The Cost of Building a Web Site

Determining how much it costs to build a Web site is a tough job. On one hand, you could do the job yourself or hire a couple of college kids to put together a low-budget site. On the other hand, the

If you need a truly professional Web site, you'll want to hire a professional firm. Web developers do more than just code HTML -- they help you decide what information to place on your site; create graphics, logos and other marketing collateral; connect your site to databases and e-commerce systems; and add multimedia and other types of content. A typical Web development team can include a dozen or more people, each with a particular specialty.

How much will a professional firm cost? It's still expensive -- it's not uncommon to pay upwards of $10,000 for a professional business Web site designed by a company with a proven track record. And if you go with an industry leader, a larger site with publishing tools, database connectivity and other advanced features can cost $250,000. And that doesn't even cover maintenance costs.