"I want to build a website, but I have no idea how much it will cost." This is the most common inquiry we receive from small and medium-sized business owners. In short, as of 2026, the range most commonly invested by SMBs is between ¥300,000 and ¥1,500,000. However, actual costs can vary substantially from ¥50,000 to over ¥10,000,000 depending on industry, purpose, and vendor type.
In this article, organized into an easily readable quick reference table, we break down cost benchmarks by industry, scale, and vendor type using the latest 2026 data. Additionally, we have compiled points to check before requesting a quote and methods to wisely reduce costs. Please use this guide as a decision-making resource to formulate an effective budget plan.
Quick reference table: Understand website production cost benchmarks in 3 seconds
To help you grasp the overall picture first, we have compiled cost benchmarks by website type into a quick reference table.
| Website type | Cost benchmark | Production timeframe | Primary target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple business card site | ¥50,000–¥300,000 | 2–4 weeks | Sole proprietors and newly established businesses |
| SMB corporate website | ¥300,000–¥1,500,000 | 1–3 months | Core price range for SMBs |
| Lead-generation website (SEO-optimized) | ¥1,000,000–¥3,000,000 | 2–4 months | Lead acquisition and branding |
| Landing page (LP) | ¥100,000–¥800,000 | 2–6 weeks | Ad campaigns and conversion optimization |
| Recruitment website | ¥500,000–¥2,000,000 | 2–3 months | Talent recruitment |
| E-commerce website (ASP-based) | ¥300,000–¥1,000,000 | 1–2 months | Shopify, BASE, etc. |
| E-commerce website (Fully custom) | ¥2,000,000–¥10,000,000+ | 4–6 months | Custom features and large-scale sales |
| Portal and booking websites | ¥1,500,000–¥5,000,000 | 3–6 months | Complex functionality and multi-user access |
The price range commonly chosen by SMBs is ¥300,000–¥1,500,000. Within this range, you can build a site with custom design, basic SEO architecture, inquiry forms, and a scale of 10–20 pages.
Overview of website production costs
There is no "list price" for website production costs. Pricing varies widely based on purpose, page count, features, design complexity, and whom you hire. First, let's break down the cost components.
Five elements that make up the cost
| Element | Estimated cost | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Production cost (initial cost) | ¥50,000–¥10,000,000 | Design, coding, and system development |
| Domain registration fee | ¥1,000–¥3,000 annually | .com, .co.jp, .jp, etc. |
| Hosting/server fee | ¥500–¥5,000 monthly | Shared server or VPS |
| Maintenance and operation costs | ¥10,000–¥50,000 monthly | Update management and security administration |
| SEO and content costs | ¥30,000–¥200,000 monthly | Ongoing traffic-generation initiatives (optional) |
It is important to compare not only initial production costs, but also "total cost" including post-launch running costs.
Cost comparison by vendor type
The general cost and quality vary significantly depending on where you place your order.
| Vendor type | Estimated cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major web agency | ¥1,000,000–¥10,000,000+ | Brand power, extensive track record, strong proposals | High cost, slow decision-making |
| SMB / regional web agency | ¥300,000–¥3,000,000 | Locally oriented, flexible, good communication | Quality varies by company |
| Freelancers | ¥100,000–¥1,000,000 | Lower cost, close proximity to the person in charge | Variations in scope and skill set |
| Crowdsourcing | ¥50,000–¥500,000 | Minimal cost | Quality variations, management overhead |
| CMS / no-code (in-house production) | ¥10,000–¥30,000 monthly | Operating costs only | Limits on design flexibility and customizability |
Four risks of choosing based purely on low cost
Even if production costs are low, the following risks exist:
- Post-launch maintenance and updates become paid and expensive (even if initial costs are low, costs can reverse within 2–3 years)
- Fundamental SEO architecture is inadequate, resulting in little organic search traffic
- The site design relies on specific individuals and cannot be sustained after staff leave
- Inadequate security measures create risks of virus infections and data breaches
We recommend calculating cost comparisons as “production cost + 2 to 3 years of operational costs.”
Estimated costs and required features by industry
Because the features required for a website vary by industry, the estimated costs differ as well.
