Your options and what they cost
These ranges come from cost guides published in 2026 by three Ontario web studios. They are estimates from businesses that sell websites, so use them as a guide, not a quote. Prices are before HST.
| Option | Typical cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | Free to a few hundred dollars up front, plus a monthly plan | You build it yourself. Cheapest in cash, most expensive in your own time, and you keep paying the monthly fee. |
| Freelancer or template site | About $500 to $3,000 | Quality varies a lot. Check who owns the site and who you call when something breaks. |
| Professional small business site (3 to 12 pages) | About $1,500 to $5,000, up to $12,000 for larger custom builds | Most Ontario studios and agencies quote in this range for a custom design, written content and basic SEO. |
| Online store, bookings or custom features | About $5,000 to $30,000+ | Depends on the number of products, payments, integrations and custom code. |
What you pay after launch
| Cost | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .ca domain | About $10 to $20 a year | CIRA, which runs .ca, says a .ca domain typically costs $10 to $20 a year. Watch for cheap first years that renew at a higher price. |
| Hosting | From a few dollars to over $100 a month | Basic shared hosting is cheap; managed hosting with backups, updates and support costs more. |
| Website builder plan (if you use one) | Roughly $25 to $50 a month for a business plan | Builders publish prices in US dollars and change them often, so check the current price in CAD. |
| HST | 13% in Ontario | Most quotes are before tax. Add 13% HST to compare real totals. |
What makes a website cost more
- Number of pages. Each page needs design, writing and testing.
- Custom design. A design made from scratch takes longer than a well-chosen template.
- Writing the content. If the designer writes your text, that is real work and should be in the quote.
- Selling online. Products, payments, shipping and taxes add setup and testing.
- Bookings and integrations. Calendars, CRMs and custom forms each add time.
- Open-ended revisions. Quotes without a clear scope often grow. Ask what is included before you sign.
Where Bernum fits
We are a small studio in Kitchener with fixed, published prices. Each plan has a set scope, which is how we keep the price below the typical Ontario range:
| Plan | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One-Page | One page with your services, contact form and click-to-call. Live in 48 hours. | $499 |
| Business | Up to 5 pages, basic SEO setup, 1 month of support. | $999 |
| Growth | Up to 10 pages, blog, Google Analytics, 3 months of support. | $2,499 |
| Custom | Online store, bookings, integrations or custom features. | Quoted |
All prices are one-time, in CAD, plus HST. Hosting and the domain are not included; you buy them in your own name and we help you set them up. See full pricing, the $499 one-page website or our case studies.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
- Who owns the website, the domain and the accounts when we are done?
- Are there monthly fees, and can I cancel them?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
- When will it be live, and what do you need from me?
FAQ
How much does a small business website cost in Ontario?
Published 2026 guides from Ontario web studios put a professional small business website at about $1,500 to $5,000, with larger custom sites up to about $12,000 and online stores from about $5,000. A DIY builder costs less in cash but adds a monthly fee and your own time. Bernum's fixed prices are $499 for one page, $999 for up to 5 pages and $2,499 for up to 10 pages, one-time plus HST.
What ongoing costs should I budget for?
A .ca domain costs about $10 to $20 a year, hosting from a few dollars to over $100 a month depending on the plan, and a builder subscription if you use one. Ask any designer which of these are included in their quote.
Why are your prices lower than the typical Ontario range?
We are a small studio with fixed packages. Each plan has a set number of pages and a set scope, so we don't have to price in open-ended meetings and revisions. Custom work, stores and integrations are quoted separately, before we start.
Are hosting and the domain included in Bernum's prices?
No. You buy the domain and hosting in your own name so you always control them. We help you choose a provider and set everything up.
Is HST included?
No. Our prices are in Canadian dollars, plus HST.
Sources
- Website price ranges: 2026 cost guides published by three Ontario web design studios (checked October 2026).
- CIRA: How much does a .ca domain cost?
Want a fixed price for your website?
Book a free 30-minute call