ChatGPT answers, unedited

• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Hunter Creative - Aurora, IL 60504
• BUILT by Backspace, LLC - 2612 N Mont Clare Ave, Chicago, IL 60707, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• 222 Digital Marketing Agency Chicago - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid agencies that sell big branding retainers. You likely need a simple conversion-focused site + Google Business Profile setup + basic local SEO, not a $10k+ marketing machine.

A realistic starter scope:

• 5–7 page site (Home, Catering Packages, Menu, Events, About, Gallery, Contact)
• Mobile-first design
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Local keywords (“West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” etc.)
• Basic analytics + Search Console setup
• Review strategy
• Optional monthly SEO maintenance

Agencies/studios I’d put on your shortlist:

Best fits for a tiny budget

SITE IT NOW

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-442-0352)

• West Loop/Near West Side location.
• Offers website design, hosting, and SEO/digital marketing.
• Worth asking about a “starter site + local SEO only” package rather than a full marketing engagement.

The Loop Marketing Inc

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-569-9449)

• Chicago agency serving small businesses and nonprofits.
• Their services include WordPress websites and local SEO work.
• Good fit if you want someone to handle the basics without building a huge campaign.

Windy City Web Solutions

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 847-801-9482)

• Chicago-based WordPress-focused provider.
• They position themselves around small businesses and ongoing website support.
• A reasonable option if you want a site you can update yourself.

More boutique / startup-friendly options

SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 224-600-4353)

• Located in the West Loop area.
• Focuses on website design plus local SEO services.
• I’d ask for a limited local SEO package rather than a broad campaign.

Design In Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-535-3088)

• West Loop/Fulton Market creative agency.
• More design-oriented, so it may be better if your catering brand depends heavily on visuals (events, food photography, weddings).

Chicago Website Design SEO Company

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-448-8310)

• Downtown Chicago firm focused on websites and SEO for local businesses.
• Their listed services include SEO-oriented web builds and local SEO.

A few smaller studios worth getting quotes from

• ALL FOR™ Agency — has small-business web packages and basic SEO setup options. ALL FOR™
• Hunter Creative — markets to Chicago neighborhood small businesses and lists lower-cost small business web builds. Hunter Creative Media & Design
• BUILT by Backspace, LLC — boutique approach with websites and local SEO for small businesses. BUILT by Backspace

What I’d ask each one before hiring

Send the same message to 5–6 agencies:

“We’re a two-person catering startup in West Loop. We need a simple, professional website and basic local SEO. Budget is limited. We don’t need ads or a full marketing retainer. Can you quote a starter package including Google Business Profile setup and ongoing costs?”

For your situation, I’d expect:

• Lean website build: roughly $1,000–$3,000
• Basic SEO maintenance: roughly $200–$600/month (or a one-time setup)
• Avoid contracts requiring 6–12 months before you can see what’s being done.

Also: for catering, I’d prioritize Google Business Profile + strong food/event photos + reviews over heavy SEO content. A beautiful menu/gallery/contact flow will probably convert better than dozens of blog posts.

• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Marketing Plug - 1440 W Taylor St #64, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

For a two-person catering startup, I’d shortlist:

• SITE IT NOW — West Loop; web design + SEO, so convenient locally.
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — West Loop; specifically works with small/new businesses and offers local SEO.
• The Marketing Plug — near West Loop; explicitly markets affordable/no-money-down web options.
• Hunter Creative Media — not West Loop, but unusually budget-friendly: sites start at $750, with on-page SEO included. Hunter Creative Media & Design
• Ascent Studio — $700 launch + $100/month, including local SEO foundations and hosting. skiigen.com

For your budget, I’d ask for a 5-page site + Google Business Profile + basic local SEO, not a big ongoing SEO retainer.

• 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
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 222 Digital Marketing Agency Chicago - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

For a two-person West Loop catering business, I’d keep the first site to 4–6 pages and spend on local SEO fundamentals rather than a big agency retainer. I found several Chicago options that explicitly target small businesses and publish unusually low pricing.

Agencies worth getting quotes from

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Their positioning is specifically around small-business web design and ongoing local SEO. They’re on the Northwest Side rather than West Loop, but the pricing focus makes them worth a quote.
• SITE IT NOW — 1016 W Jackson Blvd, right near the West Loop. They do websites plus SEO/digital marketing, so you can potentially keep everything with one local shop.
• Windy City Web Solutions — 801 S Wells St. Small-business-oriented WordPress work, with hosting/maintenance and hospitality among the markets they serve.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — 355 N Laflin St, very close to you. Their offering combines website design with local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, citations and content.
• Ascent Studio — not a West Loop office, but particularly interesting on price: it advertises Chicago sites from $700, including up to five SEO-optimized pages, local SEO setup, Google Business Profile alignment, analytics/Search Console, hosting and SSL. It says ongoing care is $100/month. Ascent Studio
• Hunter Creative Media — serves West Loop neighborhood businesses and advertises small-business sites starting at $750, with on-page SEO included and roughly two-week typical turnaround. Hunter Creative Media & Design
• JJE Digital — Chicago-based, with websites starting at $2,500 and foundation SEO included; ongoing hosting/support is listed at $199–$399/month. This is a step up in budget but still explicitly aimed at small businesses. JJE Digital
• Codecrew Chicago — advertises $0 down / $175 per month plans, with SEO built into the site rather than added afterward. Codecrew

What I'd ask for

For catering, I'd request a quote for:

• Home
• Catering/menu
• Corporate catering
• Weddings/events
• About
• Contact / quote request
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic local SEO: titles, descriptions, headings, schema, sitemap, Search Console
• Mobile-first design and fast hosting
• Analytics
• One or two West Loop/Chicago location pages
• No ongoing SEO contract initially, if possible

I'd avoid paying $500–$1,500+/month for SEO at launch. One Chicago agency I found advertises West Loop SEO starting at $399/month, but for a two-person startup I'd first get the site, Google Business Profile, reviews, local citations and basic on-page SEO properly established. Chicago SEO Agency

If your total initial budget is under $1,500, I'd start quotes with Ascent, Hunter Creative, Codecrew, and Affordable Web Design Chicago. If you can spend $2,500–$3,500, add JJE Digital and the nearby West Loop firms.

If you want, I can also narrow this to 3 agencies under a specific budget (e.g. $1k, $2k, or $3k) and compare exactly what each includes.

• 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
• Forge Web & Design - 2721 W 24th Pl, Chicago, IL 60608, 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
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, 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
• Inova Web Design - 100 S State St, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid full-service “branding + SEO” agencies. You likely need:

• A clean 5–8 page site (Home, Catering Packages, Menus, About, Gallery, Contact)
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Local SEO basics (“West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” “private events catering Chicago”)
• Reviews + photos + schema + tracking
• Maybe online inquiry forms (not a huge custom booking system)

A realistic starter budget is often $500–$2,000 upfront or $50–$200/month for a lean setup. Here are Chicago-area options that look more aligned with a tiny budget:

Best fits for a shoestring startup

• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Budget-focused web design/SEO provider. Good if you mainly need a professional presence without a big agency process.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Chicago-based WordPress/web support shop. Worth asking for a small hospitality site package rather than a larger marketing engagement.
• Forge Web & Design — A smaller Chicago web shop that focuses on straightforward business websites; their simple-package approach may fit a young company.
• 67webdesign.com — Publishes very low-cost managed website packages with basic SEO included, which may suit a startup that wants predictable monthly costs. 67 Web Design

Slightly higher budget, but still small-business oriented

• skiigen.com — Advertises small-business sites starting around a low setup cost plus monthly support; could be a good middle ground if you want something more polished for food/hospitality. Ascent Studio
• lizardoagency.com — More of a “build it properly once” option; their published small-business packages start higher, so I’d only consider them if you can invest a bit more. Lizardo Agency

Local SEO-only option (if you build the site yourself)

• SITE IT NOW — West Loop/Near West Side agency offering web and digital marketing services; could be worth asking for a limited Google Business Profile + local SEO package rather than a full campaign.

