Websites · · ether.
How much does a website cost in Canada?
The cost of a small business website in Canada comes down to four things: how many pages you need, who writes the copy, whether you sell online, and which platform it runs on. A do it yourself builder costs the least upfront and the most of your time. A site built for you costs more and should include copy, tracking and search setup. At ether., a site of up to 10 pages is C$2,500 when you supply the copy and C$3,500 when we write it, and a small online store is C$3,000.
What drives the price
- Pages. A five page site for a local service business is a smaller job than a site with a page for every service and location.
- Copy. Writing is the cost most owners leave out. When nobody has time to write, the project stalls or launches with thin pages.
- Selling online. Products, payments, shipping, pickup and tax settings add setup time, even on Shopify or Square.
- Design. A strong template adapted to your brand costs less than a design built from scratch, and suits most small businesses well.
- Connections. Booking tools, CRM forms, call tracking and ad pixels each need to be set up and tested.
Costs that continue after launch
Budget for a domain name, hosting or a platform subscription, any paid apps or plugins, and someone to keep forms, booking links and tracking working. These are easy to forget when you compare quotes, and a broken booking link costs more in lost enquiries than the check that would have caught it.
What every quote should include
Before you compare prices, check that each quote covers the same work:
- Who writes the copy, and how many rounds of changes are included
- Titles, descriptions, headings and structured data so Google and AI tools can read the site
- Analytics and conversion tracking on every form, call and booking
- Search Console and Bing setup at launch
- Who owns the domain, the site and the accounts after launch
How to spend less without cutting corners
- Write your own copy if you can, and pay for structure and editing.
- Start with the pages that bring enquiries: home, each main service, pricing, about and contact.
- Choose a platform you can update yourself.
- Put your prices on the site. Buyers and AI tools can answer the cost question without calling you, and the calls you do get are better qualified.
Where to start
If you want a hand with this, see Websites + Online Stores, browse examples of our work, or get a free AI Search Check to see where your business stands today.
Questions
How much does ether. charge for a website?
A site of up to 10 pages is C$2,500 with your copy or C$3,500 with ours. A Shopify or Square store with up to 25 products is C$3,000, and a pricing page added to an existing site is C$600.
Is Squarespace or Wix cheaper than hiring someone?
Upfront, yes. You pay the platform subscription and build the site yourself. What you trade is your time, plus the copy, tracking and search setup a builder leaves to you.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
Most sites of up to 10 pages launch in three to four weeks once the copy is ready.