You have three realistic paths to get a small business website, each with clear tradeoffs. The DIY route uses platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com. You'll pay $150–$500 per year for hosting and a template, and you build it yourself over a few weekends. This works if you're comfortable with technology, have time to learn, and don't need custom features. The main risk is ending up with a site that looks amateurish or doesn't convert visitors into customers. Hiring a freelance or local web designer costs $2,500–$8,000 for a professional 5–10 page site. You get custom design, proper mobile optimization, and someone who understands conversion principles. Turnaround is typically 4–8 weeks. This is the sweet spot for most small businesses in Ottawa, Toronto, or other Canadian markets where you need to compete locally but don't have enterprise budgets. Make sure they deliver the site on WordPress or another platform you can update yourself, or you'll pay ongoing fees for every text change. Full-service agencies charge $5,000–$20,000+ and include strategy, copywriting, SEO setup, and sometimes ongoing marketing. This makes sense if your website is a primary revenue driver or you're in a competitive industry where design and user experience directly impact sales. At Ottawa SEO, we typically recommend this tier when a client's customer lifetime value justifies the investment or when they need integrated SEO and content strategy from day one. Before choosing, answer two questions: how much revenue does your website need to generate, and how much time can you personally spend on it? A $3,000 site that brings in $50,000 in annual business is a bargain. A $300 DIY site you never finish is worthless. Also factor in domain registration ($15–$20/year), SSL certificate (often free now), and hosting ($10–$100/month depending on your path). Most small businesses underestimate the value of mobile-first design and page speed, both of which directly affect whether visitors stay or bounce.