If you’ve started researching website design costs, you’ve probably noticed the answers are all over the place, anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. That range is real, and understanding what drives it is one of the most important things you can do before you invest. Here’s a breakdown of what small business website design actually costs, what you’re paying for at each level, and the red flags that tell you a quote is too good to be true.

DIY website builders have made it very easy for small business owners to get online quickly and affordably. And for a lot of businesses, that’s the perfect place to start. But there comes a point where your DIY site stops being a launchpad and starts being a ceiling, and knowing when you’ve hit that point can be the difference between staying stuck and actually growing. Here’s how to tell which side of that line you’re on.