Brite Sites is a queer-owned web design company based in Oshawa, Ontario, delivering custom websites for Canadian small businesses. Flat rates. Fast turnaround. No templates.

How fast can you build a website?

A one-page website is delivered in one day. A multi-page website is delivered in one week.

What platform do you build on?

We build on Webflow. It's fast, beautiful, and you can update it yourself without touching a single line of code.

Where in Canada do you work?

We are based in Oshawa, Ontario and serve small businesses across Durham Region including Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Scarborough, Markham, and Bowmanville, as well as remotely across Canada.

Yes. From day one. No subscriptions. No lock-in. Just your site, yours forever.

How Much Does a Website Cost in Canada? (2026 Honest Pricing Guide)

If you've ever tried to get a straight answer on what a website costs, you already know the problem. Some agencies won't even show you prices. Others give you a "starting from" number that somehow ends up tripling by the time you get an invoice.

Here's the honest breakdown — every option, what you actually get, and what to watch out for.

the real range: $0 to $100,000+

Website pricing in Canada runs the full spectrum. Here's what each tier actually means.

Woman building a DIY website on a laptop with a colourful screen — diy websites $0 to $500 per year, Canadian websites graphic by brite sites

diy website builders: $0–$500/year

What it includes: Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify subscription. Templates, limited customization, hosted on their platform.

Who it's right for: Pre-revenue businesses that need something live immediately and have time to build it themselves.

What to watch out for:

You don't own the site — you're renting it
Monthly fees add up: $20-50/month means $240-600/year, forever
Wix and Squarespace sites look like Wix and Squarespace sites
Moving to a custom site later means starting from scratch
Page speed is often poor, which hurts Google rankings

Honest verdict: Fine for a placeholder. Not a long-term strategy for a business that wants to grow.

Freelancer working on a laptop with a camera and coffee on a dark wooden desk — freelancers and small agencies $500 to $5k, Canadian websites graphic by brite sites

freelancer or small agency: $500–$5,000

What it includes: Usually a WordPress or template-based site, basic pages, minimal customization.

Who it's right for: Businesses on a tight budget that need something more professional than DIY.

What to watch out for:

Quality varies enormously — vet the portfolio carefully
Many use the same template for every client
Ongoing support and updates often cost extra
WordPress sites need regular maintenance or they break

Honest verdict: Can be great value. Can also be a waste of money. Do your homework before you commit.

Three colleagues reviewing work on a laptop together — mid-size agencies $5k to $20k, Canadian websites graphic by brite sites

mid-size agency: $5,000–$20,000

What it includes: Custom design and build, brand strategy, copywriting, SEO, ongoing support.

Who it's right for: Established businesses with complex needs — multiple service areas, ecommerce, booking systems, large content libraries.

What to watch out for:

Long timelines — often 2-4 months from brief to launch
Lots of meetings and approvals
Monthly retainer fees on top of build costs
You're paying for overhead as much as output

Honest verdict: Worth it for the right business at the right stage. Overkill for most small businesses just starting out.

Professional man in glasses reviewing content on a tablet — large agencies $20k to $100k+, Canadian websites graphic by brite sites

large agency or enterprise: $20,000–$100,000+

What it includes: Full brand strategy, custom development, content production, ongoing management.

Who it's right for: Large organizations, ecommerce businesses with significant inventory, companies with complex technical requirements.

Honest verdict: Not relevant to most small businesses reading this. If you need this tier, you already know it.

Woman in a robe holding a coffee mug and working on a laptop — what drives the cost of a website build? FAQ graphic by brite sites

what actually drives the price?

Understanding what makes websites cost more helps you ask better questions when getting quotes.

Complexity: A one-page site costs less than a ten-page site. A booking system costs more than a contact form. Ecommerce costs more than a brochure site.

Custom design vs template: Custom design takes more time and costs more. Templates are faster and cheaper but you share your look with thousands of other businesses.

Copywriting: Writing the words on your website is a separate skill. Some agencies include it. Many don't. If it's not included, budget $500-2,000 for a professional copywriter.

Photography: Same — professional photography is often not included. Budget $300-1,500 for a brand shoot if you don't have good photos.

SEO setup: Basic SEO should be included in any professional build. If it's not mentioned, ask specifically what's included.

Ongoing costs: Domain ($15-20/year), hosting ($15-50/month), and any platform fees are separate from the build cost. Make sure you understand the total cost of ownership before you sign anything.

Woman wearing a hijab taking notes beside a laptop — what should I ask before hiring a web designer? FAQ graphic by brite sites

the questions to ask before you hire anyone

Is this a flat rate or hourly? If hourly, what's the cap?
What's included — design, copy, photos, SEO, hosting?
Do I own the site when it's done?
What platform are you building on and why?
What does ongoing support cost?
How long will it take?
Can I see examples of sites you've built for similar businesses?

about brite sites

brite sites is a queer-owned web design company born and built in Oshawa, Ontario. We build custom websites for Canadian small businesses at flat rates — starting at $1,500, delivered in as little as one day. No templates. No subscriptions. No lock-in. You own your site from day one.

Good bs, delivered fast. britesites.ca

June 9, 2026