The three ways to get a contractor website
Build it yourself
General website builders such as Wix and Squarespace give you templates, hosting and an editor for a monthly or yearly subscription. The money cost is low. The real cost is your time: choosing a template, writing every page, sizing photos, setting up the quote form, and keeping it all up to date. They are built for every kind of business, so the trade-specific parts (your license, service area, project gallery) are yours to add.
Hire a web designer or agency
A freelancer or agency builds a site for you, usually for a one-time fee. Squarespace's own guide to website costs says hiring a professional designer can range from $500 to a couple of thousand dollars, and that sites with custom functionality can run into tens of thousands. Ask whether hosting, your domain, security updates and later changes are included, because they often aren't.
A done-for-you subscription
Some companies, ObraUp among them, build the site and then charge a monthly fee that covers hosting and support. You pay less up front and more over time, and the company handles the technical side.
Costs people forget
Whatever route you choose, budget for these:
- A domain name, such as yourbusiness.com, paid yearly to a registrar.
- Hosting, which keeps the site online. Builders and subscriptions include it; designers often don't.
- Changes after launch: new photos, a new service, a price update. Designers usually bill these by the hour.
- Photos of your work. Real photos of your own jobs matter more than any design. Your phone is usually good enough.
- Your time, especially if you build it yourself.
What ObraUp costs
The website build is free on every plan, and the first month costs nothing. After that:
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $39/month | $390/year | 7 pages including gallery and reviews, quote form, tap to call, service map, unlimited self-serve edits, yourbusiness.obraup.com address, live in 7 business days |
| Premium | $79/month | $790/year | Everything in Essential, plus 9 pages and a page per service and project, FAQ and financing pages, 1 monthly edit, your own domain, live in 5 business days |
| Elite | $129/month | $1290/year | Everything in Premium, plus 11 pages including case studies and journal, a cinematic design with a signature interaction, 2 monthly edits, domain included (up to $20 a year), live in 3 business days |
Yearly billing costs ten months' worth, about 17% less than paying monthly. Hosting is included on every plan. Delivery times start once you've sent your details. You can cancel any time, and the cancellation takes effect at the end of your paid month. See pricing for the full comparison.
What ObraUp doesn't include
So you can compare fairly: ObraUp plans don't include search engine optimization services, paid ad management, social media management, logo design, photography or email hosting. ObraUp doesn't promise leads, rankings or traffic. The sites are built with sound technical basics like structured data, fast loading and mobile layouts, but no website company can guarantee where you'll rank.
How to choose
- Choose a builder if you enjoy doing it yourself, have the time, and want full control.
- Choose a designer if you want something fully custom, need special features, or want to own the design outright.
- Choose a done-for-you subscription like ObraUp if you'd rather spend your time on jobs and want a site made for your trade without a large upfront bill.
Questions people ask
Is a cheap contractor website worth it?
A simple site that loads fast, shows your license number, lists your services and makes it easy to call you does most of the work. Expensive features matter less than real photos, accurate details and a working phone link.
Do I have to pay for a domain separately?
It depends on the plan. Essential uses a free yourbusiness.obraup.com address. Premium uses your own domain, which you register in your name. Elite includes a domain up to $20 a year.
Are there setup fees with ObraUp?
No. The website build is free on every plan unless your order form says otherwise, and the first month costs $0.
What if I cancel?
You can cancel any time by email. It takes effect at the end of your current paid month, and you keep your photos, text, logo and any domain registered in your name. If you cancel before your site goes live, you get back anything you were charged.
Sources
- Squarespace, How much does a website cost? (checked October 13, 2026)
- ObraUp plan details from pricing and the Cancellation and Refund Policy (checked October 13, 2026)