What I’d ask every agency before signing

Send something like:

“We’re a two-person catering startup in West Loop. We need a simple conversion-focused website and basic local SEO. Budget is under $2,000 upfront or under $200/month. Can you build a site optimized for catering inquiries, Google Business Profile, and local search?”

Ask:

• Do we own the domain and website?
• Is Google Business Profile setup included?
• Will you add basic SEO titles/descriptions?
• Will you connect Google Search Console and Analytics?
• Can we update menus/photos ourselves?
• Are there long contracts?

For your type of business, I’d prioritize great food photography, Google reviews, a fast mobile site, and inquiry conversion over an expensive SEO retainer. A $5k/month SEO campaign is unlikely to be the right first move for a two-person caterer.

• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 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
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Summit Web Design & SEO Services - 319 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067, United States

Since you’re in the West Loop, I’d focus on small Chicago shops with transparent starter pricing, rather than a traditional agency. A two-person catering company doesn’t need a $10k+ “brand experience.”

My shortlist

• SITE IT NOW — West Loop/Near West Side. Very convenient geographically, and they handle web design plus SEO/digital marketing. I’d ask them specifically for a stripped-down 4–5 page catering site rather than a full agency package.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — 355 N. Laflin, right in the West Loop. Their focus on local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, citations and web design makes them a particularly logical fit if your priority is getting found for searches like “West Loop catering” and “Chicago corporate catering.”
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop. Small-business oriented, with WordPress design/maintenance and hospitality listed among the markets they serve. Worth getting a quote if you want something you can update yourselves.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Explicitly targets small businesses and combines website work with local SEO. If price is the overriding concern, this is one I'd contact.
• Ascent Studio — Not a West Loop storefront, but its Chicago offering is unusually budget-oriented: it advertises sites from $600 setup + $100/month, including up to five SEO-optimized pages, local SEO setup, Google Business Profile alignment, analytics/Search Console and hosting. Ascent Studio
• 67 Web Design — The bargain option: advertises $67/month, including a three-page managed WordPress site, hosting/domain, basic SEO, security and monthly updates. It specifically targets small Chicago businesses. 67 Web Design

What I'd budget

For your situation, I'd aim for roughly $750–$2,500 upfront, or a genuinely low monthly plan. You really only need:

• Home
• Catering / services
• Menus or packages
• About
• Contact / quote request
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Basic local SEO: titles, descriptions, headings, schema, sitemap
• Search Console + Analytics
• Mobile-first design
• Fast-loading photos

I'd skip ongoing “SEO” retainers initially unless they can explain exactly what they're doing each month. A properly built site + optimized Google Business Profile + reviews + a few useful local pages can be a much better first investment for a tiny catering business.

One particularly relevant alternative is West Loop SEO: it's a boutique local shop founded by a small team and explicitly offers website work, technical SEO, content, reviews/local SEO, and free audits. They don't publish their pricing, though, so I'd ask for a very small-business package. West Loop SEO

If it were my money: I'd get quotes from SEOLEVELUP, SITE IT NOW, and Ascent Studio, giving all three the exact same brief. That should make it pretty easy to compare apples-to-apples.

seolevelup.com
siteitnow.com
skiigen.com

• 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
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• First Ascent Block 37 - 108 N State St 4th floor, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid traditional agencies that want $5k–$20k+ builds and monthly retainers. You mainly need:

• A fast 5–8 page site (home, catering menus, events, about, contact, gallery, testimonials)
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Basic local SEO (“West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” etc.)
• Analytics + Search Console setup
• Easy updates by you, not a developer

Here are Chicago-area options that look more aligned with a tiny budget:

Best fits for a lean catering startup

SITE IT NOW

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-442-0352)

Good West Loop proximity. They do website design/development plus SEO and are used to small-business sites rather than only enterprise work.
Ask for: a simple WordPress or Webflow marketing site, not a custom build.

Windy City Web Solutions

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 847-801-9482)

A smaller Chicago provider focused on WordPress websites and small organizations.
Likely fit if: you want someone affordable who can also handle maintenance after launch.

Affordable Web Design Chicago

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-234-6470)

Positioned specifically around budget-conscious small businesses and SEO foundations.
Likely fit if: keeping upfront costs low matters more than a highly custom brand experience.

BUILTbyBackspace

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 708-692-1189)

A boutique, one-person-style approach focused on small businesses, Webflow sites, and local SEO. BUILTbyBackspace
Likely fit if: you want a polished hospitality look without a big agency process.

Always Coded Fresh

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 917-267-9991)

Markets small-business websites with flexible payment approaches and SEO-focused builds. Codecrew
Likely fit if: cash flow is tight and you prefer a monthly arrangement.

West Loop / hospitality-oriented options

ALL FOR™ Agency

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-206-0323)

Located in West Loop/Fulton Market and offers startup/small-business website packages including basic SEO setup. ALL FOR™
Watch-out: may be more design-focused, so confirm the total cost before committing.

First Ascent Block 37

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-285-2337)

Targets Chicago businesses including restaurants/hospitality and advertises SEO foundations, Google Business Profile alignment, and small-business packages. Ascent Studio
Worth asking: whether they have a starter package below their full-service offering.

My shortlist for your exact situation

If I were a two-person catering company, I’d get quotes from:

1. ALL FOR™ — best if brand/image matters (food businesses live or die on presentation). ALL FOR™
2. BUILTbyBackspace — best boutique balance of design + SEO. BUILTbyBackspace
3. Windy City Web Solutions — best “keep it practical and affordable.”
4. Affordable Web Design Chicago — best if budget is the main constraint.

A realistic starter budget:

• $800–$2,500 one-time: basic but professional site
• $100–$300/month: hosting, edits, light SEO help
• Avoid committing to $1k+/month SEO retainers until you have steady catering leads.

When you contact them, I’d say:

“We’re a two-person West Loop catering startup. We need a simple conversion-focused website, Google Business Profile setup, and basic local SEO. Our budget is under $2,500 upfront. Can you work within that?”

That phrasing will quickly separate small-business-friendly shops from agencies selling enterprise packages.

• 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
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States

For a two-person catering startup in West Loop, I’d avoid traditional “branding agencies” — many Chicago shops will build you a beautiful $10k–$30k site when you probably need a clean 5-page site + Google visibility + catering inquiry form. Digital Serpents

Here are some smaller-budget-friendly options to talk to:

A couple of non-traditional lower-cost options worth checking:

• emericano.com — advertises affordable Illinois small-business websites with basic SEO foundations and simple maintenance options. Emericano
• skiigen.com — positions itself around smaller businesses, with packaged builds and ongoing care rather than big-agency pricing. Ascent Studio

For your specific business, I’d ask every vendor for a quote with this exact scope:

• 5 pages: Home, Catering Packages, Menu/Services, About, Contact
• Mobile-first design
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic local SEO: - “West Loop catering”
• “Chicago corporate catering”
• “Chicago event catering”
• neighborhood/service pages if needed
• Photo gallery
• Inquiry form that collects event date, guest count, budget, venue
• Analytics + Search Console setup

A realistic lean budget:

• $800–$2,500 one-time: simple but professional site
• $100–$400/month: maintenance + light SEO help
• Be cautious with anyone pushing $1,000+/month SEO retainers before you even have a site, reviews, and a Google Business Profile dialed in.

For a catering startup, your biggest SEO wins will probably come from:

1. Great food/event photos.
2. Strong Google reviews.
3. A well-built Google Business Profile.
4. Pages targeting corporate catering, weddings, private events, and West Loop/Fulton Market searches.

I’d probably get quotes from SITE IT NOW, Windy City Web Solutions, and one budget specialist first, then compare.

