ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SpeedyEatz - 155 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Virgo Web Design - 5874 N Ridge Ave, Ste G, Chicago, IL 60660

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying for a big agency unless you need a lot of custom functionality. You mainly need a mobile-friendly site, easy-to-update catering menus, inquiry/contact forms, and ideally online ordering.

Here are some Chicago options worth getting quotes from:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Specifically markets to small businesses and offers WordPress sites. Their positioning is budget-friendly, and they’re based in Chicago. Choose Chicago
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop-based and focused on small-business WordPress sites. Good candidate if you want someone relatively local and want ongoing maintenance.
• SpeedyEatz — Particularly relevant to you because it focuses on restaurant websites with online ordering and has a menu system that lets owners update prices/menu items.
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Actually located downtown at Riverside Plaza and works with small-to-mid-sized local businesses. Their listed starting point is around $2,500, so I'd consider them only if your budget is higher.
• Web Action LLC — Located in River North and specifically advertises menu design, including digital menus, alongside web development.
• John Schuster — A local freelancer rather than a large agency, which can sometimes mean a more economical project for a straightforward catering site.

One cheaper alternative

If your main goal is taking orders, rather than having someone build a complicated custom website, togoplato.com is worth investigating. It's Chicago-focused and provides branded online ordering, menu management, payments and an owner dashboard. Its current pricing page shows a free plan with a $1.49/order fee, and a $49/month plan with a $0.99/order fee; the latter includes a catering menu. TogoPlato

For your business, I'd ask each designer for a quote for exactly this scope:

• 5–6 page mobile-friendly website
• Catering menu with categories, photos and prices
• Request-a-Catering-Quote form
• Order form with event date, guest count, delivery/pickup, menu selections and special requests
• Click-to-call and email buttons
• Google Maps/business information
• Basic local SEO for "Chicago catering"
• Ability for you to change menu items and prices yourself
• Google Analytics/Search Console setup
• Hosting and maintenance price separately

I'd specifically ask for a fixed project price rather than an hourly estimate. For a relatively simple catering site, that makes it much easier to compare proposals.

If you tell me your approximate budget — under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$2,500 — I can narrow this to the most suitable 3 and find their current pricing/contact information.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• TappedIn - 2944 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SpeedyEatz - 155 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Digital Market America - Chicago, IL 60611
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Menus and Photos - Chicago, IL 60656
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Virgo Web Design - 5874 N Ridge Ave, Ste G, Chicago, IL 60660

For a small catering company, I’d look for someone who can do three things without turning this into a $5,000+ project: a mobile-friendly menu, a simple catering/order form, and easy updates when prices or offerings change.

Here are some Chicago-area options worth getting quotes from:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — A local small-business-focused web designer. Their published description emphasizes budget-friendly WordPress sites, responsive design, SEO, and ongoing maintenance. Choose Chicago

Ask for: a 4–5 page site with an editable catering menu and inquiry/order form.

• TappedIn — Particularly relevant because they specialize in restaurants and food-service businesses. Their restaurant tools include online ordering, catering, menu management, and related integrations.

Ask for: a simple catering site rather than a large restaurant marketing package.

• Menus and Photos — Restaurant-focused Chicago studio that combines menu design with website work. They specifically offer editable menus and online-ordering integration.

Ask for: website + menu setup as a bundled project.

• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop WordPress provider serving small businesses and hospitality. They build sites that you can update yourself, which is useful if your catering menu changes frequently.
• SpeedyEatz — Downtown Chicago and specifically restaurant-focused, with website development and online ordering. This is worth investigating if actual online ordering/payment, rather than just an inquiry form, is important.

An especially inexpensive approach

You may not actually need a traditional web designer to build the ordering system from scratch. TogoPlato has a free plan for Chicago restaurants and supports menus, catering menus, payments, scheduled orders, and direct online ordering; its paid plans start at $49/month. TogoPlato TogoPlato

Another low-cost option is Orderlanes, which advertises a free initial restaurant website design and $39/month after approval, including a menu and online ordering. Orderlanes

For a catering company specifically, I'd probably price out a simple $500–$1,500 website rather than paying an agency for a complicated restaurant site. The site could have:

1. Home — photos, specialties, service area, phone
2. Catering Menu — packages/prices with photos
3. How It Works — minimums, lead time, delivery/pickup
4. Request a Quote / Order Form — date, guest count, menu selections, dietary needs, delivery address
5. Contact
6. Optional online payment/deposit

One important distinction: a quote/inquiry form is much cheaper and simpler than full online ordering with payment, inventory, delivery fees, and automated confirmations. For catering, I'd start with the quote form unless you routinely receive standardized orders.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$2,000) and whether you want customers to pay online or just submit an order/quote request, I can narrow this to 3 options and compare their likely costs/features.

• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Virgo Web Design - 5874 N Ridge Ave, Ste G, Chicago, IL 60660
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Menus and Photos - Chicago, IL 60656
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency for a complicated site. You mainly need a polished mobile site with:

• Catering/menu pages that you can update
• A simple “Request a Catering Quote” form
• Contact form + phone/email buttons
• Optional online ordering
• Google Business/SEO basics

Here are the Chicago options I’d shortlist:

1. Menus and Photos — Best fit for a catering business on a budget. They specifically work with restaurants/food businesses and offer restaurant website design, editable menus, CMS updates, and online-ordering integration. Their published basic website pricing is around $200/page, which could make a small 3–5 page site relatively inexpensive.
2. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Worth getting a quote if keeping the initial cost very low is your priority. They're specifically positioned around budget-friendly websites for small businesses.
3. Windy City Web Solutions — A good choice if you want WordPress, so you can eventually update menus and content yourself. They're based in the South Loop and focus on small-business sites and ongoing maintenance.
4. SITE IT NOW — Convenient if you're downtown/West Loop. They handle website design plus e-commerce and related services, although I'd specifically ask for a small-business/catering package rather than a full agency build.
5. Web Action LLC — They actually have a restaurant-focused offering, including restaurant websites and digital marketing. Probably worth comparing their quote against the smaller shops above.

One potentially cheaper approach

If by “order forms” you mean customers selecting catering items and submitting an order—not necessarily a sophisticated e-commerce checkout—I'd consider a simple website + dedicated ordering system rather than paying a designer to custom-build ordering.

For example, TogoPlato offers a free plan for independent Chicago restaurants, with online ordering and a branded ordering page; its paid Plus plan is $49/month and includes a catering menu. TogoPlato TogoPlato

My pick: I'd contact Menus and Photos, Affordable Web Design Chicago, and Windy City Web Solutions and ask all three for the same scope. That will make the quotes easy to compare.

A reasonable project brief would be: 5-page mobile website + editable catering menu + catering request/order form + contact form + Google/SEO setup + hosting, with the ability for you to change menu prices yourself.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. $500, $1,000, or $2,000), I can narrow this to the 2–3 best options and look for their actual pricing/packages.

For a small catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for someone who can build a simple 4–5 page site with an editable menu, catering inquiry form, and ideally online ordering. You probably don’t need a $2,500+ custom build.

My shortlist

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-oriented option. They specifically advertise budget-friendly WordPress sites for small businesses, and their Chicago listing says they handle new sites, redesigns, maintenance, and SEO. www.choosechicago.com

Ask for: Home + Catering/Menu + About + Contact/Order form.

• Windy City Web Solutions — Good small-business fit. They're in the South Loop and specialize in WordPress sites with ongoing hosting/maintenance. Their hospitality experience is particularly relevant to catering.

Ask for: an editable menu so you can change prices/items yourself.

• Menus and Photos — Most food-specific choice. They specialize in restaurants/food businesses, including menu design, food photography, branding and restaurant websites; their web packages include editable menus and higher tiers can include online ordering.

Ask for: a package combining menu design + website + ordering form.

• SpeedyEatz — Worth considering if ordering is the priority. Their Chicago operation specifically focuses on restaurant websites with online ordering rather than just brochure websites.

• SITE IT NOW — A more established West Loop option, but I'd get a firm quote before choosing them if keeping costs low is your main concern.

One particularly inexpensive benchmark

Winthrop Designs advertises $500–$1,200 for a small-business website, including a 4–5 page business site with a menu/gallery and contact forms. That's a useful price benchmark when getting quotes. www.winthropdesigns.org

For your catering business, I'd target roughly $500–$1,200 upfront for the website itself. If you want actual online checkout/payment and scheduled catering orders, expect that to cost more or involve a separate ordering platform.

One interesting Chicago option for the ordering side is TogoPlato: it currently advertises a free plan with a $1.49/order fee, while its $49/month plan adds a catering menu and scheduled orders. www.togoplato.com

What I'd ask each designer for:

“I need a simple mobile-friendly catering website with an editable menu, photos, catering inquiry/contact form, and online ordering or an ordering integration. Please give me the total upfront cost, monthly costs, and cost for future menu updates.”

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$1,500), I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and compare their pricing/features.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Virgo Web Design - 5874 N Ridge Ave, Ste G, Chicago, IL 60660
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Yes. I’d focus on small studios/freelancers rather than big agencies for a catering site—you probably don’t need a $2,500+ build.

