What a trades website should cost in Ontario
Real price ranges, what drives them, and how to tell a fair quote from a padded one.
Published Sep 25, 2026 · 1 min read
There is no standard price, which is exactly why the question is hard to research. Here are real ranges for Ontario, and what moves them.
The ranges
| What you get | Build | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder, your own time | $0 | $20–$40 |
| Template service | $0–$500 | $50–$200 |
| Independent studio | $500–$3,000 | $25–$150 |
| Full agency | $4,000+ | $150+ |
Our own pricing sits in the independent-studio row: $499 to build, then $49 a month. That is deliberately at the lower end while we build a portfolio, and it is worth knowing that is why.
What actually drives the price
Page count. A five-page site is not five times a one-page site, but it is not the same either.
Photography. Using your photos is cheap. Arranging a shoot is not.
Who owns it afterwards. This is the one people miss. Some low monthly fees are rental: stop paying and the site disappears, because you never owned the domain or the files.
The question to ask any quote
If I stop paying you in a year, what do I keep?
If the answer is not "the domain and the website", you are renting. That can still be a fine deal, but it should be a decision rather than a surprise.
Where the money is usually wasted
- Pages nobody reads, built because a template had slots for them.
- A blog nobody will write.
- Stock photography, which costs money and actively reduces trust.
Common questions
How much does a website cost for a small trade business in Ontario?
Most small trade businesses in Ontario pay between $500 and $3,000 to have a site built, plus $25 to $150 a month for hosting and upkeep. Great North Agency charges $499 to build and $49 a month.Is a monthly-fee website worth it?
It depends entirely on what happens if you stop paying. If the monthly fee covers hosting, backups and support and you own the domain and site, it is usually good value. If stopping means losing the site, you are renting.Why do some website quotes differ by thousands of dollars?
Mostly page count, whether photography and copywriting are included, and how much custom design work is involved. A quote should say which of those it covers.
Want this done for you?
We build and look after websites for Ontario trade businesses — $499 to build, then $49 a month.