How Much ? Not including minor fees for domain registration etc., web sites vary.  The size and complexity of the site will determine the cost.  The size can mean the amount of pages available for viewing on the web as well as how  interactive it can be.   Usually the more artistic and graphic intense, the higher the cost.  However the average cost of a web site for a small business is $850.00 (approx. 20 pages) .  Sites with ecommerce in which you own or rent your own shopping cart can become more expensive due to design implications.  Some sites have run up costs higher than $150,000.00. 

STEP ONE:  Domain Registration :You gotta have a name and don't wait too long.  Names are bought and resold everyday.  Choose a name that you are comfortable with that is not too long…you'll be glad you did.  "INTERNIC"  issues and maintains records for domain names.   There are now numerous places on the internet to do this.  LA Web recommends www.directnic.com  directNIC is a newer agency and they charge $15.00 per year with less trouble when and if you need changes.   Your web manager can register your name for you usually for a fee.  

STEP TWO:  Internet Service Provider (ISP) : You will need an ISP for one or more reasons.  Your ISP is the agency that gives you a pipeline to the internet.  Either a "Dial Up Account" or broader band connection such as DSL or Cable.  The internet is becoming more graphic intense and is requiring more and more from it's connections to be able to navigate/surf. 

Usually High Speed Internet connections to the internet are more costly, but worth every cent if within your budget.  This is customarily done through DSL companies such as Bellsouth and CABLE companies such as Cox Cable.

Email is being integrated into our lives at a steady pace and many people view it as an absolute necessity.   Some feel it is more professional use your "new" domain dot com address for your email.  Many companies hosting web sites are offering email free so if you already have an email address, you may want to take advantage of the new domain email anyway.    The ISP can also play a large roll if and when you decide to move into the "e commerce" arena.

Pricing differs depending on what you buy.  Typically the pricing looks like this:

STEP THREE:  Web Site Developer/Designer : You will need someone with at least basic knowledge of how the internet works to put "web pages" on your web site.  Most webmasters will use "generators" to organize the pages but it's good to ensure they have a working knowledge of html coding.  They all will use software to upload your web pages to your ISP so they can be viewed by all.  You may want to have all your "artwork", logos, etc. ready for transfer, or you may allow your web designer to do original work.  All this is negotiable.   If and when you move into ecommerce and utilize shopping carts and secure servers, you will most assuredly  need some assistance from a web site developer who has experience in this area.  

When ? : Businesses on a daily basis are moving part of their identity closer to the internet.  The internet "evolves" and so will your web site.  The sooner your business is online,  the sooner the world can shop your business at night when you’re asleep.

Note :  One page web sites have a very slim chance of success on the internet especially when trying to sell or share new products.  They  rely primarily on search engines for promotion of their product and these sites can get very lonely.  Unfortunately, there seems to be a perception that if you build a web site, people will visit.  This is just not true.  People need to know about and have a reason to visit a web site.  One pagers are not recommended unless you do not mind possibly losing your initial investment.