Since you’re in West Loop, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies and target small studios that explicitly publish small-business pricing or lightweight packages. For a two-person catering startup, I’d shortlist these:

1. skiigen.com — best overall fit

• Chicago-focused and specifically builds for restaurants/hospitality.
• Advertises $600 setup + $100/month, including hosting, SSL, edits and ongoing SEO.
• Typical launch: 2–4 weeks.
• Particularly attractive if you want someone to handle the technical stuff rather than DIY. Ascent Studio
• 67webdesign.com — cheapest published option

• Advertises a $67/month small-business plan.
• 3-page WordPress site, hosting, domain, maintenance and basic SEO are included.
• They say sites are delivered in about 5 business days.
• This is the one I'd investigate if your budget is genuinely tight. 67 Web Design
• allfor.agency — best truly local/design-oriented option

• They're founder-led and based in Fulton Market/West Loop.
• Their smallest package is explicitly aimed at startups and one-person businesses and includes a small site plus basic SEO.
• Worth considering if presentation/food photography/brand feel matters a lot for your catering business. ALL FOR™
• ALL FOR™ Agency
• huntercreativemedia.com — good cheap one-time build

• Advertises $499 landing pages / $750 small-business sites.
• Specifically works with Chicago neighborhood businesses and restaurants.
• Includes on-page SEO and says you own the code rather than paying an ongoing subscription. Hunter Creative Media & Design
• westloopseo.com — good SEO specialist to pair with a cheap site

• Actually based in downtown Chicago and specifically works with local businesses.
• Offers local SEO, technical SEO, content and reviews/local-search work.
• They advertise free website audits/consultations, although they don't publish a fixed price. West Loop SEO

What I'd do with a tiny catering budget

I'd aim for $500–$1,500 upfront and ≤$150/month afterward. You don't need a fancy 15-page site yet.

Your initial site should probably be just:

• Home / catering overview
• Corporate & office catering
• Events / weddings
• Menu or sample packages
• About
• Contact / quote request

And make sure the package includes Google Business Profile setup/optimization, basic local SEO, Search Console, mobile speed, title/meta tags, and conversion tracking. Those will matter more initially than expensive "SEO campaigns."

My first three calls would be Ascent, 67 Web Design, and ALL FOR. Ask each for a fixed-price quote for a 5–6 page catering site + local SEO setup, and tell them upfront that you're a two-person startup with a hard budget ceiling. That should quickly reveal who is actually startup-friendly.

• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, 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
• Lizardo Agency - 6455 S Normandy Ave Apt 2S, Chicago, IL 60638, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, 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
• SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• 1TR - Website Design & SEO Services - 888 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• SEO Focus Web Design Company - 17 W Front St, Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
• Osmo Web Agency, LLC - 7427 S South Shore Dr #4K, Chicago, IL 60649, United States
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Summit Web Design & SEO Services - 319 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067, United States

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid traditional Chicago agencies with big retainers. I found a few options that look much more aligned with a lean budget:

• SITE IT NOW — West Loop/Near West Side. They do web design, SEO and digital marketing, and are actually at 1016 W Jackson Blvd. Worth asking for a stripped-down 4–5 page catering site rather than a full agency package.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Best ultra-budget option. Their published Chicago plan starts at $67/month, including a 3-page WordPress site, hosting, domain, maintenance and basic SEO. 67 Web Design
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop. Focused on WordPress sites for small businesses, including hospitality, with local web/hosting support. Good one to get a conventional local quote from.
• Lizardo Agency — Small Chicago shop with a strong SEO angle. Their published SEO pricing starts around $499–$599/month, so I'd consider them if SEO becomes more important after launch rather than for a shoestring initial build. Lizardo Agency
• 67 Web Design — Not physically local—they're based in Michigan—but their Chicago offering is unusually budget-oriented: $67/month, with basic SEO included and no setup fee. Their local SEO plan is $79.99/month. 67 Web Design

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd get three quotes: SITE IT NOW for a genuinely local option, Affordable Web Design Chicago for the low-cost benchmark, and Windy City Web Solutions as the middle-ground comparison.

For your first site, I'd target $500–$1,500 upfront or ~$70–$150/month, and keep SEO basic:

• Home page targeting “West Loop catering” / “Chicago catering”
• Catering/menu page
• Corporate & events page
• About + Contact
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Page titles, meta descriptions, image alt text and basic local schema
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Mobile-first design
• Prominent Get a Quote / Catering Inquiry CTA

I would not pay $500+/month for ongoing SEO yet. For a tiny catering company, getting the fundamentals right, collecting Google reviews, building a strong Google Business Profile, and creating genuinely useful local/service pages are likely a much better first investment.

One caveat: I found agencies advertising very low prices, but I wouldn't assume “cheap” automatically means good for catering. Ask specifically for 2–3 examples of restaurant/catering/hospitality work and the total 12-month cost, including hosting, edits, SEO and cancellation terms.

• 312 Pixels - 2130 W Fulton St Ste F, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Digital Marketers Chicago - 2835 N Sheffield Ave #209, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Hunter Creative - Aurora, IL 60504
• Always Coded Fresh - 155 N Wacker Dr #4250, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• First Ascent Block 37 - 108 N State St 4th floor, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• True Catalyst Agency - 2700 Middleburg Dr Ste 209A, Columbia, SC 29204, United States
• Greene Street Designs - 307 N Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC 29206, United States
• DuBose Web Group - 808 Lady St Ste D, Columbia, SC 29201, United States
• Revenge Marketing - 1201 Main St #1980, Columbia, SC 29201, United States
• DBL07 Consulting - 1400 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States
• Cut Throat Marketing - 7522 Irmo Dr Ste 3, Columbia, SC 29212, United States
• Carolina Web Design & Business Consulting Services LLC - 228 Match Point Dr, Chapin, SC 29036, United States
• Backbone Creative Co - 1565 John Chapman Rd, Irmo, SC 29063, United States
• Web Design Columbia - 810 Dutch Square Blvd Ste 380, Columbia, SC 29210, United States
• Modernized Digital - 1200 S Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29205, United States

Assuming you mean Chicago’s West Loop, I’d keep this very lean: a 4–5 page site, Google Business Profile, basic on-page/local SEO, analytics/Search Console, and no expensive ongoing SEO retainer.

Here are the strongest budget fits I found:

• 312 Pixels — Best overall budget pick. Their Chicago starter site is $799 one-time, with a mobile-first site and no required recurring fee; they specifically position themselves around small businesses and fixed pricing. Pixalpha Studio
• Digital Marketers Chicago — Better if you can spend around $2,500. Their package includes foundation SEO, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile optimization, hosting/security, and support. JJE Digital
• Hunter Creative — Interesting for a food business: they explicitly list restaurants among their verticals, with small-business sites starting around $750 and on-page SEO included. They're outside the city, but serve Chicago. Hunter Creative Media & Design
• Always Coded Fresh — A good low-upfront option: $0 down / $175 per month, with a 5-page custom site, hosting, on-page SEO and some monthly edits. Codecrew
• First Ascent Block 37 — Particularly worth a conversation because they explicitly mention Chicago restaurants and quote $600 setup + $100/month, including hosting, edits and ongoing SEO. Ascent Studio

What I'd do in your shoes

For a two-person catering company, I'd avoid paying $500–$1,000/month for "SEO" initially. You probably need:

1. A polished mobile site with Home / Catering / Menus or Packages / About / Contact
2. Strong copy around searches like "West Loop catering," "Chicago corporate catering," "Chicago event catering"
3. Google Business Profile setup/optimization
4. Title tags, meta descriptions, sitemap, schema and Search Console
5. A simple inquiry form that actually converts leads

I'd get quotes from PIXALPHA, Hunter Creative, and Ascent and tell each one: "We're a two-person catering startup. Our total initial budget is under $1,000–$1,500, and we need a simple site plus foundational local SEO—not an ongoing marketing campaign."

That should make it pretty obvious who is genuinely startup-friendly versus who is going to try to sell you a $2k+ build and a monthly retainer.