My shortlist

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-first option. They specifically advertise budget-friendly WordPress sites for Chicago small businesses. Their public listing is in Portage Park. Choose Chicago
• John Schuster — Good freelancer option. A hands-on Chicago web designer who works with small businesses and offers WordPress/Drupal, e-commerce and ongoing maintenance.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Good for WordPress + ongoing support. They're in the South Loop and work with small businesses, but note that their new builds come with a published $129/month support-plan requirement.
• SITE IT NOW — Worth getting a quote. They're in the West Loop and work with small/midsize businesses, including hosting and maintenance.
• Storefront Studio — Particularly interesting for you because it's aimed at food businesses. Their published pricing starts at $300 for a one-page site and $600 for a fuller site, with menu, contact, online-ordering and reservation functionality listed among the features. Storefront Studio
• Bripe Media — A more specialized catering option at $850 one-time. Their package specifically includes menu pages, custom catering/order forms and online-ordering integration. Bribe Media

What I'd budget

For a small catering company, I'd target $500–$900 one-time for a polished site with:

• Home page
• Catering menu with prices/photos
• Catering inquiry/order form
• Contact form
• Click-to-call button
• Mobile-friendly design
• Google Maps/business information
• Basic Google/SEO setup
• Easy way for you to change menu items later

You may not need a full e-commerce system. For catering, a form that collects event date, guest count, delivery address, menu selections, dietary requirements and budget can actually be more useful than a shopping cart. Chicago catering businesses commonly use this kind of request form alongside their menu. Bombay Eats | Indian Restaurant in IL

My first three calls would be Storefront Studio, Affordable Web Design Chicago, and Bripe Media. I'd ask each for a fixed-price quote and specifically say: “I need a mobile catering website with an editable menu and a catering order/quote form. I don't need anything complicated.”

If you want, I can also narrow this down to 3–5 designers under $1,000 and compare their prices, reviews, location, and ordering/form capabilities side-by-side.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• SpeedyEatz - 155 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Virgo Web Design - 5874 N Ridge Ave, Ste G, Chicago, IL 60660

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency. You mainly need a mobile-friendly site with your catering menu, photos, inquiry/order form, and easy menu updates.

Here are the best budget-oriented options I found:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best low-budget local option. They specifically target small Chicago businesses and advertise budget-friendly WordPress sites. Their published basic package is $199, including a contact/query form; larger packages add CMS functionality. Mauve Verse Choose Chicago

choosechicago.com

• Menus and Photos — Best catering/food-specific fit. They're focused on restaurants and food businesses, including menu design, food photography, branding, and restaurant websites. I'd ask them specifically for a catering-order/inquiry form.
• SpeedyEatz — Best if online ordering is the priority. They're specifically focused on restaurant websites with integrated online ordering and delivery capabilities, so they're worth considering if you want customers to actually place orders online rather than just submit an inquiry.
• SITE IT NOW — A West Loop option if you'd prefer a more traditional Chicago web studio. They handle website development plus hosting/maintenance, although I'd request a fixed-price quote before committing.
• SiteMe — Not returned as a local-business listing, but its published pricing is attractive: from $549, including custom design, mobile responsiveness, SEO basics, and contact/booking forms, with $34/month maintenance that includes seasonal menu/content updates. SiteMe Chicago

sitemechicago.com

• Winthrop Designs — Another inexpensive option. They publish $500–$1,200 for a 4–5 page business site, specifically listing “Gallery/Menu” and contact forms, booking, or integrations. Winthrop Designs

winthropdesigns.org

What I'd budget

For your needs, I'd target roughly $500–$1,200 one-time, rather than spending $2,500+. You should be able to get:

• Home page with catering photos
• Catering/menu page
• Packages or pricing
• About/reviews
• Contact/order-request form
• Phone/text button
• Google Maps/service-area information
• Mobile-friendly design
• Ability for you to change menu items and prices
• Optional online payment/deposit

If customers need to select date, guest count, delivery/pickup, menu items, dietary requirements, and budget, tell the designer that upfront—it changes the form requirements substantially.

My first three calls would be Affordable Web Design Chicago, Menus and Photos, and SpeedyEatz. I'd ask each for a fixed quote for exactly the features above and compare the total cost including ongoing hosting/maintenance, not just the initial website price.

• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• SpeedyEatz - 155 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Virgo Web Design - 5874 N Ridge Ave, Ste G, Chicago, IL 60660
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a small catering company, I’d prioritize a simple mobile-first site, editable menus, and a good inquiry/order form rather than paying for a big agency or complicated custom build.

My Chicago shortlist

• Menus and Photos — Best fit for catering/food businesses. They specifically work with restaurants and food businesses, including menu design and restaurant websites. Their basic web package is listed around $200/page and includes editable online menus and a CMS.
• SpeedyEatz — Best if online ordering is the priority. They're specifically focused on restaurant websites and direct online ordering, including self-service menu/price management.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Worth getting a quote from for a budget build. They're explicitly positioned around affordable websites for small businesses.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Good if you want WordPress. They build mobile-friendly WordPress sites for small businesses and provide ongoing hosting/maintenance.
• SITE IT NOW — Good downtown option. They're in the West Loop and handle website design, e-commerce, hosting and maintenance.
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — More marketing-oriented, but probably pricier. Their published starting point is around $2,500, so I'd only consider them if you also want serious SEO/lead generation.

One especially interesting low-cost alternative

Winthrop Designs isn't as restaurant-specific, but its published pricing is unusually approachable: $300+ for a starter site and $500–$1,200 for a 4–5-page business site, with contact forms and booking/integration options. Winthrop Designs

I'd ask whoever you contact for a quote covering exactly:

• Home page
• Catering menu with categories/prices
• Gallery/photos
• Catering inquiry/order form
• Date, guest count, delivery/pickup, budget, dietary restrictions, etc.
• Contact form
• Click-to-call and email buttons
• Mobile optimization
• Ability for you to change menu items/prices yourself
• Google Business/local SEO basics

For your situation, I'd start with Menus and Photos, SpeedyEatz, and Winthrop Designs and compare their quotes. A simple catering site shouldn't need to cost several thousand dollars unless you're asking for sophisticated online ordering, payments, POS integration, or custom quoting.

If you'd like, I can also find 3–5 Chicago freelancers/agencies under ~$1,000 and compare their actual pricing, reviews, and whether they support online ordering.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Kara Creatives - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-5283, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• 1TR - Website Design & SEO Services - 888 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for a designer who can build a simple 4–5 page site with a menu, catering inquiry/order form, mobile design, and basic local SEO.

My shortlist

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-oriented local option. They specifically target small businesses and offer WordPress sites. Their public listing describes them as budget-friendly and serving businesses throughout Chicago. Choose Chicago

Ask for: menu page + catering inquiry form + online ordering integration.

• SITE IT NOW — Good downtown/West Loop option. They're at 1016 W Jackson Blvd and handle web design, e-commerce, and related digital services. I'd ask for a fixed-price quote rather than an open-ended agency project.
• Winthrop Designs — Best published pricing I've found. Their Chicago studio says small-business sites typically run $300–$1,200, with a 4–5 page business website including a Gallery/Menu page and contact forms. Winthrop Designs

winthropdesigns.org

• SiteMe Chicago — Worth a quote if you want something more polished. Their custom websites start at $549 and include mobile responsiveness, SEO fundamentals, and contact/booking forms; maintenance is listed at $34/month and includes seasonal menu/content updates. SiteMe Chicago

sitemechicago.com

• Emericano — Good inexpensive Illinois option. They advertise small-business websites starting around $300, with contact forms and $20–$50/month support. Emericano

emericano.com

What I'd budget

For your needs, I'd target $500–$1,200 upfront, rather than paying $2,500+ for a traditional agency. You don't need a complicated restaurant website.

I'd specifically request:

• Home page with strong food/catering photography
• Catering menu that's easy to update
• Catering packages/pricing
• Quote/order request form with event date, guest count, venue, food selections, budget, and dietary requirements
• Phone/email/click-to-call buttons
• Google Maps/Google Business integration
• Mobile-first design
• Basic Chicago local SEO
• Ability for you to change menu items and prices yourself
• Optional online payment/deposit capability

One important distinction: if by "order form" you mean customers should select items, quantities, delivery date, pay online, and receive an order confirmation, tell the designer that explicitly. That's more involved than a simple contact form.

My first three calls would be Winthrop Designs, SiteMe, and Affordable Web Design Chicago. They appear closest to the budget and functionality you're describing.

If you tell me roughly what you'd like to spend ($500, $1,000, $1,500, etc.), I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and compare their pricing, forms, ordering capabilities, and reviews.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d look for a small-business web designer (not a big agency) who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• Catering menu pages (PDF or editable online menu)
• Event inquiry form
• Quote request form (date, guest count, budget, dietary needs)
• Photos/gallery
• Google Maps + contact info
• Optional online ordering or payment links

Here are some reasonably priced Chicago-area options to consider:

What I would ask them for

When requesting quotes, send something like:

“I run a small catering company in downtown Chicago. I need a mobile-friendly website with catering menus, food photos, an inquiry/order form, and the ability for me to update menus seasonally. I’d like a simple fixed-price package.”

For your type of business, I’d expect roughly:

• $500–$1,500: simple site with menu + contact/order form
• $1,500–$3,000: more polished site with gallery, SEO basics, integrations, better design
• $3,000+: online ordering, payment, custom systems, advanced marketing

I’d prioritize someone who will let you edit menus yourself (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc.) rather than needing to pay every time you change a lunch menu or holiday package.

What I would ask them for

When requesting quotes, send something like:

“I run a small catering company in downtown Chicago. I need a mobile-friendly website with catering menus, food photos, an inquiry/order form, and the ability for me to update menus seasonally. I’d like a simple fixed-price package.”

For your type of business, I’d expect roughly:

• $500–$1,500: simple site with menu + contact/order form
• $1,500–$3,000: more polished site with gallery, SEO basics, integrations, better design
• $3,000+: online ordering, payment, custom systems, advanced marketing

I’d prioritize someone who will let you edit menus yourself (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc.) rather than needing to pay every time you change a lunch menu or holiday package.

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d focus on a designer who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• Catering menus (easy for you to update)
• Gallery/photos
• Inquiry/order form (date, guest count, menu choice, budget, delivery details)
• Click-to-call button
• Google Business/SEO basics
• Optional integrations with Square, Toast, HoneyBook, or a catering CRM

Here are some more budget-conscious options to check:

A few questions I’d ask before hiring anyone:

1. Can I edit the menu myself after launch? (important for catering packages and seasonal changes)
2. Can customers submit catering requests online?
3. Will the form email me and my staff immediately?
4. Do you set up Google Business Profile and basic local SEO?
5. Who owns the website, domain, and photos after payment?

