A website for your business: what you need, your options and what it costs

In short: To have a website for your business you need four things: a domain (your address, like your-business.cr), hosting (the server where it lives), design and development and content (text, photos and prices). There are three ways to get one: build it yourself on a platform like Wix, hire a freelancer or hire an agency. At WEB.CR a professional site of up to 5 pages costs from ₡384,500 + VAT, with the domain and the site in your name.

Many people search for "website" without being sure what they're buying. This guide explains its parts, which route suits your business and what each one costs, so you can decide with real numbers.

What a website is for a business

It's the address on the internet where your customers find you, see what you sell, compare prices and contact you. Unlike a social network, the website is yours: it doesn't depend on an algorithm or on a platform changing its rules. For the technical side, read how a website works.

The four parts you need

Part	What it is	How it's paid
Domain	Your address: your-business.cr, .co.cr or .com	Every year
Hosting	The server where the site lives	Monthly or yearly
Design and development	How it looks and works on a phone	Once
Content	Text, photos, prices and contact details	You provide it, or it's quoted separately

The domain

It's the first thing to secure, because if someone registers it first, you lose it. If your customers are in Costa Rica, a .cr or .co.cr builds local trust. Prices are in how much a domain costs in Costa Rica and tips on picking the name in how to choose a domain name.

Hosting

It's the server where your site lives. Good hosting keeps it fast, secure and backed up. At WEB.CR, hosting with maintenance starts at ₡25,000 + VAT a month (hosting and maintenance).

Design and development

This is what makes the site look professional, load fast on a phone and convince the customer to write to you. It's the biggest difference between a site that brings customers and one that just exists.

Content

Text, photos and prices. It's what delays projects most: if it's ready before you start, the site launches much sooner.

Three ways to get your website

Option	It suits you if…	What to know
Build it yourself (Wix, Squarespace, Google Sites)	You're starting out and have time to learn	You pay the platform monthly and the site stays tied to it
A freelancer	You need something simple and know someone you trust	You depend on one person for changes, support and emergencies
An agency	You want the site to bring customers and have someone to call	It costs more than doing it yourself, but includes a process, support and accountability

We compare the last two in depth in web design agency or freelancer, and the platforms in Wix vs your own website.

What a business website costs

WEB.CR's published prices, before VAT:

Type of site	From
Informational site (up to 5 pages; we make the changes)	₡384,500
Editable site (up to 8 pages you update yourself)	₡659,500
Online store (cards and SINPE Móvil, 50 products loaded)	₡934,450
.co.cr or .cr domain per year	US$25 or US$70
Hosting and maintenance	₡25,000 a month

Every extra is detailed in how much a website costs in Costa Rica, and you can price your case in the price calculator.

What your business website should have

• What you sell and who it's for, clear from the first screen.
• Prices, or an easy way to get a quote.
• A WhatsApp button and visible contact details.
• Fast on a phone, where most people will see it.
• Ready for Google: titles, descriptions and one page per service.
• Everything in your name: domain, site and accounts.

Common mistakes

• Registering the domain in the provider's name and losing it when you switch.
• Starting without text or photos.
• Choosing on price alone without seeing published work.
• Believing the site brings customers on its own. It needs Google and content; see why a new website doesn't guarantee customers.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a website for my business cost?

At WEB.CR, from ₡384,500 + VAT for an informational site of up to 5 pages, ₡659,500 + VAT for an editable site and ₡934,450 + VAT for an online store. The domain is paid yearly and, if you want it, hosting with maintenance from ₡25,000 + VAT a month.

What do I need to have a website?

A domain, hosting, the design and the content. If you hire an agency, you usually just provide your business information and approve the design.

Can I make my website for free?

Some platforms have free plans, but they use the platform's address and show their own ads. A business should at least have its own domain.

Website or social media?

Both. Social media shows your work; the website is yours, shows up on Google and is where the customer decides and writes to you. We compare them in Linktree vs your own website.

Which is the best web development company in Costa Rica?

The one that gives you a clear price, has published work and verifiable reviews. WEB.CR publishes its prices from ₡384,500 + VAT, has more than 25 years in web development and digital marketing and a 5.0 rating on Google (see the reviews). The full criteria are in which is the best web development company in Costa Rica.

Keep reading

If you already know you want a professional site, see what our web design in Costa Rica includes and the step-by-step process in website design in Costa Rica. Or book a free call of 30 minutes.

Prices current as of October 2026, in colones and before VAT. Domains are charged in colones at the Central Bank of Costa Rica's rate of the day.