A basic small business website in India costs about ₹2,999–8,750 with a freelancer and ₹12,500–60,000 with an agency, based on published price guides (2026). Prices are mostly shown without GST, so add 18% where it applies to the seller. The number on the quote matters less than what it covers, because a ₹3,000 site and a ₹30,000 site are often different kinds of job.
How much does a website cost in India in 2026?
For a shop, clinic, salon, tutor or service business, the choice usually comes down to four routes. Each has its own price and its own catch.
| Route | Typical cost | Who does the work | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | ₹2,999 to ₹8,750 for a basic site | One person, design and build | Quality varies a lot. Writing and later changes are often extra |
| Agency | ₹12,500 to ₹60,000 | A team: designer, developer, sometimes a writer | Higher price, and hosting and changes may be billed separately |
| Website builder | Roughly $15–40 a month | You | Cheap to start, but you write, design and maintain every page |
| Done-for-you service | Fixed setup fee plus a monthly fee | The provider, after a short chat with you | Less custom design than an agency |
Builder subscriptions are quoted in dollars, so the rupee amount moves with the exchange rate and your card may add a foreign transaction fee.
Freelancer or agency: which is better for a small business?
A good freelancer is often the best value for a simple site. You talk to the person who builds it, and the price is lower because there is no office to pay for. The risk is dependence. If that person gets busy or disappears, you may have a site that nobody else can edit.
An agency gives you more than one pair of hands and a process, so projects tend to finish on time. You pay for that. For a small business with a handful of pages, the extra cost is rarely worth it unless you need custom features, an app, or a larger shop.
💡 Whoever you choose, make sure the domain is registered in your name and you have the login. That one detail decides whether you can ever move your site.
Is GST charged on website design?
Website design is a service, and GST applies when the seller is GST registered. Many small freelancers are below the registration limit and do not charge it. Agencies usually do. So two quotes of ₹15,000 are not equal if one adds 18% on top.
We show our prices in rupees, plus GST if applicable. When you compare quotes, write down three numbers: the price, the GST, and the total you will actually pay. If you are GST registered yourself, you may be able to claim input credit on the invoice. Your accountant can confirm.
What do cheap ₹3,000 websites usually leave out?
A ₹3,000 website is real, and it can be the right start for a very small business. But the price has to come from somewhere. Here is what usually gets cut:
- 1The writing. You send the text and photos. The designer just arranges them.
- 2A mobile check. The site looks fine on a laptop and clumsy on a phone, which is where most Indian visitors are.
- 3Hosting beyond the first year. The renewal price appears later.
- 4Your own domain. The site sits on a free address or on the seller’s domain.
- 5Search basics. Page titles, descriptions, a Google Business link and a site map are skipped, so nobody finds you.
- 6A WhatsApp button. It takes minutes to add, but it is sometimes sold as an extra.
- 7Privacy and contact pages. They are needed if you collect any details.
- 8Changes. Every edit becomes a new payment, or the seller stops replying.
- 9Backups and security. If the site is hacked or breaks, there is no one to call.
Ask a simple question before you pay: "If I need to change my phone number next month, what happens?" The answer tells you a lot.
How many pages does a small business website need?
Less than most people think. A clear five-page site beats a ten-page one that repeats itself. For a local business the usual set is:
- 1Home, saying what you do, where, and how to contact you.
- 2Services or products, with prices or a "from" price when you can.
- 3About, with your name, your experience and a real photo.
- 4Gallery or customer work, if you have it.
- 5Contact, with address, map, phone and WhatsApp.
Add pages when you have something real to say, such as one page per service, or one per area you serve. That is also how a small site starts to appear for local searches.
How much does an online shop cost in India?
An online shop is a different job from an information site, because it handles products, payments, stock and orders. Published guides put basic shops well above brochure sites, and custom systems higher still. Payment gateway fees are charged by the gateway on each sale, not by the builder. Before you commit, ask how many products are included, how customers log in, how you get order alerts, and who fixes it when a payment fails.
