How much does an auto repair shop website cost?

The three ways shops usually get a website

Every option costs something. The question is whether you pay with cash, with time, or with surprises later.

| Option | What you pay | What it costs you in time | Watch out for | |---|---|---|---| | DIY builder | Monthly plan, plus domain | Evenings and weekends building and fixing it | Sites that never get finished or updated | | Freelancer or agency | Upfront build fee, sometimes ongoing retainer | Meetings, revisions, waiting | Separate hosting bills and paying for every change | | Monthly done-for-you service | One flat monthly fee | Very little | Make sure you own your domain and can leave |

Prices vary widely by region and by provider, so get quotes in writing and compare what's included rather than the headline number.

The costs people forget

The build is only part of it. A shop website keeps costing money in ways that don't show up on the first invoice:

• Domain renewal. Your web address renews every year. If it lapses, someone else can grab it.
• Hosting. The site has to live somewhere. Some builders include it, many don't.
• Updates. New hours for the holidays, adding ADAS calibration, dropping a service you stopped offering. Agencies often bill these by the hour.
• Your time. If you're the one logging in to change things, that's time away from the counter or the lift.
• Fixing it when it breaks. Forms stop sending, plugins go out of date, the site gets slow. Someone has to notice and fix it.

What you should get for your money

Whatever you pay, a repair shop website should come with these basics:

1. A domain in your shop's name
2. Hosting and security included
3. A mobile-friendly layout, since most people find you on their phone
4. Your services, hours, address and phone
5. A service request form that captures the vehicle's year, make and model
6. Your Google reviews displayed on the page
7. A clear way to get changes made without a fight

If any of those are extra, add them to the comparison.

How a flat monthly fee compares

For a lot of shop owners, a flat monthly price is easier to plan around than a big build fee plus random invoices. WebsiteHandled, for example, is $97 a month with the website, domain and hosting included, quick edits on request, and a $99 Growth Session when you want something bigger like a new page or section. The value is less about the number and more about never having to think about it.

Questions to ask any provider

• Who owns the domain if I leave?
• Is hosting included, or billed separately?
• How do I request a change, and how long does it take?
• What happens to my site if I stop paying?
• Will the request form send to my email or phone?

The bottom line

The cheapest website is the one that stays accurate and keeps sending you calls without eating your time. Compare total cost over a year, including updates and your own hours, not just the price to build it.