For your type of business, I’d probably avoid paying for a large marketing agency unless you need ads and a full ordering system. A polished 5–7 page site with menus and an inquiry form is often enough to start generating catering leads.

I can also help you compare Chicago freelancers vs. DIY options like Squarespace/Wix/WordPress for a catering budget.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• WNiQI Visual Solutions - 1130 S Canal St #1677, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• Web For Lesss - Chicago, IL 60651

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d look for someone who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• Editable catering menus (PDF or better: web-based menu pages)
• Inquiry/order forms (date, guest count, event type, budget, delivery details)
• Photo gallery
• Google Business/Profile integration
• Optional payments or deposits (Square/Stripe)
• Easy updates without paying a developer every time

Here are some lower-cost options worth contacting:

A couple of catering-specific options:

• TogoPlato — If your biggest need is taking catering orders online, this may pair well with a simple website because it focuses on menus, ordering, payments, and catering options. TogoPlato TogoPlato
• Prismatics Digital — More of a custom build option; they specifically mention restaurant systems, menus, ordering integrations, and small-business websites. Prismatics Digital

For your type of business, I would avoid paying $3,000–$5,000+ unless you need a full ordering system. A realistic budget:

• $500–$1,200: professional website + menu + inquiry/order form
• $1,200–$2,500: stronger branding, online payments, more advanced catering workflow
• $2,500+: custom ordering system, integrations, SEO campaigns

When you contact designers, ask:
“Can you build a catering website where I can update menus myself, customers can request quotes through a form, and I can collect deposits online?”

That one sentence will quickly separate people who understand catering from general web designers.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Uptech Solution USA LLC - 6158 N Hoyne Ave 2nd FL, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for someone who can build a simple mobile-friendly site with a menu, inquiry/order form, photos, and basic local SEO.

Here are some budget-friendly Chicago options I found:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — A strong budget option. They specialize in small businesses and WordPress sites, and their site specifically emphasizes affordable, mobile-friendly websites. Choose Chicago

affordablewebdesignchicago.com

• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop-based and focused on small-business WordPress websites. Worth asking for a fixed-price quote for a catering site with menu + forms.

windycitywebsolutions.com

• SITE IT NOW — Actually downtown/West Loop, so convenient if you want someone local. They do website design, e-commerce, and related digital services.

siteitnow.com

• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Downtown at Riverside Plaza. Their published pricing is around $2,500 for a new site, so I'd consider them only if you want stronger SEO/lead generation rather than the cheapest possible build.
• Winthrop Designs — This one caught my eye for your budget: they advertise $500–$1,200 for a small-business website, including contact forms and booking/integration options. Winthrop Designs

winthropdesigns.org

• SiteMe — Publishes pricing from $549, including mobile responsiveness, contact/booking forms, with optional maintenance at $34/month. SiteMe Chicago

sitemechicago.com

What I'd ask for

I'd send each designer essentially the same requirements:

• Home page with food/catering photos
• Catering menu that's easy for you to update
• Packages/pricing
• “Request a Quote / Order Catering” form
• Event date, guest count, pickup/delivery, menu selections, budget, and special requests
• Phone/text button
• Google Maps/Google Business integration
• Mobile-first design
• Basic Chicago local SEO
• You owning the domain, website, and content
• No large recurring maintenance fee

My shortlist: I'd get quotes from Winthrop Designs, SiteMe, and Affordable Web Design Chicago first. For your particular business, I'd target roughly $500–$1,200 upfront for a straightforward site rather than paying thousands for a custom agency build.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. under $500, $1,000, or $1,500) and whether you want customers to pay/order online or just submit catering inquiries, I can narrow this to the best 3 and compare them.

• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• John Schuster - 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d avoid a big agency. You mainly need a clean mobile site with:

• Catering/menu pages that are easy for you to update
• A “Request a Catering Quote” form
• An order form for pickup/delivery or event details
• Click-to-call and email
• Google/Maps and basic local SEO
• Ideally, integration with whatever payment/order system you already use

My shortlist

• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop. A particularly relevant local option because they focus on WordPress sites for small businesses and hospitality. I'd ask for a fixed-price quote for a 4–5 page catering site plus menu and order/quote forms.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Budget-focused. Their positioning is explicitly around affordable WordPress websites for Chicago small businesses. Their site confirms they serve businesses throughout Chicago. Choose Chicago
• SITE IT NOW — West Loop/Near West Side. More established than a solo freelancer, but still local and geared toward small/midsize businesses. Worth getting a quote if you want someone to handle hosting and maintenance too.
• What A Great Website — Near North Side. Boutique agency with restaurant experience in its portfolio, so I'd consider them if presentation/branding is especially important.
• Winthrop Designs — This one stands out on price: the Chicago-based designer publicly lists $300–$1,200 for most small-business websites, with contact forms and booking/integration options included in the higher tier. Winthrop Designs

What I'd ask them to quote

I'd send essentially this specification:

5-page mobile-friendly catering website: Home, Catering/Menu, Packages, About, Contact. Need an editable menu, catering inquiry/order form with guest count, event date, delivery address, dietary requirements and menu selections, plus email notifications. Need basic SEO, Google Business integration, and ability for me to update prices/menu items myself.

My first three calls would be Winthrop Designs, Windy City Web Solutions, and Affordable Web Design Chicago. For your requirements, I'd target roughly $500–$1,500 upfront rather than paying thousands for a restaurant-agency build. (That's a target based on the publicly advertised pricing I found, not a guarantee of what each will quote.)

One other cost-saving idea: don't necessarily have the designer build a custom online ordering system. Chicago catering sites commonly separate a menu from an inquiry/order form—for example, Lardon uses an online catering order flow plus a custom inquiry form. Lardon Chicago That can give you the functionality you need without an expensive bespoke ecommerce build.

If you tell me your approximate budget ($500, $1,000, $2,000, etc.), I can narrow this to 3 designers and compare their pricing, reviews, and exactly what you'd get for the money.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
• Catered by Design - 9204 Waukegan Rd, Morton Grove, IL 60053
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606
• Outside the Box Catering and Events Inc. - 444 W Lake St STE 1700 STE 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601
• Entertaining Company - 1640 W Walnut St, Chicago, IL 60612
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
• Blue Plate - 1362 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607
• Catering Out the Box Llc - 4300 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60624
• The Food Truck Hub & Event Experiences - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1200, Chicago, IL 60606
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647

For a small catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for someone who can build a simple mobile-friendly site with a menu, inquiry/order form, photos, and click-to-call. A few Chicago-area options stand out:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — A particularly budget-oriented option. Their site says they specialize in small businesses and WordPress, and their Chicago listing confirms they serve local businesses. Choose Chicago
• Thirdwave — Downtown Chicago location, so convenient if you want to meet locally. I'd ask for a fixed-price quote for a catering-specific site.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Located near the West Loop and focused on websites/SEO. Worth getting a quote if Google visibility matters.
• Flamingo Agency — Chicago-based web designer with a substantial number of reviews; potentially worth comparing against the smaller-budget providers.
• SiteMe Chicago — Not returned in the local-business results, but its published pricing is attractive: custom websites from $549, including contact/booking forms, with maintenance at $34/month. SiteMe Chicago
• Winthrop Designs — Another interesting low-cost option: it publishes $300 starter sites and $500–$1,200 business websites, with contact forms included. Winthrop Designs

What I'd budget

For what you're describing, I'd target $500–$1,200 one-time, rather than paying thousands for a custom agency site. As a useful benchmark, one local provider advertises $549 starting sites with forms, while another quotes $500–$1,200 for small-business sites. SiteMe Chicago Winthrop Designs

I'd specifically ask each designer for:

• Home page with food photography
• Catering menu that's easy for you to update
• Catering/order inquiry form
• Name, email, phone, event date, guest count, event type, and budget fields
• Click-to-call button
• Google Maps/location information
• Instagram/social links
• Mobile-first design
• Basic Google/SEO setup
• Your own domain and ownership of the website
• Ability to make menu changes yourself afterward

My first three calls would be Affordable Web Design Chicago, SiteMe, and Winthrop Designs, mainly because their published pricing appears much more appropriate for a small catering operation than a traditional agency.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$2,000) and whether you need online payment/checkout or just an order-request form, I can narrow this to 3 best fits and find their contact information.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• De La Foye Design Studio - 4045 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Design B&B - 833 W Jackson Blvd Fl 7, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Kara Creatives - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-5283, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for someone who can build a simple mobile-friendly site with:

• A clean catering menu with prices/photos
• Catering inquiry/contact form
• Order-request form with event date, guest count, delivery address, etc.
• Click-to-call and email buttons
• Basic Google/local SEO
• Easy menu updates without paying a developer every time

Here are the Chicago options I’d shortlist:

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Probably the first one I’d contact. It specifically positions itself around budget-friendly websites for small businesses, and it has a 5.0 rating from 26 reviews. Ask for a fixed-price quote for a 5–7 page catering site plus forms.
2. Design Henge — Worth getting a quote from if you want something more polished while staying small-business oriented. It has a 5.0 rating from 27 reviews, and reviews specifically mention affordability and working within clients' budgets.
3. Haztusitio — A small-business-focused Chicago web/marketing shop. It offers packaged website builds and could be a good option if you want a straightforward site rather than a large custom project.
4. De La Foye Design Studio — Interesting choice specifically because it has restaurant/hospitality experience; a review mentions a complete restaurant website redesign. I'd ask whether they can build the order/inquiry forms as part of a fixed-price package.
5. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Located in the West Loop and focused on small-business websites and local SEO. Could be useful if getting found for searches like “Chicago catering” is a major priority.

One important alternative

You may not need a web designer to build the ordering system itself. togoplato.com currently offers Chicago independent restaurants a free plan with a $1.49/order fee, while its $49/month Plus plan includes a catering menu, scheduled orders and payments. It also provides a branded ordering page and menu builder. TogoPlato TogoPlato

That means you could pay a designer to make a nice $1,000–$2,500-ish marketing website and have the “Order Catering” button send customers to your ordering system, rather than paying thousands for custom e-commerce development.

