By industry
Website design by industry: 9 guides with costs and rules
The short answer
Every business website needs the same basics: a domain in your name, a page that works on phones, one clear next step and a way to leave your platform. What changes by industry is the rules, such as HIPAA for medical and therapy practices or bar advertising rules for law firms, and the tools customers expect, such as listing search for real estate or online ordering for restaurants. Pick your industry below for a design guide, a 3-year cost breakdown and real examples.
Jump to your industry: Real estate, Law firms, Dental, Medical, Therapists, Contractors, Electricians, Restaurants, Schools.
What every business website needs
Most of a good business website is the same in every industry. Get these right first, then add what your field needs.
- Your own domain, in your name. The domain name and the builder account should belong to your business, not to a vendor or a former employee.
- A page that works on phones. Many visitors arrive on a phone, so the number, the address and the main button have to be easy to tap. See responsive design.
- One clear next step. Call, book, order or request a quote. Put it at the top of every page.
- A way out. Check what you can export before you sign. Our exit scores rate how hard it is to leave each platform.
- The true 3-year cost. Add the plan, the domain after year one, one email inbox and any booking or ordering tool. The cost guides below do this for each industry.
What changes by industry
The differences come from two places: the rules your field has to follow, and the special tools customers expect, such as listing search for agents or online ordering for restaurants. The table sums up each guide. Click a cost to see how it adds up.
| Industry | The site’s main job | Rules and fees to check | Build it yourself, 3 years | Industry platforms, 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | MLS listing search, seller leads, neighborhood pages | MLS and IDX data rules | $1,332.96 on Squarespace Core, without MLS search | $2,898.24 (Placester) to $15,164.24 (Real Geeks) |
| Law firms | Practice areas, lawyer bios, fast contact | Your state bar’s advertising rules | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,332.96 on Squarespace or Wix | $3,270.24 (Justia Elevate) to $21,864.24 (Grow Law) |
| Dental | Call or book, insurance and payment answers | HIPAA for forms and booking | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,692.96 on Wix Business | ProSites, Officite and PBHS quote privately |
| Medical | Call, book or reach the patient portal | HIPAA; WCAG 2.1 AA if you receive HHS funding | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,692.96 on Wix Business | $3,864.24 (Optimized360) plus a design fee; most quote privately |
| Therapists | Who you help, where you’re licensed, fees, one first step | HIPAA-ready intake and booking | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,692.96 on Squarespace or Wix | $2,956.24 to $12,595.24 (Brighter Vision, TherapySites) |
| Contractors | Calls and quote requests, one page per service and town | License number where your state requires it | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,332.96 on Wix or Squarespace | $2,891.24 to $24,300.24 plus hosting |
| Electricians | Calls, one page per job type, reviews | License number where your state requires it | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,332.96 on Wix or Squarespace | $1,787.93 to $14,664.24 |
| Restaurants | Menu as real text, hours, order or book | Per-order fees and who owns the site | $432.60 on WordPress to $1,332.96 on Wix or Squarespace | $5,664.24 to $18,264.24 before order fees |
| Schools | Calendars, enrollment, menus, parent portal | Required postings; WCAG 2.1 AA for public schools | $300.24 to $1,332.96 for a small private school | K-12 vendors quote privately |
Three-year totals use only published prices and include a domain and one business email inbox, as each cost guide explains. Rules on these pages are general information, not legal advice.
Three questions for any industry website company
Industry platforms can save you time: they know your field and often bundle booking, listings or ordering. Before you sign with one, ask:
- Who owns the domain, the content and the design? Get it in writing. Some contracts keep the design if you leave.
- Can I export the site, and in what form? Many vendors publish no export, so leaving means a rebuild. Our guide to leaving your website builder shows what to save.
- How long is the contract, and does it renew on its own? Note the cancel window before you sign.
Not on the list?
For any other small business, start with our list of the best website builders for small businesses or the guide on how to choose a website builder. If you already have a site and want to change it, see website redesign. For general budgets, read how much a website costs.
Questions people ask
Do I need an industry-specific website platform?
Not always. A general builder or WordPress covers most needs at a lower 3-year cost. Industry platforms make sense when you need a built-in tool, such as MLS search, HIPAA-ready booking or online ordering, and are willing to accept their contract and export terms.
Which industries have legal rules for their websites?
Several. Law firms follow state bar advertising rules, medical, dental and therapy practices need HIPAA-ready forms and booking, some contractors and electricians must show a license number, and public schools face WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility deadlines. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is my industry missing?
These are the 9 industries we cover in depth so far. For any other business, the small business builder list and the guide to choosing a website builder apply.
Pick your industry
Would you rather have someone build it?
We also build and look after WordPress sites for US businesses. Flat fees from $700. This is our own service. It isn’t part of our rankings.