Since you’re in Chicago’s West Loop, I’d focus on small studios rather than full-service marketing agencies. A few good budget-fit options I found:

• Ascent Studio — Probably my first call. Chicago-focused, with web design advertised from $700, plus SEO-ready copy, analytics/Search Console setup, and optional $100/mo ongoing care. They specifically mention West Loop hospitality work. Ascent Studio skiigen.com
• Hunter Creative Media — Very budget-oriented: $750 starting price for small-business sites and about a two-week typical turnaround. They explicitly target Chicago neighborhood businesses and restaurants, with on-page SEO included. Hunter Creative Media & Design huntercreativemedia.com
• ALL FOR™ — A founder-led agency actually in Fulton Market/West Loop. Their “Mini” package is designed for startups/one-person businesses and includes a 1–2 page site plus basic SEO; their next tier goes to five pages. Pricing isn't displayed, so I'd ask for their smallest package. ALL FOR™ allfor.agency
• Chicago SEO Agency — Worth considering if the site itself is simple but local Google visibility is the priority. Their West Loop SEO offering starts at $399/month, including map-pack/local SEO work. Chicago SEO Agency chicagoseoagency.co
• Codecrew Chicago — Interesting if cash flow is tight: they advertise $0 down / $175 per month, with SEO built into the site rather than bolted on afterward. Codecrew codecrew.studio
• JJE Digital — More expensive upfront ($2,500+), but includes foundation SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, Search Console, hosting and support. I'd use them if you want something more substantial from day one. JJE Digital jjedigital.com

What I'd budget

For a two-person catering company, I wouldn't pay for a $500–$1,500/month SEO retainer yet. I'd aim for roughly:

• $700–$1,500 one-time for a polished 4–5 page site
• Basic local SEO included
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Analytics + Search Console
• Mobile speed optimization
• Pages targeting things like “Chicago catering,” “West Loop catering,” “corporate catering Chicago,” and your strongest catering specialties
• Then $0–$150/month for maintenance initially

My shortlist would be Ascent → Hunter Creative → ALL FOR, with Codecrew as the low-upfront-cost alternative.

If you tell me your rough max budget (e.g. $500, $1k, $2k), I can narrow this to the 3 best fits and compare exactly what you'd get from each.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid traditional “branding agencies” and look for a lean web studio or freelancer-style agency that can build a clean 5–8 page site, set up local SEO, and leave you with something you can grow. You probably do not need a $10k+ restaurant website right now.

Here are some Chicago-area options that look better suited to a small budget:

Best fits for a tiny catering budget

Ascent Studio

Good fit if you want a polished hospitality site without a big-agency process. They specifically market Chicago small-business sites with SEO basics, Google Business Profile alignment, analytics setup, and simple CMS support. Ascent Studio

Likely fit: $600–$2k-ish starter range (confirm current pricing)
Ask for: catering landing pages, menu/service pages, event inquiry form, local SEO setup.

ALL FOR™ Agency

A West Loop/Fulton Market-based boutique agency. They have smaller website packages aimed at startups and one-person businesses, including basic SEO setup. AllFor Agency

Likely fit: Better if your brand/design matters (food photography, premium feel)
Watch: Make sure the scope stays “starter site,” not a full branding engagement.

Hunter Creative Media & Design

Positions itself around neighborhood small businesses rather than corporate clients, with smaller WordPress builds and SEO baked into site structure. Hunter Creative Media & Design

Likely fit: Practical, budget-conscious build
Ask for: WordPress site you own + basic SEO + training.

BUILTbyBackspace

A smaller Chicago shop focused on Webflow sites, local SEO, and small businesses. BUILTbyBackspace

Likely fit: If you want a modern-looking site and don’t mind Webflow instead of WordPress.

West Loop SEO

Worth considering if you already have a site (or want a cheap site elsewhere) and mainly need Google visibility. They focus on local SEO, reviews, technical SEO, and small-business growth. West Loop SEO

Likely fit: Google Maps/local search help rather than a full website build.

What I’d budget for your stage

For a two-person caterer, I’d aim for:

• Website build: $1,000–$3,000 one time
• Local SEO setup: $300–$1,000 one time
• Ongoing SEO: $100–$300/month only after you have basics working

Your first site should probably have:

• Home page (“West Loop catering” positioning)
• Corporate catering page
• Private events page
• Menu/packages page
• Gallery
• About/story
• Contact/inquiry form
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Reviews section
• Basic schema + titles/meta descriptions

Questions to ask before hiring

Send every agency this:

“We’re a two-person West Loop catering startup. We need a simple but professional website, basic local SEO, Google Business Profile setup, and an easy way for customers to request catering quotes. Our budget is under $3k. Is this a fit?”

The agencies that immediately try to sell ads, monthly SEO retainers, or a full brand package are probably not the right match yet.

I’d personally start by getting quotes from Ascent Studio, ALL FOR™, and Hunter Creative Media and compare the actual deliverables. Ascent Studio AllFor Agency Hunter Creative Media & Design

Hunter Creative Media & Design

Positions itself around neighborhood small businesses rather than corporate clients, with smaller WordPress builds and SEO baked into site structure. Hunter Creative Media & Design

Likely fit: Practical, budget-conscious build
Ask for: WordPress site you own + basic SEO + training.

BUILTbyBackspace

A smaller Chicago shop focused on Webflow sites, local SEO, and small businesses. BUILTbyBackspace

Likely fit: If you want a modern-looking site and don’t mind Webflow instead of WordPress.

West Loop SEO

Worth considering if you already have a site (or want a cheap site elsewhere) and mainly need Google visibility. They focus on local SEO, reviews, technical SEO, and small-business growth. westloopseo.com

Likely fit: Google Maps/local search help rather than a full website build.

What I’d budget for your stage

For a two-person caterer, I’d aim for:

Since you’re in West Loop, Chicago, I’d prioritize small/founder-led shops that explicitly publish low-cost packages rather than traditional Chicago agencies.

My shortlist

• ALL FOR™ Agency — Actually located in Fulton Market/West Loop. Their “Mini” package is specifically aimed at startups and one-person businesses and includes a 1–2 page site plus basic SEO (titles/meta descriptions). Good choice if you want someone local and design-conscious. ALL FOR™
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — Particularly interesting if the website itself can be simple and your bigger need is getting found locally. They’re a small downtown Chicago agency, offer free audits/consultations, and specifically work on local SEO, reviews and technical SEO. They don't publish a fixed low price, though, so I'd ask for a startup package. West Loop SEO
• Ascent Studio — One of the strongest budget fits I found: advertises Chicago sites from $700, with up to five SEO-optimized pages, local SEO setup, Google Business Profile alignment, analytics/Search Console, hosting and SSL. They also specifically mention restaurants/hospitality and West Loop businesses. Ascent Studio
• JJE Digital — More expensive, but still relatively lean: $2,500–$5,000 for a custom site with foundation SEO, followed by $199–$399/month. Includes Google Business Profile optimization and Search Console. JJE Digital
• PIXALPHA STUDIO — Fixed-price small-business packages starting around $799 one-time, with no required recurring fee. Worth getting a quote if you want a simple site without getting locked into a big monthly retainer. Pixalpha Studio

What I'd do in your shoes

For a two-person catering startup, I'd target roughly $700–$1,500 upfront and avoid paying $500+/month for “SEO” at this stage.

Your initial site only really needs:

• Home
• Catering/services
• Menus or packages
• About
• Contact/inquiry form
• Strong food photography
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic local SEO for searches like “West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” “Chicago event catering”
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Fast mobile performance

My first three calls would be Ascent Studio, ALL FOR™, and West Loop SEO. Ascent looks strongest on the combination of low price + website + SEO; ALL FOR™ is the most geographically convenient; West Loop SEO is worth approaching if you already have a site or want SEO handled separately.

One caveat: several agencies' published pricing is marketing/package pricing, so I'd confirm the actual quote and exactly what ongoing fees are before signing.

