A simple website runs $500-$5,000 CAD depending on who builds it and what "simple" means to you. DIY builders like Wix or Squarespace cost $200-$500 annually but require your time. Freelancers charge $1,500-$3,000 for a basic 5-10 page site. Agencies start around $3,000-$5,000 for similar scope but include strategy and proper SEO foundations. The price breaks down into design, development, content, and ongoing costs. A template-based WordPress site with stock photos costs less than custom design with original photography. Copywriting adds $500-$1,500 if you need someone to write your pages. Hosting runs $100-$300 yearly for shared plans, more for managed WordPress hosting. What drives cost up: e-commerce functionality, custom forms, integrations with CRMs or booking systems, multilingual content, or tight deadlines. A "simple" site with a contact form and blog is different from one that needs Stripe payments or property listings. At Ottawa SEO Inc., we see clients get burned by cheap builds that skip mobile optimization, load slowly, or have zero SEO structure. A $1,200 site that doesn't rank or convert costs more long-term than a $3,500 one built right. We typically recommend budgeting $2,500-$4,000 for a small business site that includes proper on-page SEO, schema markup, and conversion optimization. Be clear about what simple means. Count your pages, list required features, and ask if content and images are included. Some developers quote design-only and charge extra for launch. Others bundle everything. Get three quotes, compare what's included, and ask about revision rounds. One designer's "unlimited revisions" is another's "two rounds included, $150 per additional round." Maintenance is separate. Budget $300-$1,000 yearly for updates, backups, and security patches unless you handle it yourself. A simple site isn't expensive, but cutting corners on foundations costs more when you rebuild in 18 months.