Most website packages hide the thing that matters most
A small business website package sounds straightforward — you pay someone, you get a website. But the three things that actually determine whether you got a good deal are almost never spelled out clearly: how many pages you're getting, what hosting really costs month to month, and who's responsible when something breaks six months from now.
This article walks through each of those three decision criteria with concrete questions to ask and numbers to compare. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for — and what to walk away from.
Part 1: Pages — How Many Do You Actually Need?
The most common upsell in web design is pages. Agencies will quote you a base price for a "5-page site" and then charge per page after that. Before you accept that framing, ask yourself what a page is actually for.
The core pages most small businesses need
- Home: A clear statement of what you do, who you serve, and how to reach you.
- Services or Menu: What you offer and roughly what it costs. (Vague pricing loses customers.)
- About: Who's behind the business. People buy from people they trust.
- Contact: A form, a phone number, an address — however you want to be reached.
- Gallery or Portfolio: Proof of your work, if you're in a visual field like landscaping, photography, or renovation.
That's five pages. Most small businesses don't need twenty. If a package is charging you for ten pages you'll never fill with real content, you're not getting value — you're getting volume.
The pages that are worth adding later
Once you're live and getting traffic, these are genuinely useful additions:
- Blog: Even one or two posts a month helps Google understand what your business does and where you operate.
- Events or Calendar: If you host classes, pop-ups, or appointments, a dedicated page reduces back-and-forth with customers.
- FAQ: Answers the questions your front desk hears every day — and saves you time.
The key point: don't pay upfront for pages you don't need yet. A good package starts lean and makes it easy to add pages as your business grows, without re-hiring someone to do it.
Part 2: Hosting — What You're Really Paying for Each Month
Hosting is the monthly fee that keeps your website online. It's the part most small business owners understand the least, and it's where a lot of providers make their real margin.
What "hosting" actually covers
At its core, hosting means your website files live on a server somewhere and people can reach them when they type your domain name. But in 2026, a realistic hosting bill also includes:
- SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser — required for customer trust and Google ranking)
- Backups (so a mistake doesn't wipe your site)
- Security monitoring (so a hacker can't quietly take over your pages)
- Software updates (the underlying platform needs patching, just like your phone)
When you see a hosting plan advertised at $3/month, read the fine print. That price often covers only the raw server space. SSL, backups, and updates are billed separately — or worse, not done at all, which means your site eventually breaks or gets flagged as insecure.
What's a fair price in 2026?
For a small business site that includes hosting, SSL, backups, and basic maintenance, expect to pay somewhere between $10 and $50 per month depending on the provider and what's bundled. Anything under $10 is almost certainly missing something. Anything over $50 is worth scrutinizing — you should know exactly what you're paying for.
For reference, Hands Free Sites charges a flat $10/month that covers hosting plus every add-on — blog, gallery, contact form, calendar, events, shopping cart, and more. No per-feature upcharges. That's a useful baseline for comparison shopping.
Domain names: separate from hosting
Your domain name (like yourshop.com) is almost always billed separately from hosting, typically $10–$20 per year. Don't let a package provider bundle these costs in a way that obscures what you're paying for each. Own your domain — make sure it's registered in your name, not your web designer's name. If you part ways, you should be able to take your domain with you.
Part 3: Ongoing Help — The Part Everyone Forgets to Ask About
Here's the uncomfortable truth: most small business website packages include zero ongoing support. You pay for the build, you get handed login credentials, and from that point on you're on your own. Updates, fixes, content changes — that's your problem.
For a business owner who isn't technical, "your problem" often means the site slowly deteriorates. Plugins go out of date. Photos stop loading. The contact form breaks and you don't find out for weeks because nobody told you.
Questions to ask every provider about ongoing support
- Who fixes it if something breaks? Is that included, or is it an hourly rate?
- How do I update my content? Do I need to log into something and figure it out myself, or can I just email you?
- What happens when the platform updates? Do you test for compatibility, or does that fall to me?
- Is there a response time guarantee? If my site goes down on a Friday afternoon, when will it be back up?
The two models: self-serve vs. done-for-you
Most website builders — Wix, Squarespace, WordPress — are self-serve. You get a platform and a learning curve. That's fine if you enjoy it or have staff who do. But if you're a plumber, a florist, or a personal trainer, your time is worth more spent on your actual business.
The done-for-you model is exactly what it sounds like: you describe your business, someone else builds the site, and any ongoing changes or fixes are handled for you. You never log in, never troubleshoot a plugin conflict, never wonder if your SSL certificate expired.
If that sounds appealing, it's worth looking at Hands Free Sites — you describe your business, they build a full website (with all the pages and features listed above), and you can preview it free before paying a cent. The setup is $99 one-time, then $10/month flat. No surprises, no learning curve.
How to Actually Compare Packages Side by Side
When you're evaluating options, don't compare the headline price. Compare what's included at that price. Here's a practical framework:
Build a comparison checklist
- How many pages are included, and what's the cost to add more?
- Is hosting included, and does it cover SSL, backups, and updates?
- Who owns the files and the domain after the build?
- What does ongoing support look like — and is it included or billed separately?
- Can you see an example or preview before paying?
- Is there a contract, or can you cancel monthly?
Run every provider you're considering through this list. A package that looks expensive might include three years of hosting and free updates. A cheap one might be setup-only with a $150/hour support rate after that.
Red flags to watch for
- "Introductory pricing" that doubles after 12 months.
- No preview before you pay. You should see what you're buying.
- Files locked to their platform. If you ever want to move or redesign, you should be able to take your content with you.
- Vague support terms. "We'll help when we can" is not a support policy.
Putting It Together: What a Good Package Looks Like
A solid small business website package in 2026 gives you the five core pages you need, reliable hosting with SSL and backups included, and a clear answer for what happens when something needs to change. You should know who to contact, what it'll cost, and how long it'll take.
You don't need a twenty-page site. You don't need the most expensive plan. You need something that works, looks professional, and doesn't require you to become a part-time web developer to maintain it.
If you want to skip the comparison entirely and just have it handled: describe your business at Hands Free Sites and see a free preview in about five minutes. No demo calls, no contract, no login required. Just a real website that's built and maintained for you.