My first three calls would be Affordable Web Design Chicago, Design Henge, and De La Foye. I'd ask each for a quote specifically for “a small catering website with an editable menu, catering inquiry form, and online order/request form—no custom e-commerce unless necessary.”

If you want, I can also find 5–10 Chicago freelancers/agencies and compare their actual advertised prices, reviews, restaurant experience, and whether they handle ordering forms.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• De La Foye Design Studio - 4045 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Amazing Edibles Catering - 2419 W 14th St c, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Wheaton Website Services - 20 Danada Square W, Wheaton, IL 60189, United States
• Menus and Photos - Chicago, IL 60656
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a small catering company, I’d prioritize simple, mobile-friendly sites with an editable menu, catering/order inquiry form, and click-to-call, rather than paying for a big agency build.

Here are some Chicago-area options worth getting quotes from:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — A strong budget option. They specifically target Chicago small businesses and offer WordPress sites. Their public listing describes their work as budget-friendly and includes website design, redesigns, maintenance, and SEO. Choose Chicago
• Menus and Photos — Particularly interesting for you because they specialize in restaurants and food businesses, including menu design, food photography, restaurant websites, and online-ordering integration. They also specifically mention catering businesses.
• Flamingo Agency — Chicago-based and geared toward small businesses. Worth requesting a quote if you want something more polished while still keeping the project relatively small.
• De La Foye Design Studio — A smaller Chicago design studio with restaurant/hospitality experience; a potentially good fit if you want personalized service rather than a large agency.
• Design Henge — Local small-business-focused agency. Reviews specifically mention reasonable/affordable pricing, so I'd include them in your quote comparison.
• VibeLaunch — Not necessarily my first choice for a catering site, but it's an interesting ultra-budget option: they advertise Chicago websites starting at $99 with 24-hour delivery and specifically list restaurants among their target businesses. VibeLaunch by Next Level Solutions

My top 3 for your situation

1. Menus and Photos — best specialized fit because they understand food businesses and menus.

2. Affordable Web Design Chicago — best if keeping the budget as low as possible is the priority.

3. De La Foye Design Studio — worth considering if you want a more custom, personal design relationship.

For your site, I'd ask each one to quote exactly this scope:

• Home page with catering photos
• Catering menu with categories, prices, and photos
• Separate “Request a Catering Order” form
• Contact form
• Phone/text button
• Google Maps/location information
• Instagram link
• Mobile-friendly design
• Easy menu editing by you
• Basic Google/SEO setup
• Domain + hosting setup
• Ability to add online payment/order deposits later

You probably don't need a full e-commerce website initially. A well-designed menu + catering inquiry form can be substantially cheaper, while still letting customers request dates, guest count, menu selections, delivery address, budget, and special requirements.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$2,000), I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and compare their pricing/features.

You probably don't need a full e-commerce website initially. A well-designed menu + catering inquiry form can be substantially cheaper, while still letting customers request dates, guest count, menu selections, delivery address, budget, and special requirements.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$2,000), I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and compare their pricing/features.

For a small catering company in downtown Chicago, I’d focus on a designer who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• Catering menu pages (PDF or editable menus)
• Inquiry/order request form
• Event date, guest count, budget fields
• Photo gallery
• Click-to-call button
• Google Business Profile/local SEO basics
• Optional online payments or ordering later

Here are some budget-friendly Chicago-area options to consider:

My shortlist for a small catering business trying to keep costs down:

1. Emericano — best if you mainly need a professional menu + inquiry form quickly. Emericano
2. SiteMe — good middle ground if you want a nicer design and someone who can maintain it. SiteMe
3. Linda Mansour — worth considering if you prefer working directly with one local person. Linda Mansour
4. Prismatics Digital — better if you eventually want online ordering, POS integration, or a more advanced catering system. Prismatics Digital

When you contact them, ask for a quote specifically for:

“A 5-page catering website with menu pages, catering inquiry/order form, gallery, mobile design, and Google Business optimization.”

That will usually get you a more accurate price than asking for a generic “website.”

I’d expect a realistic budget of roughly $500–$1,500 for what you described; more if you want full online ordering, payments, delivery zones, or integration with platforms like Toast/Square. Prismatics Digital SiteMe

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Kara Creatives - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-5283, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• 1TR - Website Design & SEO Services - 888 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a small catering company in downtown Chicago, I’d focus on designers who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• A menu page you can update easily
• Catering packages/pricing
• A catering inquiry/order form
• Contact/phone buttons
• Google Maps/local SEO
• Ideally, payment or online-ordering integration if you need it later

Here are the most budget-friendly options I found:

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — A particularly good budget candidate. They specialize in small-business WordPress sites and advertise budget-friendly pricing. Their Chicago location is at 5141 W Altgeld St. Choose Chicago

affordablewebdesignchicago.com

2. SITE IT NOW — Located in the West Loop at 1016 W Jackson Blvd. They do web design, e-commerce and hosting, so I'd ask them specifically for a menu + catering inquiry/order form package.

siteitnow.com

3. SiteMe Chicago — Probably one of the clearest price/value options I found: custom websites start around $549, including contact/booking forms, with maintenance listed at $34/month. They specifically mention seasonal menu/content updates. SiteMe

sitemechicago.com

4. Emericano — Very inexpensive: roughly $300 for a basic site, with contact/quote forms and optional $20–$50/month maintenance. They're aimed at Illinois small businesses. Emericano

emericano.com

5. VibeLaunch — Chicago-based and advertises sites starting at $99, with a 24-hour turnaround. Because that's an unusually low price, I'd confirm exactly what's included for your menu and order form before committing. VibeLaunch by Next Level Solutions

vibelaunchdesign.com

6. North Shore Labs — More specialized and potentially pricier, but especially relevant to catering: they advertise catering platforms with custom forms, package builders, automated email notifications, online ordering, and editable menus. North Shore Labs

northshorelabs.dev

My shortlist

For your situation, I'd contact SiteMe, Affordable Web Design Chicago, and North Shore Labs first.

If your budget is under $750, I'd start with SiteMe and Affordable Web Design Chicago. If you want customers to actually select catering packages, enter guest counts, choose dates, submit special requests, and potentially pay online, I'd spend a little more and talk to North Shore Labs.

When requesting quotes, say: “I need a 4–5 page catering website with an editable menu, catering packages, photos, contact information, and an online catering inquiry/order form. Please give me the total upfront price and ongoing monthly costs.” That should make the quotes much easier to compare.

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency. You mainly need a clean mobile site, easy-to-update menus, catering/order inquiry forms, and strong “Call / Order / Request Catering” buttons.

Here are the most budget-friendly options I found:

• emericano.com — Best bargain

• Around $300 to start; roughly $300 + $35/month for a site with ongoing support.
• Includes contact/quote forms, mobile design, basic SEO, and updates.
• Specifically says it works with restaurants and Illinois small businesses. Emericano
• My pick if keeping the budget very tight.
• winthropdesigns.org — Best Chicago freelancer

• Chicago-based student entrepreneur.
• Starter sites from $300, with business sites generally $500–$1,200.
• Contact forms and mobile-friendly design are included. Winthrop Designs
• Worth asking for a catering-specific quote with a menu and order form.
• sitemechicago.com — Best fit for ongoing menu updates

• Custom sites from $549.
• Includes contact/booking forms, mobile responsiveness and SEO basics.
• $34/month maintenance includes seasonal menu/content updates. SiteMe Chicago
• This is particularly attractive for catering because your menus can change frequently.
• prismaticsdigital.com — Best if you want ordering integration

• Chicago-area studio with specific restaurant website and digital-ordering experience.
• They mention menu architecture, third-party ordering/POS integration, and catering-related restaurant work. Prismatics Digital
• I’d ask them for a small-business fixed-price quote rather than assuming their custom development is the cheapest.
• choosechicago.com — Local budget option

• Chicago-based and specifically markets affordable WordPress websites for small businesses.
• WordPress would make sense if you want to change menus yourself later. Choose Chicago

What I'd ask them to build

For your catering business, I'd request a 5-page site:

1. Home — food photos, service areas, “Request Catering Quote” button.
2. Catering Menus — separate corporate, party/event, boxed lunch, etc.
3. Order Online — link/integration to whatever ordering system you use.
4. About / Services
5. Contact / Catering Request Form — date, guest count, event type, delivery address, budget, dietary requirements.

I'd target $300–$800 upfront for a straightforward site. If someone quotes several thousand dollars, I'd get at least two more quotes before committing.

My shortlist: Emericano for lowest cost, SiteMe for easy ongoing menu changes, and Prismatics if you want something more sophisticated around online ordering/POS. Emericano SiteMe Chicago Prismatics Digital

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. $300, $500, $1,000) and whether you already use Toast, Square, ChowNow, DoorDash, etc., I can narrow this to the 2–3 best fits and compare what you'd actually get.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Vibe Creative - 6829 N Ridge Blvd Apt 208, Chicago, IL 60645, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• WNiQI Visual Solutions - 1130 S Canal St #1677, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Prism - 6901 W 59th St, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• Nova Web Design & SEO Services - 570 Lake Cook Rd, Deerfield, IL 60015, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Kara Creatives - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-5283, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Uptech Solution USA LLC - 6158 N Hoyne Ave 2nd FL, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d focus on a designer who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• Catering menus (easy to update seasonally)
• Inquiry/order forms (date, guest count, budget, delivery location)
• Photo gallery
• Testimonials
• Google Business Profile/local SEO basics
• Optional online payments or deposits

You probably don’t need a large agency. These are some more budget-friendly options to investigate:

For catering specifically, I’d ask each one these questions before hiring:

1. “Can I edit my menu myself without paying you every time?”
2. “Can customers submit catering requests with event date, headcount, menu choice, and budget?”
3. “Can you connect payments or deposits through Square/Stripe?”
4. “Will you optimize the site for searches like ‘Chicago corporate catering’ and ‘downtown Chicago catering?’”
5. “What is the monthly cost after launch?”

