A good website for a small to mid-sized business typically runs $5,000 to $25,000 CAD. That range gets you custom design, mobile responsiveness, basic SEO setup, 5-15 pages of content, and a content management system like WordPress. If you're willing to use a premium template with light customization, you can start around $2,500 to $4,000. Complex builds with custom functionality, e-commerce platforms, user portals, or extensive integrations can easily exceed $50,000. The biggest cost drivers are design uniqueness, number of page templates, custom features like booking systems or calculators, content creation, and e-commerce requirements. A 10-page brochure site is fundamentally different from a 100-product online store with payment processing and inventory management. Development time scales accordingly. Monthly costs matter too. Hosting runs $20 to $200/month depending on traffic and server requirements. Maintenance and security updates cost $100 to $500/month if outsourced. Marketing tools, premium plugins, and CDN services add another $50 to $300/month. Many businesses underestimate these ongoing expenses. At Ottawa SEO, we see three common budget tiers. The $3,000-$7,000 range suits service businesses needing a solid online presence without custom tools. The $10,000-$20,000 range handles most e-commerce stores, membership sites, or businesses requiring custom integrations. Above $25,000, you're building web applications or enterprise-level platforms. Cheap isn't always expensive long-term, but it often is. A $500 website usually means a rigid template, no SEO foundation, poor mobile experience, and no strategy behind page structure. You'll spend more fixing it or rebuilding in 18 months than investing properly upfront. The reverse trap is overpaying for features you don't need because an agency sold you on complexity. Ask potential developers for a detailed scope and breakdown. Good ones will explain what drives cost and where you can cut without compromising core functionality. If someone quotes without understanding your business goals and technical requirements, walk away.