What does a done-for-you website cost in India?
Adyft Sites is a done-for-you service. You answer a few questions on WhatsApp, and we write the pages, build the site, host it, secure it and make small changes you ask for. The monthly fee covers hosting, security, small changes and a report. These are our India prices, plus GST if applicable.
| Plan | What you get | Setup + monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5 pages (home plus 4 you choose), live in under 7 days | ₹14,999 + ₹999 |
| Growth | 25 pages, about 12 days | ₹34,999 + ₹2,499 |
| Pro | 50 pages | ₹69,999 + ₹4,499 |
| Shop Starter | Website plus an order-taking shop, 50 products, customer login, order history, payments, order alerts on WhatsApp and email | ₹59,999 + ₹3,999 |
The Starter setup sits in the agency range at the low end, and the monthly fee takes the place of separate hosting and update bills. If you only need a very simple page and enjoy handling it yourself, a freelancer or builder will cost less. We would say so openly.
What should I prepare before I ask for quotes?
Quotes come back faster, and closer to the final price, when you give every seller the same short brief. Spend half an hour on it before you call anyone. It also stops a seller from pricing a bigger job than you need.
- 1The pages you want, in plain words: "Home, Services, About, Contact".
- 2Your services and prices, or at least a starting price for each.
- 3Three or four photos of your work, your shop or your team. Real ones beat stock pictures.
- 4Your business hours, address and the phone and WhatsApp number to show.
- 5Two or three websites you like, so the seller can see your taste.
- 6Your budget, and the date you would like to be live.
If you cannot write the text yourself, say so at the start and ask who will write it. This single question separates a quote for "a layout" from a quote for "a finished website". A done-for-you service asks you these questions on WhatsApp and writes the pages from your answers, which suits owners who would rather talk than type.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A simple five-page site can be live within a week when the owner replies quickly. Larger sites take longer, mostly because of waiting for text, photos and approvals rather than the building itself. If a seller promises a finished site in a day for ₹3,000, the pages are almost certainly a template with your name added. If a seller needs three months for five pages, ask why.
Keep the schedule simple. Ask for a date for the first draft, a date for your feedback, and a date for going live. Agree how many rounds of changes are included, so the project does not drift.
Which option fits which business?
| Your situation | Likely best fit |
|---|---|
| Very small budget, comfortable with technology | Builder subscription or a careful freelancer |
| A few pages, a limited budget, you want it done | Freelancer with a written scope, or done-for-you |
| No time, no designer, no writer | Done-for-you with a monthly plan |
| Custom features or an app | Agency |
| A growing shop with many products | Shop plan or agency, after a call |
Whichever you pick, a good test is simple. Can you see the finished pages before the final payment? Is the first-year total written down? Can you edit or ask for edits without a new contract? If the answers are yes, the price is probably fair.
Questions about website costs in India
What is the average cost of a small business website in India?
Published price guides (2026) show freelancers at about ₹2,999–8,750 for a basic site and agencies at about ₹12,500–60,000. Shops and custom features cost more.
Is a ₹3,000 website worth it?
It can be a fair start for a very small business, but check what it excludes. Writing, your own domain, search basics and later changes are often missing.
Does website design cost include GST?
Not always. If the seller is GST registered, 18% is added to the price. Ask for the total with GST, and compare quotes on that number.
What does a website cost every year after it is built?
Plan for a domain, hosting and some upkeep. A done-for-you plan bundles these in a monthly fee, while freelancers often charge separately for each.
Can I build my own website instead?
Yes. A builder subscription is roughly $15–40 a month, but you write the pages, choose the design and fix problems yourself. It suits owners who have the time.
Should the domain be in my name?
Yes. Whoever builds your site, the domain should be registered in your name so you can move it if you change provider.
Your website, written and built for you
Answer a few questions on WhatsApp. We write every page, build and host the site, and keep it updated. Starter is ₹14,999 plus ₹999 a month, plus GST if applicable.