A realistic budget:

• $300–$800: basic site + menu + inquiry form
• $800–$1,500: polished catering site + better forms + payment/deposit options
• $1,500+: custom ordering flow, integrations, SEO work, ongoing marketing

For your type of business, I’d probably prioritize SiteMe, Winthrop Designs, Affordable Web Design Chicago, or Prismatics Digital depending on whether you want a simple lead-generation site or a more advanced ordering system. SiteMe Chicago Winthrop Designs Prismatics Digital

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• Uptech Solution USA LLC - 6158 N Hoyne Ave 2nd FL, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency $3,000–$8,000 unless you need something elaborate. You mainly need a mobile-friendly menu, catering inquiry/order form, contact form, photos, and clear calls/text buttons.

Here are the options I’d shortlist:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-first option. They specifically target Chicago small businesses and advertise affordable WordPress sites. Their site says they handle responsive WordPress sites, SEO, redesigns and maintenance. Choose Chicago
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Good downtown option. They're at 30 N Michigan Ave and offer website design/development and branding. I'd ask for a simple catering site rather than a large marketing package.
• 10com Web Development — Worth getting a quote from. They're in the Loop at 205 N Michigan and work with WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace and other platforms. They also specifically market to small businesses.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Good if you want WordPress + ongoing help. They're in the South Loop and specialize in WordPress sites for small organizations, with maintenance/support available.
• Design Henge — Another budget-conscious Chicago choice. Their reviews specifically mention reasonable/affordable pricing, and they work with small businesses.
• SiteMe — Not returned as a local-business result, but their published pricing is unusually clear: websites from $549, including contact/booking forms, with $34/month maintenance and seasonal menu/content updates. SiteMe
• PIXALPHA STUDIO — A little pricier but still reasonable: $799 one-time for a five-page site with a contact form, mobile design and SEO basics. Pixalpha Studio

What I'd ask them to build

For catering, I'd request a 5-page site:

1. Home — food photos + "Request a Catering Quote"
2. Catering Menu — editable menu with packages/prices
3. About
4. Gallery
5. Contact / Order Request

The form should collect event date, guest count, event type, delivery/pickup, menu/package choice, dietary restrictions, phone/email and special requests.

One particularly interesting benchmark is Lake County Web Co.: they advertise a $1,200 package including checkout/payment integration, custom menu design and booking forms, although they're Lake County-focused rather than downtown Chicago. Lake County Web Co.

My pick: I'd get quotes from Affordable Web Design Chicago, SiteMe, and Windy City Web Solutions and tell each one: "I want a simple catering website with an editable menu and catering inquiry/order form. My budget is $500–$1,200. I don't need SEO or ongoing marketing." That should make it much easier to compare apples-to-apples.

If you'd like, I can also find 5–10 Chicago-area designers who specifically have restaurant/catering websites in their portfolios and compare their prices/reviews.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Uptech Solution USA LLC - 6158 N Hoyne Ave 2nd FL, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Wizerunek w Sieci. WWS - Web Development + SEO - 636 S River Rd #218, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States
• Kara Creatives - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-5283, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Menus and Photos - Chicago, IL 60656
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

For a small catering company, I’d prioritize a simple, mobile-first site with an editable menu, catering inquiry/order form, and easy phone/email contact rather than paying for a big agency build.

Here are the Chicago options I’d shortlist:

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-oriented option. They specifically position themselves around affordable websites for small businesses. I’d ask for a fixed-price quote for 4–5 pages, an editable menu, and catering/contact forms.
• Uptech Solution USA LLC — Best low-cost/monthly option. Their listed monthly website package is $50/month for a small 3–5-page site, including hosting and a domain, and their sites can include contact forms. Mei's Chicago
• Menus and Photos — Best food-industry fit. They specifically work with restaurants and catering/food businesses and offer menu design, photography, branding, and restaurant website design. Their website work includes editable menus and optional online-ordering integration. This could be especially useful if your current menu/photos need a refresh too.
• SITE IT NOW — Good downtown option. They're at 1016 W. Jackson Blvd and handle website design/development and e-commerce, so I'd ask them for a streamlined catering site rather than a larger marketing package.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Good if you want ongoing help. They're in the South Loop and specialize in WordPress sites for small businesses, with maintenance/support available.
• Web Action LLC — Worth getting a quote from because of the restaurant focus. They're downtown at 350 N. Orleans and specifically offer restaurant-related web services, including menu design and digital marketing.

What I'd ask for

For your business, I'd request a quote for:

1. Home page
2. Catering menu with easy-to-update prices/items
3. Catering order/request form
4. Contact page/form
5. About page
6. Click-to-call and email buttons
7. Mobile-friendly design
8. Google Business Profile/local SEO basics
9. Optional online payment/deposit capability

I'd avoid paying for a custom online-ordering system unless you really need it. A good form can collect event date, guest count, delivery address, menu selections, dietary requirements, budget, and contact information, then send the request directly to you.

For context, Chicago caterers commonly use exactly this kind of setup: a web menu plus an online order or catering-request flow. Mei's Chicago Bombay Eats | Indian Restaurant in IL

My first three calls would be Affordable Web Design Chicago, Menus and Photos, and Uptech. I'd ask each for a fixed quote and make them compete on the same scope. For a straightforward small catering site, I'd be looking for something substantially below a multi-thousand-dollar custom build.

If you want, I can also find 5–10 Chicago designers/freelancers with actual published prices under $1,500 and narrow it to the best three for a catering business.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• New York-based restaurant website design and advertising company - 6422 11th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Wizerunek w Sieci. WWS - Web Development + SEO - 636 S River Rd #218, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Yes. For a small Chicago catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency thousands unless you need a sophisticated ordering system. You mainly need a polished mobile site with:

• Catering/menu pages that are easy to update
• A catering inquiry/order form
• Contact form and click-to-call
• Photos, service areas, hours, and pricing/packages
• Ideally, online payments or an ordering integration

My shortlist

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — probably worth getting a quote from if keeping the budget low is your priority. They specifically target small businesses and budget-friendly websites.
2. Flamingo Agency — Chicago-based and geared toward small businesses, with WordPress sites and ongoing maintenance. A good option if you want someone local you can call when you need menu changes.
3. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — particularly convenient since they're actually downtown at Riverside Plaza. Their published pricing starts around $2,500 for a new site, so I'd consider them if you have a somewhat larger budget and want SEO/lead generation too.
4. Emericano — not necessarily downtown, but interesting for a very small operation: they advertise websites around $300, with contact forms and ongoing support around $20–$50/month. They explicitly serve Illinois restaurants and small businesses. Emericano
5. Storefront Studio — especially relevant to food businesses. Their published pricing starts at $300 for a one-page site and $600 for a full site, with menu and online-ordering functionality listed among the capabilities. Storefront Studio

One I'd seriously consider

Orderlanes is worth looking at if you care more about getting online ordering working cheaply than having a highly customized website. They advertise a free restaurant website build, with menu/photos/hours included and online ordering, followed by $39/month after approval. Orderlanes

For a catering company, though, I'd ask specifically whether their ordering system handles large catering orders, delivery dates/times, head counts, dietary restrictions, package selections, and custom quotes—restaurant takeout ordering isn't necessarily the same thing.

What I'd budget

For your situation, I'd target roughly $500–$1,500 initially rather than jumping to a $3,000+ custom build. The key is spending the money on the ordering form, not fancy animations.

I'd ask each designer for a fixed-price quote for:

5-page mobile-friendly website + editable catering menu + catering inquiry/order form + contact form + Google Business integration + basic SEO + domain/hosting setup.

Also make sure you own the domain and website, rather than being locked into the designer.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000–$2,000), I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and compare their pricing/features.

For a small catering company in downtown Chicago, I’d focus on a designer who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• catering menu pages (PDF or editable online menu)
• event inquiry/order form
• date/guest-count fields
• photo gallery
• “request a quote” buttons
• Google Business/Maps integration
• optional online payments or ordering links

A few reasonably priced Chicago-area options to consider:

Budget-friendly / small-business focused

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — A local shop focused on small-business websites, WordPress builds, SEO basics, and maintenance. A catering site with menus and contact forms is the type of project they advertise handling. www.choosechicago.com

• VibeLaunch — Markets low-cost website packages and fast small-business launches; worth asking whether they can customize catering menus and inquiry workflows rather than just build a brochure site. vibelaunchdesign.com

• Emericano — Offers lower-cost small-business websites with contact forms and basic lead-generation setup. Could be a fit if you mainly need customers to request catering quotes. emericano.com

• Linda Mansour — A solo web designer focused on local businesses; her services specifically mention menus/services, contact options, and small-business sites. lindamansour.comwww.prismaticsdigital.com

Better fit if you want catering-specific features

• Prismatics Digital — More of a boutique studio, but they specifically mention restaurant websites, menus, ordering integrations, and hospitality workflows. Likely a better fit if you want something beyond a basic contact form. www.prismaticsdigital.com

• LocalWebsmith — Advertises restaurant/menu websites with menu pages, ordering or reservation links, and local-business features. localwebsmith.comwww.prismaticsdigital.com

What I’d budget

For a catering company, a realistic range is:

• $300–$800: simple site + menu + contact/order form (often template-based)
• $1,000–$2,500: polished small-business site with better photos, SEO setup, custom forms, and easier future edits
• $2,500+: online ordering, payment flows, CRM integrations, catering calculators, or complex event workflows

When you contact them, ask:

1. “Can I update menu items and prices myself?”
2. “Can the form collect event date, guest count, venue, budget, dietary needs, and menu choices?”
3. “Will I own the website, domain, and content?”
4. “What is the monthly maintenance cost after launch?”