My first three calls would be Ascent Studio, ALL FOR™, and West Loop SEO. Ascent looks strongest on the combination of low price + website + SEO; ALL FOR™ is the most geographically convenient; West Loop SEO is worth approaching if you already have a site or want SEO handled separately.

One caveat: several agencies' published pricing is marketing/package pricing, so I'd confirm the actual quote and exactly what ongoing fees are before signing.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid traditional “branding agencies” that want $10k–$30k websites. You likely need a 5–8 page site + Google Business Profile setup + basic local SEO + great food photography integration, not a giant marketing retainer.

Here are Chicago-area options that look more aligned with a tiny budget:

What I’d ask them for

Send the same brief to 5 agencies and compare apples-to-apples:

“We are a two-person catering company in West Loop. We need a simple mobile-friendly website, Google Business Profile optimization, basic local SEO, and an easy way to update menus/photos. Budget is under $2,500 if possible. We don’t need ads or a full branding package.”

A reasonable starter scope:

• Home page
• Catering packages/menu page
• Private events page
• About/team page
• Gallery
• Contact/quote form
• Google Business Profile cleanup
• Search Console + Analytics setup
• Basic on-page SEO for terms like: - “West Loop catering”
• “Chicago corporate catering”
• “private event catering Chicago”

My shortlist for your situation

1. ALL FOR™ — best if you want someone nearby who understands the West Loop/Fulton Market vibe. ALL FOR™
2. Ascent Studio — best if you want a practical “site + SEO foundation” package. Ascent Studio
3. Hunter Creative Media — best if keeping costs very tight matters most. Hunter Creative Media & Design

I’d also consider a freelance WordPress/Webflow designer before hiring an SEO agency; at your stage, a great site + Google profile + reviews will likely outperform paying for ongoing SEO retainers.

Send the same brief to 5 agencies and compare apples-to-apples:

“We are a two-person catering company in West Loop. We need a simple mobile-friendly website, Google Business Profile optimization, basic local SEO, and an easy way to update menus/photos. Budget is under $2,500 if possible. We don’t need ads or a full branding package.”

A reasonable starter scope:

• Home page
• Catering packages/menu page
• Private events page
• About/team page
• Gallery
• Contact/quote form
• Google Business Profile cleanup
• Search Console + Analytics setup
• Basic on-page SEO for terms like: - “West Loop catering”
• “Chicago corporate catering”
• “private event catering Chicago”

My shortlist for your situation

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 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
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, 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
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Summit Web Design & SEO Services - 319 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, 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
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid traditional agencies with big retainers. You mainly need a fast, attractive mobile site, Google Business Profile/local SEO, and a handful of service/location pages—not a giant marketing engagement.

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Best local fit. They’re actually in the West Loop on N. Laflin and combine web design with local SEO and Google Maps/Business Profile optimization. That’s particularly relevant for searches like “West Loop catering” and “Chicago corporate catering.” West Loop SEO
• Windy City Web Solutions — Good budget-minded option. Chicago-based, focused on small organizations, with WordPress, hosting/maintenance and SEO. Their positioning specifically emphasizes avoiding bloated agency fees and working directly with the person doing the work.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Worth getting a quote from if price is the priority. Their focus is explicitly budget-friendly websites and SEO for small businesses. I'd ask for an all-in price rather than accepting a long-term marketing package.
• Design In Chicago — Best if you care more about branding/food photography aesthetics. They're right in the West Loop and offer web, branding, marketing and photo/video, although I'd expect them to be less bargain-oriented than the first three.
• SITE IT NOW — Another West Loop/Near West Side option offering web design plus SEO/marketing. They could be useful if you want someone who can stay involved after launch.

One particularly interesting budget benchmark

Ascent Studio advertises Chicago websites from $700, including local SEO foundations, with a $100/month ongoing plan. Their package includes up to five SEO-optimized pages, Google Business Profile alignment, sitemap/Search Console setup, hosting and a CMS. Ascent Studio

Also, Codecrew Chicago advertises $0 down / $175 per month, with SEO built into the website rather than sold separately. Codecrew

What I'd ask for

For your business, I'd send each agency essentially the same brief:

5-page site: Home, Catering Services, Corporate Catering, Private Events, Contact/Request a Quote
SEO: Google Business Profile optimization, title/meta tags, local schema, sitemap/Search Console, keyword targeting for “Chicago catering,” “West Loop catering,” “corporate catering Chicago,” etc.
Must-have: excellent mobile experience, inquiry form, menu/service PDF or page, Google reviews, analytics.
Budget: ideally $1,000–$2,500 upfront and under $200/month afterward.

I would not pay $500–$1,000+/month for SEO initially. Get the technical/local foundation right, build some reviews and useful service pages, then increase SEO spend once you're seeing enough inquiries to justify it.

My first three calls: SEOLEVELUP, Windy City Web Solutions, and Ascent Studio. The first gives you the strongest West Loop/local-SEO fit, while Ascent gives you a useful low-price benchmark.

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 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
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Search Squad SEO Services & Web Design - 2700 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, IL 60026, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, 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
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States

Since you’re a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid traditional Chicago agencies with big retainers. You mainly need a sharp 4–6 page site, catering/menu/service pages, Google Business Profile setup, and basic local SEO—not a $10k “brand experience.”

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — West Loop

• Best if SEO is the priority.
• They’re actually in West Loop at 355 N. Laflin and focus on web design + local SEO/Google Maps visibility. Their reviews also specifically mention small-business and fast-turnaround work.
• I’d ask them for a lean website + Google Business Profile + local SEO setup, with no ongoing content retainer initially.
• Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop

• Best traditional small-business option.
• They focus on WordPress, hosting/maintenance and SEO for small organizations, and explicitly emphasize avoiding bloated agency fees.
• Good fit if you want to be able to update menus, photos and catering packages yourselves.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Chicago

• Worth getting a quote from if cash is extremely tight.
• Their positioning is explicitly budget-oriented small-business web design + SEO. I'd verify exactly what's included before signing anything, particularly ownership of the domain/site and SEO deliverables.
• SITE IT NOW — West Loop/Near West Side

• Best nearby option if you want more of a conventional agency.
• They're at 1016 W. Jackson and offer web design, SEO, branding and e-commerce. They're likely more capable than you need right now, so I'd insist on a tightly scoped starter project.

Also consider these unusually cheap options

If your budget is under ~$1,500, I'd look at productized studios rather than agencies:

• Ascent Studio: advertises Chicago sites from $700 ($600 setup + $100/month), including up to five inner pages and a local-SEO foundation. It specifically lists restaurants/hospitality among its target businesses. Ascent Studio
• PIXALPHA Studio: advertises a Chicago starter site from $799 one-time, with fixed pricing and no required recurring fee. Pixalpha Studio
• Emericano: advertises roughly $300 to build + $20–$50/month, specifically for Illinois small businesses including restaurants, with basic SEO and contact forms. Emericano
• JJE Digital: starts at $2,500, but includes foundation SEO, Search Console and Google Business Profile optimization. That's more reasonable if you can stretch the initial budget. JJE Digital

What I'd spend

For a two-person caterer, I'd target $700–$1,500 upfront and $0–$150/month afterward.

Your initial site should have:

1. Home
2. Catering/Menu
3. Corporate & Private Events
4. About
5. Contact / Request a Quote
6. Optional service-area page

And basic SEO should cover “West Loop catering,” “Chicago catering,” “corporate catering Chicago,” relevant event/cuisine terms, Google Business Profile, page titles/meta descriptions, schema, sitemap and Search Console.

My first three calls would be SEOLEVELUP, Ascent Studio, and Windy City Web Solutions. The first is especially interesting because you're already in West Loop; Ascent is the strongest budget/price-transparency play; Windy City looks like the better fit if you want a conventional local partner.

One warning: don't let anyone sell you a $500–$1,000/month SEO retainer yet. At your stage, getting the website, Google Business Profile, reviews, photos, menus/service pages and basic local SEO right is likely a much better use of the money.

