How much does a website cost in Detroit?
If you've asked three web design companies for a price, you've probably gotten three answers — or worse, no answer until you "book a strategy call." Here are the real numbers for what small businesses in Metro Detroit actually pay, and what you get at each level.
Option 1: DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace) — $0 to $50/mo
Anyone can build a basic site on Wix or Squarespace, and for a hobby or side project that's fine. The trade-offs show up when the website needs to bring in customers:
- You do all the work. The "free" price doesn't include the 20–40 hours it takes to learn the builder, write the copy, and set everything up.
- They load slow on phones. Builder sites carry a lot of extra code. Since most of your visitors are on mobile, a slow site quietly loses you leads every day.
- SEO is limited. You have less control over the technical factors Google cares about, so ranking against a competitor with a properly built site is an uphill fight.
Option 2: Freelancers — $500 to $2,500
A good freelancer is often the best value in web design. At Detroit 313, our one-time packages run $999 (1–3 page starter site), $1,799 (5–7 page business site with blog and SEO foundations), and $2,499 (e-commerce or custom features). You own the site outright.
The catch with freelancers in general: quality varies wildly, and many disappear after launch. Ask any freelancer two questions before hiring: Who handles updates after launch, and can I see three sites you built that are still live?
Option 3: Agencies — $3,000 to $10,000+
Traditional agencies charge $3,000–$10,000 upfront for a small business site, then bill hosting, maintenance, and edits separately — often $75–150 per hour for changes. For most local service businesses, you're paying for account managers and office overhead, not a better website.
Option 4: Monthly plans — $100 to $200/mo, $0 down
The model more and more small businesses choose: instead of a big upfront invoice, you pay a flat monthly rate that covers everything — design, hosting, security, SEO, and unlimited edits.
Our monthly plan is $149/mo with $0 down. It includes a custom hand-coded 5-page site, hosting, unlimited edits (just text us), Google Business Profile setup, SEO copywriting, and a free full redesign every 3 years. See everything included →
Over three years, $149/mo comes out to about $5,360 — comparable to one agency build, except it includes three years of hosting, every edit you ever needed, ongoing SEO, and a fresh redesign at the end. And you never had to find $3,000 upfront.
So which option should you pick?
- Hobby or side project: a DIY builder is fine.
- You have budget and want to own your site: a one-time build from a proven freelancer, $999–$2,499.
- You want it handled — permanently: a monthly plan. Predictable cost, no surprise invoices, and someone to text when you need a change.
The one thing that matters more than price
A $500 site that brings you two extra jobs a month beats a $10,000 site that doesn't ring your phone. Whatever route you choose, judge it by one number: how many calls and quote requests it produces. Everything else is decoration.
Want a straight answer for your specific business? Call or text 313-212-1124 — we'll review your current site for free and tell you exactly what it would cost, even if the honest answer is "keep what you have."