For a downtown Chicago caterer, I’d probably start by getting quotes from Affordable Web Design Chicago, Linda Mansour, LocalWebsmith, and Prismatics Digital and compare whether you need just lead generation or actual online ordering. www.prismaticsdigital.com

• Menus and Photos - Chicago, IL 60656
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• De La Foye Design Studio - 4045 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618
• Kara Creatives - 1 E Erie St Ste 525-5283, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Menus and Photos - 5122 N Natoma Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Lutzen, Creative Solutions for Business - 1100 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Iceberg Web Design - 200 W Madison St, Ste 2100, Chicago, IL 60606
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying for a big agency. You mainly need a polished mobile site with a menu, catering packages, inquiry/order form, phone button, and maybe online payment.

Here are the best inexpensive options I found:

• Menus and Photos — Particularly relevant to you because they specialize in food businesses and combine menu design, photography, branding, and websites. Their listed menu-design packages are around $450, although I’d ask them specifically for a small catering website + forms quote.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — A Chicago-based provider specifically focused on budget-friendly websites for small businesses. Worth getting a quote and asking for a fixed-price package.
• Flamingo Agency — Chicago-based, small-business focused, with WordPress builds and ongoing support. Their publicly reported minimum project size is around $1,000, so I'd consider them if you want something more customized.
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Downtown Chicago, with website projects reportedly starting around $2,500. More expensive, but potentially worthwhile if you want the site to generate Google leads rather than simply act as an online brochure.

Particularly cheap alternatives

I also found a few non-Chicago-specific services with unusually low published prices that may be worth comparing:

• Storefront Studio — $300 for a one-page food-business site including menu, contact information and online ordering; $600 for a fuller site; $900 with online ordering/e-commerce. Storefront Studio
• Orderlanes — Free initial restaurant website design, then $39/month, with menu, photos, hours and online ordering. Orderlanes
• Get A Presence — $149/year, including a restaurant website, menu, photos, hours, location and contact form. Get A Presence
• VibeLaunch — Advertises Chicago small-business websites starting at $99, with a four-page site and very fast turnaround. I'd verify exactly what's included before paying. VibeLaunch by Next Level Solutions

What I'd do in your situation

I'd get 3 quotes and tell each designer:

“I'm a small Chicago catering company. I need a simple mobile-friendly website with our catering menu/packages, photos, contact information, and a form where customers can request a catering quote/order. I want to be able to update prices and menu items myself. What's your total price, including hosting and any monthly fees?”

I'd target $500–$1,200 one-time for a straightforward site. If someone quotes you $3,000+, I'd want a very good reason—such as custom ordering, payments, automated invoices, CRM integration, or substantial SEO work.

For a catering company, the order/inquiry form is more important than fancy design. Ideally it should collect event date, guest count, delivery/pickup, menu/package selection, dietary requirements, budget, contact information, and a message.

If you tell me roughly how many menu items you have and whether you want customers to actually pay online or just submit catering requests, I can narrow this down to the 3 best options and what I'd expect each to cost.

• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• SpeedyEatz - 155 N Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• Web For Lesss - Chicago, IL 60651
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Web Action LLC - 350 N Orleans St #9000n, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency for a complicated site. You mainly need a strong mobile site, easy-to-update menu, catering/order form, contact form, and ideally online payment/deposit capability.

Here are the options I’d shortlist:

• Flamingo Agency — Best local budget agency. Chicago-based, focused on small-business WordPress sites, with reviews specifically mentioning affordability. Their published minimum project size is around $1,000+.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Worth getting a quote from. Specifically targets budget-conscious small businesses and is based in Chicago.
• SpeedyEatz — Interesting for catering/food businesses. It's in the Loop and focuses on food businesses, with menu management and ordering-oriented functionality.
• Haztusitio — Good small-business option. Chicago-based with a portfolio that includes restaurants and food businesses.
• Web For Lesss — Budget-first choice. Small Chicago operation explicitly focused on simple, affordable websites for small businesses. I'd ask specifically whether they can build the catering order workflow you need.

A couple of non-local options I'd also consider

Finepoint Design has restaurant-specific packages starting at $49/month, including a digital menu and contact/inquiry form; its $99/month plan adds a dedicated catering/private-dining inquiry page. Finepoint Design

Still Waters Web Design advertises restaurant sites for $99/month, including menu updates and contact forms, with the site built for free and managed for you. Still Waters Web Design

What I'd ask for

When you contact them, ask for a quote for:

1. Home page
2. Catering menu with categories and prices
3. “Request a Catering Order” form — date, guest count, delivery/pickup, menu selections, dietary restrictions, budget, etc.
4. General contact form
5. Click-to-call button
6. Mobile-friendly design
7. Google Business Profile/local SEO setup
8. Easy menu editing without calling the designer
9. Optional Stripe/Square deposit or payment integration
10. Ownership of the domain and website

For your situation, I'd probably get quotes from Flamingo Agency, SpeedyEatz, and Finepoint first. If your main goal is keeping the cost extremely low, Finepoint's $49–$99/month model is particularly compelling; if you want a more conventional Chicago web designer you can call when something needs changing, Flamingo is worth comparing.

If you tell me roughly your budget ($500, $1,000, $2,000, etc.) and whether customers need to actually pay online or just submit an order request, I can narrow this to the 3 best fits and compare their pricing/features.

For your situation, I'd probably get quotes from Flamingo Agency, SpeedyEatz, and Finepoint first. If your main goal is keeping the cost extremely low, Finepoint's $49–$99/month model is particularly compelling; if you want a more conventional Chicago web designer you can call when something needs changing, Flamingo is worth comparing.

• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Uptech Solution USA LLC - 6158 N Hoyne Ave 2nd FL, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

For a small catering company in downtown Chicago, I’d focus on designers who can build a simple, mobile-friendly site with:

• Catering menus (easy to update)
• Package/pricing pages
• Inquiry/order forms
• Event date fields and guest counts
• Photo gallery
• Google Business integration
• Optional online payments or deposits

Here are some budget-friendly Chicago-area options to consider:

For your specific business, I would ask for a quote for a 5-page site:

1. Home (photos + catering specialties)
2. Catering menus (PDF + web version)
3. Packages/pricing
4. Gallery/testimonials
5. Contact/order request form

A reasonable target budget:

• $500–$1,500: simple professional site with menu + inquiry form
• $1,500–$3,000: better branding, SEO setup, custom catering order workflow
• $3,000+: online ordering, payments, integrations with POS/catering software

When you contact designers, ask:
“Can you build a catering website where customers choose a menu package, enter event date/guest count/location, and submit an order inquiry from their phone?”

That question will quickly separate general web designers from people who understand catering businesses.

For a small Chicago catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for someone who can build a simple, mobile-first site with an editable menu, catering inquiry/order form, and clear phone/email buttons.

Here are some budget-friendly options I found:

My top 3 for your situation

1. Menus and Photos — I'd contact them first if your menu is a major part of the business. They understand food/catering businesses rather than just generic websites. www.prismaticsdigital.com

2. SiteMe Chicago — probably the best straightforward budget option if you want something polished without a huge project. Their published starting price is $549 and they specifically include forms and menu updates. sitemechicago.com

3. Affordable Web Design Chicago — worth getting a quote from because their positioning is specifically affordable small-business websites, and WordPress would make it easier for you to change menus yourself. www.choosechicago.com

One important distinction: if by “order forms” you mean customers submit a catering request (date, guest count, menu choices, budget, delivery address, etc.), that's relatively inexpensive. If you mean actual online checkout/payment, tell the designer that upfront—it can require Square/Stripe or a catering-ordering system and will cost more.

For your site, I'd ask for 5 pages max: Home, Catering Menu, Packages/Services, About, Contact/Order, with the order form prominently displayed on the menu and home page. That should keep the project inexpensive while giving customers a very short path from Google → menu → inquiry/order.

For a small catering company, I’d prioritize someone who understands food-service menus + catering inquiry/order forms, rather than paying a general agency for a big custom site.

Here are the most promising inexpensive options I found:

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-oriented local option. They specifically target small businesses and offer WordPress sites; their public listing describes them as budget-friendly. www.choosechicago.com

Website

2. Menus and Photos — Probably the best fit for a caterer. They're Chicago-based and specialize in restaurants/food businesses, including editable website menus and optional online-ordering integration.

Website

3. SpeedyEatz — Interesting if your biggest need is keeping your menu/prices updated yourself. They're in the Loop and focus specifically on food businesses and menu/ordering systems.

4. SiteMe Chicago — Publishes pricing from $549, including custom design, mobile responsiveness, and contact/booking forms, with $34/month maintenance that includes seasonal menu updates. sitemechicago.com

SiteMe Chicago

5. Emericano — A very low-cost Illinois option: roughly $300 for a basic site or $300 + $35/month for a 3–5-page site with lead forms and ongoing edits. You'd want to confirm they can add the specific catering order workflow you need. emericano.com

Emericano

6. Bripe Media — Not quite as cheap, but unusually well matched to catering: its published $850 package includes menu pages, catering quote forms, photo galleries, and online-ordering integration with Square Online or Shopify. design.bripemedia.com

Bripe Media catering package

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd get quotes from Menus and Photos, SiteMe, and Bripe Media and ask each for essentially the same package:

• Home page
• Catering menu with prices/photos
• Separate “Request a Catering Quote” form
• Order/contact form
• Pickup/delivery information
• Phone/text button
• Google Maps/business information
• Mobile-friendly design
• Ability for you to change menu items and prices yourself
• Square/Stripe/online ordering integration if you want customers to actually pay online

For a small catering operation, I'd aim for $500–$1,000 upfront, rather than paying several thousand dollars for a full agency website.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. under $500, $500–$1,000, or $1,000+) and whether you want customers to actually pay online, I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and compare their pricing/features.

For a small catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for someone who can build a simple mobile-first site with an editable menu, catering/order form, contact form, and basic local SEO.

