hosting if I buy an owned site from GetFavours?
No monthly fee to GetFavours is required. You get the finished site files, keep your domain, and can host the site anywhere, even locally; you pay your host and domain registrar directly. If you prefer hands-off, an optional care plan to host and manage it is from $39 a month, but it is your choice.
What size website do I actually need?
A single page suits a business that just needs hours, services, and contact details. A multi-page site with a form suits anyone taking bookings or sending quotes. Larger custom or agency builds make sense only for complex needs like an online store or member logins.
Will I be able to edit the site myself?
Yes. Every GetFavours build comes with a plain-English PDF guide written for non-technical owners, so you can make your own edits without paying someone each time.
Own your website — from $249
Pay once, keep the finished site files, and edit it yourself with a plain-English guide. Tell us what you need and we’ll build it — for any local business.