Since you’re in Chicago’s West Loop, I’d avoid big branding agencies and focus on small studios that explicitly serve owner-operated businesses. A few stand out:

• ALL FOR™ — Best local fit. They’re actually in Fulton Market/West Loop and have a “Mini” package specifically for startups and one-person businesses: 1–2 pages, Squarespace/Wix/WordPress, contact form, and basic SEO. ALL FOR™ allfor.agency
• Ascent Studio — Best value if you want a complete starter site. They advertise Chicago sites from $700, including up to five SEO-optimized pages, local SEO setup, Google Business Profile alignment, analytics/Search Console, hosting and SSL. Their Chicago page specifically mentions restaurants/hospitality. Ascent Studio skiigen.com
• Hunter Creative Media — Best cheap custom-build option. They advertise Chicago small-business sites starting at $750, with restaurants explicitly among their target businesses and on-page/local SEO included. They're based in Aurora rather than West Loop, but serve Chicago remotely. Hunter Creative Media & Design huntercreativemedia.com
• Codecrew Chicago — Worth considering if cash flow is the main issue: they advertise $0 down / $175 per month, with SEO built into the site from the start. Codecrew codecrew.studio
• West Loop SEO — I'd consider them for SEO rather than the initial site build. They're a small West Loop-area SEO shop offering technical SEO, local SEO, reviews, content, and web development, with free audits/consultations. Their pricing isn't published, so I'd ask for a stripped-down starter package rather than a full retainer. West Loop SEO westloopseo.com

What I'd do with a tiny catering budget

For a two-person catering company, I wouldn't pay for a fancy custom site or ongoing $500+ SEO retainer yet. I'd target roughly $700–$1,500 upfront, then keep ongoing costs minimal.

The starter site should have:

• Home
• Catering/menu + starting prices
• Corporate/private events
• About
• Contact/quote form
• Google Business Profile setup/cleanup
• Basic Chicago/West Loop local SEO
• Search Console + sitemap
• Mobile-first design and fast load times

Then spend your limited SEO budget on Google Business Profile, reviews, service/location pages, and good photography before buying monthly content packages.

My first three calls would be ALL FOR, Ascent Studio, and Hunter Creative Media. Ascent looks particularly compelling for a catering business because they explicitly work with Chicago restaurants/hospitality and bundle local SEO into the starter build. ALL FOR™ Ascent Studio Hunter Creative Media & Design

If you tell me your rough max budget (e.g. $500, $1,000, $2,000), I can narrow this to 2–3 and compare their actual packages/pricing.

• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SEOLEVELUP, LLC Website Design SEO Company - 1S183 Summit Ave, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, United States
• UpShift Creative Group Inc - 225 E Grand Ave Ste 706, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Comrade Digital Marketing Agency - 332 S Michigan Ave #900, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Digital Marketers Chicago - 2835 N Sheffield Ave #209, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Design Henge - 2259 W Rosemont Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, United States
• NEWMEDIA.COM - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

For a two-person catering startup in West Loop, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies—they’re likely to oversell you on a $3k–$10k site and ongoing retainers. These look much more aligned with a lean budget:

1. Best budget fit: Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — right in Fulton Market/West Loop. They specifically serve small/newer businesses and combine web design with Google Business/local visibility work. This is probably my first call for your situation.
2. Cheapest transparent option: 67 Web Design — not West Loop-based, but unusually startup-friendly. Their Chicago plan is $67/month for a 3-page WordPress site, hosting, domain, maintenance and basic SEO; their basic SEO plan is also listed at $67/month. 67 Web Design

67webdesign.com

3. Good one-time option: PIXALPHA STUDIO — Chicago-focused, with a $799 fixed-price five-page site including mobile design, SEO structure, contact form and Google Maps. No recurring fee is required. Pixalpha Studio

pixalpha.net

4. Good if you want a slightly more polished site: Lizardo Agency — their small-business package starts at $1,499 for up to four pages, WordPress, mobile responsiveness and basic on-page SEO. Lizardo Agency

lizardoagency.com

5. Very lean local option: SITE IT NOW — actually located on Jackson Blvd in the West Loop/Near West Side and offers web design plus SEO/digital marketing. I'd ask them specifically for a fixed-price starter package rather than a broad marketing engagement.

What I'd buy in your shoes

I'd target $500–$1,500 upfront, then $0–$150/month initially. You really don't need an elaborate SEO campaign yet.

The site should have:

• Home
• Catering services / menus
• Corporate & event catering
• About
• Contact / quote request
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic title tags, meta descriptions, schema and sitemap
• Strong West Loop/Chicago catering language
• Analytics + Google Search Console

For a catering company, I'd prioritize Google Maps + local SEO + a great quote/contact flow over blogging or expensive backlink campaigns.

My shortlist: Evolve with Digital → 67 Web Design → PIXALPHA. I'd get quotes from all three and explicitly tell them: “We're a two-person catering startup. We need a 5-page site and basic local SEO, with a hard budget cap of $1,500. No PPC or ongoing marketing retainer right now.” That will quickly reveal who actually works with tiny budgets.

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, 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
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Matchnode - 318 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• SEOLEVELUP, LLC Website Design SEO Company - 1S183 Summit Ave, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, United States
• Sunlight SEO Web Design & Signs - 4501 N Cumberland Ave, Norridge, IL 60656, United States
• AdverGroup Web Design & Digital Marketing - 2021 Midwest Rd Ste 200, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States
• Slim Marty - 7110 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Wizerunek w Sieci. WWS - Web Development + SEO - 636 S River Rd #218, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies and look for a small shop that can do a 4–6 page site plus local SEO/Google Business Profile setup without locking you into a big retainer.

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit. They’re actually in the West Loop (355 N Laflin) and focus on website design + local SEO/Google Maps visibility. This is probably my first call for a catering business where “catering West Loop/Chicago” searches matter.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — best budget-first option. Their positioning is explicitly small-business/budget oriented, including local SEO and inexpensive websites. Worth getting a quote if you’re trying to keep the initial spend very low.
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company — best if you want more SEO work. They publish roughly $2,500 starting web design and ~$650/month local SEO, so they're more expensive but still considerably more small-business-oriented than a typical full-service agency.
• SITE IT NOW — conveniently located in the West Loop/Near West Side. They handle web design, SEO and digital marketing, so you could potentially keep everything with one nearby shop. I'd specifically ask them for a stripped-down startup package rather than their full service offering.
• What A Great Website — a boutique Chicago shop with experience across small businesses and restaurants. I'd include them in the quote round if you care more about the site's look/brand than getting the absolute lowest price.

One especially cheap alternative

67 Web Design isn't Chicago-local—the company is based in Michigan—but its Chicago offering is unusually inexpensive: $67/month for a 3-page managed WordPress site, including hosting and basic SEO, and it specifically lists West Loop restaurants among its experience. 67 Web Design

If your budget is around $1,000–$2,500 upfront, I'd start with SEOLEVELUP, Affordable Web Design Chicago, and SITE IT NOW. If you're closer to $100/month, I'd investigate 67 Web Design or a similar managed option.

For a caterer, I would not pay for an elaborate SEO campaign initially. Your first site should nail:

• “Chicago catering” + your specific catering niche
• West Loop/local service-area relevance
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Catering/menu/service pages
• Strong food photography
• Click-to-call, inquiry form, and ideally online quote/request flow
• Titles, meta descriptions, schema, sitemap, Search Console, and analytics

That foundation will get you much more value than paying an agency $1,000+/month to produce generic blog posts.

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. <$1k, $1–2.5k, or $2.5–5k), I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually contact and what I'd ask each to quote.

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Affordable Web Design Chicago - 5141 W Altgeld St, Chicago, IL 60639, United States
• Digital Third Coast - 2540 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Matchnode - 318 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Anchor Bay Marketing - 332 S Michigan Ave Ste 121 #5750, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, 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
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• SEOLEVELUP, LLC Website Design SEO Company - 1S183 Summit Ave, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, United States
• Summit Web Design & SEO Services - 319 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067, United States

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies and look for a small studio that can do a simple 4–6 page site, Google Business Profile setup, and foundational local SEO without locking you into a huge retainer.