My shortlist

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-oriented option
   • Chicago-based and explicitly markets to small businesses.
   • They specialize in WordPress, which is useful if you want to update menu items yourself.
   • Their site describes their service as budget-friendly. www.choosechicago.com
   • Ask for: 4–5 pages + editable menu + catering inquiry/order form.

2. Emericano — Best low-cost ongoing option
   • Advertises roughly $300 + $35/month for a 3–5 page small-business site, including lead-form monitoring and ongoing edits. emericano.com
   • Particularly appealing if you don't want to deal with website maintenance yourself.
   • Emericano

3. SiteMe Chicago — Best middle-ground option
   • Custom sites start at $549, including contact/booking forms, with maintenance at $34/month.
   • Their maintenance plan specifically mentions seasonal menu/content updates, which is a nice fit for catering. sitemechicago.com
   • SiteMe Chicago

4. Mauve Verse — Cheapest advertised package
   • Advertises a $199 three-page package with a contact/query form and deployment. mauveverse.com
   • I'd get very specific about what "menu" and "order form" functionality costs extra before hiring them.
   • Mauve Verse

5. Flamingo Agency — Worth getting a quote
   • Chicago-based, strong local review profile, and likely worth comparing against the budget specialists.
   • I wouldn't choose them solely on reviews, though—ask for a fixed price for your exact scope.

What I'd ask them to build

For catering, I'd keep it simple:

Home | Catering Menu | Packages/Pricing | Order/Quote Request | Contact

The order form should collect:

• Event date
• Pickup/delivery
• Guest count
• Menu/package selection
• Dietary requirements
• Delivery address
• Name, phone and email
• Additional requests

I'd also make the menu HTML/mobile-readable rather than just a PDF. That's better for customers on phones and makes it easier for you to change prices/items.

My first three calls would be Affordable Web Design Chicago, Emericano, and SiteMe Chicago. Get all three to quote the same exact scope so you can compare apples-to-apples.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. under $300, $500, or $1,000) and whether you need actual online payment/checkout or just an order-request form, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 choices.

Since you’re in downtown Chicago, I’d focus on small studios or freelancers rather than full-service agencies. For a catering company, you mainly need a polished mobile site, easy-to-update menus, and a solid catering inquiry/order form—not a huge custom build.

My shortlist

1. VibeLaunch — best ultra-budget option
   • Advertises websites starting at $99
   • Says it serves Chicago small businesses
   • Fast turnaround and simple setup
   • Good fit if you mainly need Home / About / Menu / Catering / Contact
   • I’d specifically ask whether their basic package can handle a custom catering order form rather than just a contact form. vibelaunchdesign.com
   • VibeLaunch

2. Mauve Verse — best if you want more functionality cheaply
   • Chicago-based
   • Packages currently advertised from $199
   • Includes contact/query forms; higher tiers offer custom forms and online ordering/payment integrations
   • Their $649 package includes a CMS, which would be useful for keeping menus updated yourself. mauveverse.com
   • Mauve Verse

3. SiteMe Chicago — best balance of price + ongoing help
   • Custom websites from $549
   • Includes mobile responsiveness, SEO basics, and contact/booking forms
   • Monthly maintenance is advertised at $34/month, including seasonal menu/content updates
   • This is particularly attractive for catering because your menu may change regularly. sitemechicago.com
   • SiteMe Chicago

4. Emericano — best low-cost ongoing option
   • Serves Illinois small businesses, including restaurants
   • Advertises roughly $300 for a 3–5 page site, followed by about $20–$50/month
   • Includes contact/lead forms and ongoing content updates
   • I'd ask them to build the catering inquiry form as part of the initial scope. emericano.com
   • Emericano

5. Prismatics Digital — best catering-specific choice
   • Chicago boutique studio specifically works with restaurants/small businesses
   • Their restaurant offering mentions menus, ordering, POS integrations and catering workflows
   • They also offer ongoing maintenance
   • I wouldn't assume they'll be the cheapest, but they're worth getting a quote from because your requirements are unusually well aligned with their restaurant experience. www.prismaticsdigital.com
   • Prismatics Digital

What I'd ask for

For your business, I'd request a 5-page site:

• Home
• Catering Menu
• Corporate/Event Catering
• About
• Contact / Request a Quote

And make the main CTA “Request Catering Quote” rather than simply “Contact Us.” The form could collect event date, guest count, location, menu/package choice, dietary requirements, budget, and phone/email.

I'd target roughly $300–$800 upfront for a straightforward site. If someone quotes several thousand dollars, I'd only consider it if they're providing substantial custom ordering/automation.

My first three calls would be SiteMe, Mauve Verse, and Prismatics. SiteMe looks strongest for inexpensive ongoing maintenance, Mauve Verse for low initial cost, and Prismatics for actual catering/restaurant functionality.

Yes. For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a big agency for this. You mainly need a polished mobile site, editable menu, catering/order form, and optionally online payment.

My shortlist

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Probably worth contacting first because they specifically position themselves around budget-friendly websites for small businesses. Ask for a fixed-price quote including a menu and catering inquiry/order form.

2. 10com Web Development — Downtown Chicago, with a strong review count and experience with small-business websites and e-commerce/order functionality. I'd ask them for their smallest package rather than a full marketing engagement.

3. The Loop Marketing Inc — Actually in the West Loop, and focused on small businesses. They could be a good choice if you also want basic local SEO so people searching Google for Chicago catering can find you.

4. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Downtown/Loop and experienced with restaurants and other small businesses. Likely worth getting a quote, although I'd specifically ask them to keep the scope lean.

5. VibeLaunch — Not necessarily a traditional agency, but its published pricing is unusually low: $99 starting price for a four-page site and it says it's Chicago-based. I'd verify exactly what menu functionality, forms, hosting, and ongoing costs are included before choosing it. vibelaunchdesign.com

One option I'd look at even though it's outside downtown

Bripe Media advertises an $850 one-time catering website that includes menu pages, catering quote/order forms, photo gallery, mobile design, and integration with Square Online or Shopify. That's unusually close to what you're asking for. design.bripemedia.com

There's also SiteMe Chicago, which advertises custom sites starting at $549, including contact/booking forms, with optional $34/month maintenance that covers things like seasonal menu updates. sitemechicago.com

What I'd ask for

Tell each designer you need:

• Home page
• Mobile-friendly catering menu that you can edit yourself
• Catering/order inquiry form
• Event date + guest count + delivery/pickup fields
• Customer contact information
• Photo gallery
• Click-to-call button
• Google Maps/Google Business integration
• Optional Square Online checkout
• You owning the domain and website
• No long-term marketing contract

For your type of business, I'd target roughly $500–$1,200 one-time for the website unless you need sophisticated online ordering. A catering site can be considerably cheaper than a full restaurant/e-commerce build.

If you want, I can also narrow this down to 3 Chicago designers under $1,000 and find their current pricing/contact information.

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying a traditional agency for a big custom site. You mainly need a polished mobile site, easy-to-update menus, catering/order forms, and ideally online payments.

My shortlist

1. Menus and Photos — probably the best fit if you want someone who understands food businesses. They specifically offer restaurant websites with editable menus, CMS access, and optional online-ordering integration. Their basic website pricing is listed around $200/page, while an advanced package with ordering is listed at $3,000.

2. CMP Development Group / Online Ordering Made Easy — worth getting a quote if online ordering is the priority. They focus on independent restaurants and small food businesses and offer menu maintenance, ordering, and restaurant-focused website services.

3. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — convenient if you want someone right downtown; they're at 10 S Riverside Plaza and have a strong local-review profile. I'd ask specifically for a small catering-site package rather than a broader marketing/SEO package.

4. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — another downtown option at 30 N Michigan Ave. They handle web design and CMS-based sites, but I'd compare their quote carefully against the smaller specialists above.

Cheapest route I'd consider

If you don't need a highly customized site, Flavor Plate is particularly interesting: it's a restaurant-specific website platform at $49/month, with menu management and optional online ordering; it also says initial design setup is free. www.flavorplate.com

For a more customized but still relatively inexpensive build, Storefront Studio advertises restaurant sites from $600, with menus and contact forms, and a $900 tier adding online ordering/e-commerce. storefront-studio.org

What I'd ask for

Tell designers you need:

• Home page
• Catering menu with categories, prices and photos
• Catering order/inquiry form (date, guest count, menu selections, delivery address, budget, notes)
• Contact form
• Click-to-call button
• Mobile-friendly design
• Easy menu editing yourself
• Online payment/deposit capability
• Google Business/Maps integration
• Your own domain and ownership of the website

My first three calls would be Menus and Photos, CMP Development Group, and a quote from Storefront Studio. That should give you a useful comparison between a local restaurant specialist, an ordering-focused provider, and a low-cost custom build.

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d avoid a big agency and look for a freelancer/small studio that can build a simple mobile-friendly site with:

• Editable catering/menu pages
• Inquiry/contact form
• Catering order form with guest count, date, delivery address, etc.
• Optional online payment/order integration
• Basic Google/local SEO
• You being able to change prices and menu items yourself

Chicago options worth contacting

1. Windy City Web Solutions — 801 S Wells St, Chicago

A small local web shop with a strong rating and a downtown location. I'd put them on the quote list for a straightforward catering site.

2. John Schuster — 1531 N Wells St, Chicago

Independent web designer, which can sometimes mean a lower project cost and more direct communication than an agency.

3. Wojo Design — 318 W Adams St, Chicago

Downtown and relatively small operation; worth asking for a fixed-price package.

4. Web Design Chicago — 800 S Clark St, Chicago

Another small local option that could be worth getting a quote from.

5. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — 10 S Riverside Plaza, Chicago

More SEO-oriented, so potentially useful if getting found for searches like “Chicago corporate catering” is important.

One I'd especially investigate

Flamingo Agency is a Chicago web-design agency with a substantial number of reviews. I'd ask specifically for a small-business/fixed-scope package rather than a custom agency build.

Also, for your particular business, I'd ask every designer to show you 2–3 catering/restaurant sites they've actually built. A beautiful generic business website isn't necessarily good at converting catering inquiries.

