Honestly, I’d charge more than that just for the initial meeting and brief. Even logo design conversations often start at double that, and that’s before any actual design work begins.
For a one-page website, it really depends on what it’s for. Is it just a simple landing page with text and a contact form? Or does it need custom layouts, JavaScript, booking functionality, integrations, bespoke graphics, SEO setup, mobile optimisation, performance tuning, etc.? Those things add up quickly.
Even at $149, it can be reasonable but only if it’s very basic and template-driven (for example, something built quickly on Wix, Squarespace, etc.) with minimal revisions. At that price point, you’re unlikely to be getting much strategy, branding input, or long-term support.
It’s also hard to reduce web design to an hourly rate. You’re not just paying for “time spent” you’re paying for someone’s skillset, experience, and the things you don’t see: making sure it works across devices, loads fast, is structured properly for search engines, handles accessibility basics, and doesn’t break six months from now.
$149 isn’t automatically a red flag but it is low*, especially in a market like Los Angeles. I’d ask:
What platform is it built on?
How many revisions are included?
Who owns the site after completion?
Is hosting included or separate?
Is SEO setup included?
Is there ongoing support?
Sometimes the cheapest quote ends up costing more long-term if you outgrow it quickly or need to rebuild.
If your needs are simple, it might be fine. If this site represents your business and is meant to generate leads or revenue, it’s usually worth investing a bit more upfront.