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Best local fit. They’re actually in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin and focus on websites + local SEO/Google Maps visibility. I’d ask them for a stripped-down catering package rather than a full SEO campaign.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Budget-oriented option. Their positioning is specifically small-business websites and SEO. Worth getting a quote if keeping upfront costs low is the priority.
• PIXALPHA STUDIO — Best published low upfront price. They advertise Chicago small-business sites starting at $799 one-time, with fixed scopes and no required recurring fee. Pixalpha
• Hunter Creative Media — Another very interesting cheap option. They advertise Chicago small-business sites starting around $750, with on-page SEO included, and specifically mention restaurants among their verticals. Hunter Creative Media & Design
• 67 Web Design — Cheapest ongoing model. Their Chicago plan starts at $67/month for a 3-page managed site including basic SEO, hosting, domain, SSL and updates. They also offer a $79.99/month local-SEO plan, though the SEO plans have a 12-month initial commitment. 67 Web Design
• Intrinsic Marketing — Good ultra-small-agency alternative. They're Chicago-based and advertise small-business hosting/support starting at $45/month; they also build websites and emphasize search-friendly design. Intrinsic Chicago

What I'd spend

For your stage, I'd target $750–$1,500 upfront or roughly $50–$150/month, rather than paying $500–$1,000/month for ongoing SEO.

Your initial package should include:

• 4–5 page mobile-friendly site
• Menu/catering packages
• Strong “Get a Catering Quote” CTA
• Contact/lead form
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Chicago + West Loop local keyword targeting
• Page titles/meta descriptions
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Basic schema/local SEO
• Fast hosting
• Ability for you to update photos/menu later

You probably don't need monthly blog posts or aggressive link building yet. For a new caterer, getting the site, Google profile, service-area pages, photos, reviews, and conversion flow right is a much better use of the first dollars.

If it were my money, I'd get quotes from SEOLEVELUP, Hunter Creative Media, and PIXALPHA first and tell each one: “We're a two-person catering startup. We need the simplest professional site possible plus foundational local SEO. Our budget is under $1,500. What can you do?” That should quickly expose who actually works with tiny businesses versus who just advertises that they do.

For a two-person catering startup in West Loop, I’d avoid a traditional full-service agency. You mainly need a polished 3–5 page site, mobile-first menus/services, inquiry form, Google Business Profile alignment, and basic local SEO.

My shortlist

• skiigen.com — Best overall fit. They specifically advertise Chicago small businesses and restaurants/hospitality. Their published package starts at $600 setup + $100/month, including up to five SEO-optimized pages, local SEO setup, hosting, analytics/Search Console, and ongoing edits. Ascent Studio

Why I'd call: probably the closest match to “tiny budget but don't want a cheap-looking site.”

• emericano.com — Cheapest credible option I found. They advertise roughly $300 for a 1–3 page site, or about $300 + $35/month for 3–5 pages, with basic SEO, contact/lead capture and maintenance. They explicitly serve restaurants and other small local businesses in Illinois. Emericano

Why I'd call: if your initial budget is genuinely only a few hundred dollars.

• allfor.agency — Best nearby design-oriented option. They're founder-led and based in Fulton Market/West Loop. Their “Mini” package is explicitly aimed at startups and one-person businesses and includes a small custom site plus basic SEO. ALL FOR™

Why I'd call: especially attractive if your food photography/branding needs to look sharp.

• lizardoagency.com — Step-up option. Chicago small-business sites start at $1,499, with up to four pages, WordPress, mobile optimization and basic on-page SEO. Lizardo Agency

Why I'd call: if you can stretch beyond the ultra-cheap tier and want something more substantial.

• westloopseo.com — Best SEO specialist to interview separately. They're a small downtown Chicago agency specifically focused on local SEO and also do web development. They offer free audits/consultations and explicitly discuss working with businesses that are just getting started. West Loop SEO

Why I'd call: if you already have a decent site and your bigger problem is getting found for searches like “West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” etc.

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd contact Ascent, Emericano, and ALL FOR and ask each for a quote for exactly this scope:

5-page maximum website, mobile-first, catering menu/services, inquiry form, Google Business Profile/local SEO setup, page titles/meta descriptions, basic schema, analytics/Search Console, domain/hosting, and no ongoing SEO retainer unless explicitly requested.

I'd target $500–$1,500 upfront and under $150/month afterward. You don't need a $5k+ “SEO strategy” at this stage.

One important distinction: basic SEO ≠ ongoing SEO. For a new catering company, I'd spend the limited budget getting the site structure, Google Business Profile, service/location pages, reviews, photos, and tracking set up correctly before paying someone hundreds per month to publish endless blog posts.

If you want, I can also narrow this to 3 agencies that are actually closest to West Loop and compare their pricing/reviews/portfolio fit for a catering business.

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• 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
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, 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
• Slim Marty - 7110 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Sunlight SEO Web Design & Signs - 4501 N Cumberland Ave, Norridge, IL 60656, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a two-person West Loop catering company, I’d avoid a traditional full-service agency. You mainly need a fast, attractive 4–5 page site, strong local SEO basics, Google Business Profile setup, and a way for people to request catering quotes.

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best hyper-local option. They’re actually in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin and combine web design with local SEO/Google Maps optimization. That makes them particularly relevant if you want to rank for searches like “West Loop catering” and “Chicago corporate catering.” West Loop SEO
• Windy City Web Solutions — good small-business fit. They’re in the South Loop and focus on WordPress sites, hosting/maintenance, and SEO for small organizations. Their published higher SEO-care tier is $449/month, so I'd ask whether they can do a smaller one-time/local-SEO package.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — worth getting a quote from if cash is tight. Their positioning is explicitly budget-oriented, with small-business websites and on-page SEO foundations. 67 Web Design
• ALL FOR™ — best nearby design-oriented option. They're founder-led and based right in Fulton Market/West Loop. Their “Mini” package is specifically designed for startups and one-person businesses and includes a 1–2 page site plus basic SEO, although you'll want to ask about pricing. ALL FOR™
• The Loop Marketing Inc — good if you want someone who can grow with you. They're on Sangamon in the West Loop and work with small businesses, offering web design plus local/ongoing SEO. I'd put them behind the first three if your budget is really tiny.

If “cheap” means under ~$1,000

I'd also look at Ascent Studio. Their published Chicago offer is $600 setup + $100/month, with up to five pages, hosting, local SEO, Google Analytics/Search Console, and ongoing SEO improvements. That's unusually well matched to a bootstrapped catering startup. Ascent Studio

Another intriguing option is Codecrew Chicago, which advertises $0 down / $175 per month, including SEO-oriented development. Codecrew

What I'd actually buy

For catering, don't spend money on fancy branding or a 15-page site yet. I'd target:

1. Home — what you cater, neighborhoods served, photos, strong “Request a Quote” CTA.
2. Catering Services — corporate, weddings/events, drop-off, etc.
3. Menus / Packages — enough detail to qualify leads.
4. About — your story + credibility.
5. Contact / Quote form — event date, guest count, location, budget, catering type.

Then have them handle Google Business Profile, title/meta descriptions, Chicago/West Loop location targeting, schema, sitemap, Search Console, mobile speed, and basic review strategy.

My first three calls would be SEOLEVELUP, ALL FOR™, and Ascent Studio. For a two-person operation, I'd tell each one: “We have a sub-$1,500 initial budget and need a simple catering site plus local SEO foundations. What can you deliver without locking us into a large monthly retainer?” That should quickly expose who is genuinely startup-friendly.

If you mean West Loop Chicago, I’d prioritize small/boutique shops rather than a traditional agency. For a two-person catering company, you probably need a polished 4–6 page site, Google Business Profile setup, basic local SEO, and a way to show menus/photos—not a $5k+ “marketing program.”