Restaurants, cafes, and hair salons
| Scale | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Small scale (independent shops) | 100,000 to 400,000 yen |
| Multiple locations / chains | 500,000 to 1.5 million yen |
Required features: Publishing menus and pricing, reservation forms (integrations with Hot Pepper, etc.), Google Maps embeds, social media integration, photo-centric design
The main drivers of customer acquisition are often Google Business Profile and Instagram, with an increasing number of cases using the website as a “gateway for reservations” and a way to “ensure credibility.” For details on coordinating with MEO strategies, see What is MEO? How to Rank High on Google Maps.
Professional services (lawyers, tax accountants, labor and social security attorneys, judicial scriveners)
| Scale | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Solo practices | 300,000 to 800,000 yen |
| Corporations / multi-person practices | 800,000 to 2 million yen |
Required features: Introduction of track record and practice areas, columns/blogs demonstrating expertise, free consultation request forms, SSL and security measures
“Conveying expertise and trust” is the top priority. Because this is a field where high experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are required under Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines (YMYL: Your Money or Your Life), content quality directly impacts SEO.
Medical clinics and dental practices
| Scale | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Private clinics | 300,000 to 1 million yen |
| Multi-department clinics and hospitals | 1 to 3 million yen |
Required features: Clinical departments and physician profiles, online booking system, clear display of access and consultation hours, content management compliant with medical advertising laws
Whether an online booking system is implemented significantly affects costs. A common approach to keeping costs down is integrating with external reservation services (such as EPARK or Air Reserve).
Real estate
| Scale | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Local small and medium-sized brokerages | 500,000 to 1.5 million yen |
| With property search feature | 1.5 to 5 million yen |
Required features: Property listings CMS, property search and filtering, inquiry forms, map integration
System development costs for property search features have a major impact. Costs increase further if data integration with REINS or an internal property management system is required.
Manufacturing and B2B enterprises
| Scale | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Small and medium-sized manufacturers (recruitment and trust building) | 500,000 to 2 million yen |
| Product- and technology-focused | 1 to 4 million yen |
Required features: Product catalogs (supporting PDF and video), content showcasing technological capabilities, recruitment pages, multilingual support (for global expansion)
For B2B websites, the goal is often “generating high-quality leads” rather than simply maximizing “the number of inquiries,” so white paper download forms and integration with marketing automation (MA) tools are frequently considered.
By price range: What changes
50,000 to 300,000 yen
A simple structure utilizing WordPress templates. Design customization is kept to a minimum, with the main goals being sharing information and providing contact details. Aimed at sole proprietorships and newly launched businesses.
300,000 to 1.5 million yen (the primary range for SMBs)
Incorporates custom designs, baseline SEO architecture, and inquiry forms. This is the price range chosen by most small and medium-sized businesses. Typically covers websites with 10 to 20 pages, including recruitment pages, case studies, and detailed service descriptions.
1 million yen and up
Full-fledged customer acquisition websites featuring completely custom designs built around branding, custom CMS implementation, and comprehensive SEO and content strategies. Positioned as an investment directly tied to sales and inquiry volumes.
Four key points to smartly reduce costs
To cut costs without sacrificing quality, the following approaches are effective:
1. Leverage templates and packaged plans
By utilizing paid WordPress themes (10,000 to 50,000 yen) or packaged plans offered by production agencies, you can reduce production costs by 30% to 50% compared to fully custom builds.
2. Narrow down to essential pages and features
Rather than aiming for a perfect website right from the start, an approach where you launch with the minimum required pages and expand based on results maximizes cost-effectiveness. The “MVP (Minimum Viable Product)” concept is also effective in website development.
3. Take advantage of subsidies and grants
In fiscal year 2026, you may be eligible for the “Digitalization and AI Implementation Subsidy” (formerly the IT Implementation Subsidy). While standalone websites are generally ineligible, projects combined with customer relationship management (CRM) systems or booking management features can qualify for subsidies in some cases.
- Subsidy rate: Up to 2/3
- Maximum amount: 4.5 million yen
Individual prefectures and municipalities may also offer their own subsidy programs. Details are compiled in Guide to Subsidies and Grants for Web Production [2026 Edition].
4. Balance in-house execution and outsourcing
Handling content writing, image preparation, and social media integration in-house helps keep costs down. On the other hand, highly specialized areas like SEO architecture, security, and performance optimization are best outsourced.
8-item checklist to verify when requesting quotes
When receiving estimates from web production agencies, make sure to check the following points:
- What is the number of included pages and the unit price for additional pages?
