How much does a small business website cost in Québec in 2026?
It’s the question we get most often, and the one the industry rarely answers clearly. Here’s an honest overview, with approximate price ranges seen on the Québec market.
The 4 main options
| Option | Starting cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY (Wix, Squarespace) | $25 to $60/month | Very small budgets, lots of free time |
| Freelancer | $1,500 to $5,000 | Simple projects, if you find the right person |
| Specialized studio | $2,500 to $15,000 | Small businesses that want a professional result without managing the project |
| Agency | $15,000 to $50,000+ | Large organizations, complex projects |
DIY
It’s the cheapest option, but you pay in time. Expect 30 to 60 hours for a decent first website, not counting the writing. The result is often slow on mobile and hard to find on Google.
Freelancer
There are excellent freelancers. The risk is continuity: what happens if they’re no longer available in 2 years? Make sure the domain and code are in your name.
Specialized studio
That’s our category. You get a proven process, fixed deadlines and maintenance after launch, without the overhead of a big agency.
Agency
The right choice for projects with many stakeholders, heavy integrations or a full marketing strategy. For most small businesses, it’s more than needed.
Hidden costs to watch for
The quote is often only part of the bill. Ask these questions before signing:
- Is copywriting included? Writing the content is often the longest part of a project.
- What about photos? Stock photos, your own, or a professional shoot?
- Hosting and maintenance? An unmaintained WordPress website becomes vulnerable within months.
- A second language? It often adds 25% to 40%.
- Law 25 compliance? Privacy policy, consent, forms.
- Changes after launch? Who makes them, and at what price?
- Who owns the domain and code? If it’s not you, run.
And at Balise Studio?
We chose to post our prices, because we think you deserve to know before you call:
- Essential: $2,490, up to 5 pages, delivered in 2 weeks
- Growth: $5,900, up to 12 pages, custom design, copywriting and local SEO included
- Custom: from $12,000, for stores, portals and integrations
Law 25 compliance, training and 30 days of support are included in every package. See full pricing.
Our advice
Don’t choose based on the starting price alone. Calculate the 3-year cost: design + hosting + maintenance + your own time. Above all, ask yourself how much one new client is worth to your business. For a firm or a clinic, a website that brings in 2 or 3 more clients a year often pays for itself in the first year.