For reference, Chicago catering sites commonly combine a menu with online ordering/contact functionality; for example, Tempesta Market has both menu/order functionality, while other local caterers use dedicated inquiry/order forms. tempestamarket.com

Budget I'd target: roughly $1,000–$2,500 one-time for a polished small catering site with 5–8 pages, menu management, and forms. If someone quotes $5k+ for that scope, I'd get another quote unless they're providing substantial custom ordering functionality.

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. under $1,000, $1–2k, or $2–3k), I can narrow this to the 3 best choices and find their actual pricing/contact information.

For a small downtown Chicago catering company, I’d focus on small studios/freelancers rather than big agencies. You probably need a polished 4–6 page site, an editable menu, catering inquiry/order form, and maybe online payments—not a $5k+ custom build.

My shortlist

1. Menus and Photos — best catering/food fit
   • Specifically works with restaurants, catering businesses and food brands.
   • Offers editable menus and optional online-ordering integration.
   • Their advanced website package is listed at $3,000 with online ordering, so I'd ask whether they can quote a simpler catering-only site below that. www.prismaticsdigital.com

2. Affordable Web Design Chicago — best budget-oriented local option
   • Chicago-based and specifically targets small businesses.
   • Their site emphasizes affordable WordPress sites, responsive design, and maintenance. www.choosechicago.com
   • I'd ask for a quote for menu + catering inquiry form + click-to-call + basic SEO, without paying for unnecessary extras.

3. Uptech Solution USA LLC — cheapest structured option
   • Lists a $50/month small-site package covering roughly 3–5 pages, hosting, domain and business email.
   • They also support contact forms and common integrations.
   • Worth considering if keeping upfront costs very low matters more than having a highly customized design.

4. SiteMe Chicago — good low-cost custom option
   • Advertises custom websites from $549, including contact/booking forms, with typical delivery in 3–5 business days.
   • Maintenance is listed at $34/month, including seasonal menu/content updates. sitemechicago.com
   • This is probably the first one I'd contact for a simple, professional catering site on a tight budget.

5. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — good if Google visibility matters
   • West Loop location and focuses on small-business websites plus local SEO/Google Maps visibility.
   • I'd consider them if you want the website to actively generate catering leads rather than simply serve as an online brochure.

What I'd ask them to build

For your business, I'd keep the scope to:

• Home
• Catering menus — ideally editable, not just a PDF
• Corporate catering / event catering
• About
• Contact / Request a Quote
• Order/inquiry form with date, guest count, delivery address, menu selection, dietary needs and budget
• Click-to-call and Google Maps
• Mobile-first design
• Google Business Profile/local SEO
• Optional online payment/deposit

I'd specifically tell them: “I don't need a complicated restaurant ordering system. I need customers to be able to view menus and submit catering orders/inquiries easily from their phones.” That can save you a lot of money.

My first three calls would be SiteMe, Menus and Photos, and Affordable Web Design Chicago. Get all three to quote the same exact scope so you're comparing apples to apples.

For a small catering company, I’d avoid paying for a big agency. You mainly need a mobile-friendly site, easy-to-update menu, catering/order form, contact form, and ideally online payment/order integration.

Here are the most budget-friendly options I found:

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — best low-cost Chicago option
   • Based in Chicago.
   • Specifically targets small businesses and advertises budget-friendly WordPress sites. www.choosechicago.com
   • Good choice if you want someone local and want to keep the site simple.
   • Ask for: menu pages, catering inquiry form, contact form, mobile design, and online ordering.

2. Uptech Solution USA LLC — cheapest published pricing I found
   • Chicago-based.
   • Publishes a $50/month website package for a small 3–5 page site, including hosting/domain and common integrations.
   • Their sites support contact forms and maps.
   • I'd ask specifically whether the $50/month plan can handle a menu + catering order form without expensive add-ons.

3. 10com Web Development — good downtown option
   • Located on Michigan Avenue in the Loop.
   • Has budget-oriented website packages and experience with small businesses.
   • Worth getting a quote if you'd like something more polished than a basic template.

4. The Loop Marketing Inc — good for a more established catering brand
   • West Loop location.
   • Focuses on small businesses and WordPress websites.
   • Probably worth considering if you also want help with Google/SEO after the site launches.

5. Still Waters Web Design — interesting restaurant-specific subscription
   • They advertise a free website build + $99/month, including menu updates, new photos, pages, and contact forms. stillwaterswebdesign.com
   • This could be particularly attractive for catering because your menu may change frequently.

One non-Chicago option I'd seriously consider

Bripe Media has a package specifically for catering businesses: $850 one-time. It includes menu pages, custom catering quote/order forms, photo gallery, and online-ordering integration through Square Online or Shopify. design.bripemedia.com

That's actually very close to what I'd recommend for you: a simple $500–$1,000 site with a real catering inquiry/order workflow, rather than spending $2,000–$5,000 on a marketing agency.

My shortlist:
Cheapest: Uptech / Affordable Web Design Chicago
Best fit for catering: Bripe Media
Best local restaurant-oriented option: Still Waters
More polished/local agency: 10com

When you request quotes, tell them you need (1) menu with prices/photos, (2) catering inquiry form with event date/guest count/location, (3) contact form, (4) online ordering or payment, (5) mobile-first design, and (6) the ability for you to change menu items yourself. That will make the quotes much easier to compare.

Since you’re downtown, I’d focus on small-business specialists rather than a big marketing agency. For a catering company, the key is getting a site that is easy to update and has a mobile-friendly menu + catering/order inquiry form, without paying for unnecessary SEO/marketing retainers.

My shortlist

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — probably the first one I’d call. It’s specifically positioned around budget-friendly websites for small businesses, and it’s Chicago-based. Ask for a simple catering site with menu pages and an order/quote form.

2. Web For Lesss — a small Chicago web-design operation explicitly focused on affordable, straightforward small-business sites. Good candidate if you want something simple rather than highly customized.

3. Uptech Solution USA LLC — worth considering if you prefer a very low monthly cost. They advertise a $50/month small-site package with hosting, domain and business email, and they support contact forms.

4. 10com Web Development — located right in the Loop and has substantial review volume. They specifically market budget-oriented packages and work with small businesses.

5. John Schuster — a smaller Chicago-based web-design provider that may be worth getting a quote from if you want more personalized/freelancer-style service.

One especially relevant option

If you're open to a designer who isn't necessarily downtown, Bripe Media publishes an unusually specific catering package: $850 one-time, with menu pages, catering quote/order forms, online-ordering integration through Square or Shopify, photo gallery, mobile design, and first-year domain/hosting. design.bripemedia.com

For comparison, SiteMe Chicago advertises custom sites from $549, including contact/booking forms, with optional $34/month maintenance that includes seasonal menu updates. sitemechicago.com

What I'd ask for

I'd send each designer the same requirements:

• 4–6 page mobile-friendly website
• Menu with prices/photos that you can edit yourself
• Catering inquiry/order form: date, guest count, location, menu/package, dietary needs, budget, contact info
• “Order Catering” button prominently on every page
• Square/Stripe payment or ordering integration only if you actually need customers to pay online
• Google Maps + business hours
• Basic Google/Local SEO
• You own the domain, website and content
• No long-term marketing contract

Budget target: I'd try to keep the initial build around $500–$1,200 for this scope. You don't need a $3,000–$10,000 agency website unless you're looking for sophisticated ordering, customer accounts, delivery logistics, or custom integrations.

If online ordering is important, I'd lean toward the $850 Bripe option or a designer who can integrate Square. If you mainly need customers to request catering quotes, the cheaper Chicago small-business designers should be sufficient.

Bripe Media catering website package
SiteMe Chicago

Since you’re downtown Chicago, I’d focus on small studios or restaurant-focused providers, rather than a big agency. For a catering company, the important features are a mobile-friendly menu, catering/order inquiry form, contact form, and ideally online payment/order integration.

My shortlist

1. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best budget-oriented local option

Chicago-based and specifically geared toward small businesses. I’d ask them for a simple 4–5 page catering site with an editable menu and quote/order form. Their public profile emphasizes budget-friendly small-business websites.

2. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — Best if you want someone actually downtown

They're in the Loop at 30 N Michigan Ave and specialize in web design/branding. Good choice if you want a somewhat more polished brand presentation without going to a large agency.

3. Menus and Photos — Especially interesting for a catering business

This Chicago studio works specifically with restaurants and food businesses and combines menu design, food photography, branding and website work. Their web offering includes editable menus and optional online-ordering integration. sitemechicago.com

4. Emericano — Cheapest straightforward option I found

They advertise roughly $300 to build a small-business site, with contact/lead forms, followed by roughly $20–$50/month for support. They serve Illinois, including Chicago. emericano.com
Caveat: they aren't Chicago-based, so this is more of a remote budget option.

5. SiteMe Chicago — Good middle ground

Starts at $549, with contact/booking forms, and lists $34/month maintenance including seasonal menu/content updates. sitemechicago.com

If you want the absolute lowest ongoing cost

Still Waters Web Design advertises a restaurant-focused model where the website is built for free and managed for $99/month, including menu changes, new pages and contact forms. sitemechicago.comstillwaterswebdesign.com

For something even more bare-bones, Get A Presence advertises restaurant sites at $149/year, including menu, photos, hours and contact form, with a 3–5 day turnaround. getapresence.com

What I'd ask for

I'd request a quote for:

• Home page with food/event photos
• Editable catering menu
• Catering quote/order form — date, guest count, event type, menu selections, delivery address, budget
• General contact form
• Click-to-call button
• Google Maps/location information
• Mobile-first design
• Online payment or Square/Stripe integration if you want customers to actually pay online
• Ability for you to change prices and menu items yourself
• Hosting + maintenance price after launch

My first three calls would be Menus and Photos, Affordable Web Design Chicago, and SiteMe. For a catering company, I'd favor someone who understands food-service ordering rather than someone who merely builds attractive small-business sites.