- Are there separate maintenance and update fees (monthly or annual)?
- Are SEO measures (titles, meta information, sitemaps, etc.) included?
- Are SSL certificate setup and fees included?
- Is setup for Google Analytics and Google Search Console included?
- What is the post-launch support framework (contact point, response speed)?
- Who holds copyright ownership (your company or the production agency)?
- Will source code and data assets be delivered?
When requesting estimates from multiple agencies, using the same requirements specification makes cost comparisons much easier. For detailed instructions on competitive bidding, please refer to How to Choose a Web Production Agency: 5 Key Points for Comparing Quotes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. Why is there such a wide range in website production costs?
A. Even under the single umbrella term of “website,” requirements vary wildly, ranging from simple 5-page informational sites to large-scale platforms exceeding 100 pages, with vastly different functional requirements and design complexity. As a general benchmark, costs vary significantly based on four factors: number of pages, design uniqueness, CMS features, and functional requirements such as inquiry forms.
Q. How much should an SMB spend on a website?
A. If built as a “digital business card,” 300,000 to 500,000 yen is appropriate; if used as a “primary engine for customer acquisition and hiring,” a full-scale build around 1 million yen is necessary. What matters is not the raw cost, but comparing it against “the results this site will generate.” If you anticipate an increase in monthly sales of 50,000 yen, a 1-million-yen investment can be recouped within two years.
Q. What is the difference between budget agencies and mid-range agencies?
A. The primary differences lie in the following three areas:
- Design customizability: Budget agencies reuse templates, while mid-range agencies create custom designs
- SEO and marketing strategy: Budget agencies provide bare minimums, while mid-range agencies build with customer acquisition in mind
- Post-launch support: Budget agencies charge for inquiries, while mid-range agencies provide support free of charge for a set period
Q. Can I use subsidies to lower production costs?
A. Yes, by leveraging the Digitalization and AI Implementation Subsidy, you can receive subsidies covering up to 2/3 of costs, up to 4.5 million yen. However, a standalone website is not eligible on its own; it must be combined with systems such as CRM or online booking. For details, please see our Guide to Subsidies and Grants for Web Production.
Q. How much do maintenance and operational costs run after building a website?
A. 10,000 to 50,000 yen per month is the typical market rate. This covers SSL renewals, server expenses, minor revisions, security patch applications, and more. If you also include SEO management and content updates, it generally runs between 30,000 and 200,000 yen per month.
Q. Does building a website in-house cost nothing?
A. Using platforms like STUDIO, Wix, or WordPress, you can build a site for just the platform fees of 1,000 to 3,000 yen per month. However, the “time cost” spent on planning, design, and operations is substantial. If it degrades productivity in your core business, leaving it to professionals often turns out cheaper in the long run. We explain this in detail in How to Build a Website with No-Code.
Summary: Clarify your budget and purpose before hiring an agency
The appropriate investment amount for website production changes depending on “what the site is for” and “what outcomes you expect.”
First, clarify your company's objectives.
- Ensuring credibility / digital business card → Can be built cost-effectively for 300,000 to 500,000 yen
- Increasing inquiries and hiring → Requires a full-fledged customer acquisition design around 1 million yen
- Generating sales through e-commerce → Options range from hosted ASP platforms to scratch development depending on use case
Rather than choosing solely on low cost, thinking of it as an investment in “the outcomes this website will produce” is the first step toward successful website creation.
Related articles
- How to Choose a Web Production Agency: 5 Key Points for Comparing Quotes — How to collect and evaluate competitive bids
- Guide to Subsidies and Grants for Web Production [2026 Edition] — How to leverage subsidies to reduce production costs
- 10 Causes and Solutions When Your Website Gets No Inquiries — What to do when a site fails to produce results after launch
- How to Navigate Corporate Website Renewals and Avoid Contracting Pitfalls — For those looking to revamp an existing site
30-minute free consultation — Discover your ideal budget
If you are wondering, “How much would it actually cost for our case?”, please take advantage of our 30-minute free consultation.
- Review of your current situation
- Presentation of cost ranges aligned with your goals
- Organization of necessary features and page structure
- Sharing key points to verify before placing an order
Zero sales pressure. Feel free to use this for gathering information before requesting estimates from production agencies.