Best fits for a tiny budget

• Ascent Studio — probably my first call. They advertise $700 to launch ($600 setup + $100/mo), including up to five pages, mobile design, on-page SEO, LocalBusiness schema, sitemap, Search Console/Analytics, hosting and ongoing edits. They specifically mention Chicago restaurants/hospitality. Ascent Studio
• Codecrew Chicago — good if you care about speed/performance. Plans start at $0 down / $175/mo, with a five-page hand-coded site, on-page SEO and Google Business Profile setup available. CodeCrew Studio
• 67 Web Design — the bargain option. Their Chicago plan starts at $67/mo with no setup fee and includes a three-page WordPress site, hosting, domain, basic title/meta SEO and monthly updates. They explicitly list West Loop restaurants among businesses they've worked with. 67 Web Design
• PIXALPHA STUDIO — worth getting a quote if you can spend around $800–$1,500 upfront. Their Chicago starter package starts at $799 one-time, with fixed pricing and no required recurring fee. Pixalpha Studio
• West Loop SEO — I'd consider them if you already have a decent site and mainly need local SEO rather than a rebuild. They're a small downtown Chicago agency and specifically offer technical SEO, content, reviews/local SEO, audits and consultations. West Loop SEO
• JJE Digital — more expensive, but still positioned toward small Chicago businesses: $2,500–$5,000 for the site with foundation SEO, then $199–$399/mo for support. JJE Digital

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd get quotes from Ascent, Codecrew, and 67 Web Design and tell all three:

“We're a two-person West Loop catering startup. We need a simple, attractive mobile-first site, menu/services pages, inquiry form, Google Business Profile/local SEO setup, and basic ongoing SEO. Our total budget is under $1,500 upfront and ideally under $150/month.”

For catering, make sure the quote includes Google Business Profile optimization, service-area/location targeting, structured data, fast mobile loading, title/meta optimization, and Search Console. Those are more valuable initially than blogging or a big social-media package.

I’d also avoid signing a long SEO retainer before you've established the basics. A small catering business can get meaningful local-search traction from a strong site + Google profile + reviews + well-written pages targeting things like “West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” “Chicago wedding catering,” etc.

If you want, I can also narrow this to 3 Chicago agencies/freelancers with the lowest actual prices and best reviews, and give you their contact links and what I'd ask each one to quote.

• 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
• 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
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, 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
• Sunlight SEO Web Design & Signs - 4501 N Cumberland Ave, Norridge, IL 60656, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Slim Marty - 7110 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid traditional $5k–$15k agency builds. You mainly need a fast 4–6 page site, strong local SEO basics, Google Business Profile setup, and a way for people to request catering quotes.

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Best geographic fit. They’re actually in the West Loop at 355 N. Laflin and focus on websites + local SEO/Google Business Profile optimization. Their reviews and positioning suggest they’re accustomed to small local businesses. West Loop SEO
• SITE IT NOW — Best if you want someone literally nearby. They’re on Jackson Blvd in the West Loop/Near West Side and offer web design, SEO and ongoing digital marketing. I’d specifically ask for a stripped-down startup package rather than their full-service offering.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Good small-business option. Based in the South Loop, with WordPress, hosting/maintenance and SEO. Their focus on local organizations and small businesses makes them worth getting a quote from.
• Affordable Web Design Chicago — Worth pricing out if cost is the priority. They explicitly target budget-conscious small businesses and combine web design with on-page/local SEO. Their listed location is on the Northwest Side rather than West Loop.
• 67 Web Design — Not physically local—they're based in Michigan—but their Chicago offering is unusually cheap: $67/month for a 3-page managed WordPress site, including hosting, basic SEO and updates. Their separate local SEO plan is listed at $79.99/month. 67 Web Design
• Ascent Studio — Probably the cleanest low-cost, more polished option I found: Chicago sites start at $700 ($600 setup + $100/month), with up to five pages, local SEO foundations, Search Console/Analytics and hosting included. They specifically list restaurants/hospitality and West Loop businesses. Ascent Studio

What I'd target for your budget

I'd ask each agency for this exact scope:

• 5 pages: Home, Catering, Menus/Packages, About, Contact/Quote
• Mobile-first design
• Online catering inquiry/quote form
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Chicago/West Loop local SEO
• Page titles + meta descriptions
• Basic schema + sitemap + Search Console
• Fast hosting/SSL
• You provide the food photography and basic copy
• No ongoing SEO retainer initially

For a startup at your stage, I'd aim for $500–$1,500 upfront or roughly $50–$150/month, rather than signing a $500+/month SEO contract. You can add serious SEO once you're getting enough business to justify it.

My first three calls would be Ascent Studio, SEOLEVELUP, and Windy City Web Solutions. Ascent has the clearest published low-budget pricing; SEOLEVELUP is the most directly relevant geographically; Windy City looks like a reasonable middle ground for a small-business site.

If you tell me your rough max budget (e.g. $500, $1k, $2k), I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies most likely to fit and pull their contact/quote pages.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid big Chicago marketing firms. You probably need a simple, fast site + Google Business Profile + local SEO basics (not a $2k+/month SEO campaign). I’d look for a solo/founder-led shop or a small agency that will do a focused launch.

Here are some that look like better fits for a tiny budget:

For your specific situation, I’d ask for a package like:

• 5-page site: - Home
• Catering services
• Menus/packages
• Events/gallery
• Contact/inquiry form
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Basic local SEO: - “West Loop catering”
• “Chicago corporate catering”
• “Chicago event catering”
• schema + page titles + metadata
• Analytics/Search Console setup
• Mobile-first photos and inquiry flow

A realistic starter budget:

• DIY-assisted / freelancer: ~$500–$1,500
• Small agency launch site: ~$1,500–$3,500
• Ongoing SEO: ~$200–$600/month for basic local work (avoid anyone pushing $1,500+/month before you have fundamentals)

When you contact them, I’d say something like: “We’re a two-person West Loop catering company. We need a conversion-focused website and local SEO foundation, not a full marketing campaign. Can you quote the leanest package that gets us ranking for catering searches and generating inquiries?”

Also: for catering, spend money on great food photography and Google reviews before heavy SEO. Those will usually move the needle faster early on.

When you contact them, I’d say something like: “We’re a two-person West Loop catering company. We need a conversion-focused website and local SEO foundation, not a full marketing campaign. Can you quote the leanest package that gets us ranking for catering searches and generating inquiries?”

Also: for catering, spend money on great food photography and Google reviews before heavy SEO. Those will usually move the needle faster early on.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies and focus on small shops with transparent starter pricing.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit
   • Actually located in the West Loop, at 355 N Laflin.
   • Focuses on small-business websites + local SEO/Google Maps optimization.
   • Particularly worth talking to if your goal is “catering near me” / West Loop catering visibility.
   • Strong review footprint (4.9/5 from 54 reviews in the business listing).

2. Flamingo Agency — best budget-conscious agency
   • Chicago small-business specialist doing WordPress, local SEO and ongoing support.
   • Publicly listed starting project size is around $1,000+, with a small 2–9 person team.
   • That's much more realistic for a tiny startup than a traditional $5k–$15k agency engagement.

3. SITE IT NOW — best if you want someone literally nearby
   • Located on W Jackson Blvd in the West Loop/Near West Side.
   • Does websites, SEO and digital marketing.
   • I'd ask specifically for a stripped-down 4–5 page catering site rather than their full-service offering.

4. Affordable Web Design Chicago — worth getting a low-budget quote
   • Specifically positions itself around affordable websites and SEO for small businesses.
   • Good candidate if your priority is keeping the initial build inexpensive rather than having a highly customized brand site.

Even cheaper options

If you're comfortable working with a smaller/less traditional shop, Emericano advertises Illinois small-business sites around $300 to build + $20–$50/month, including basic SEO, contact forms and maintenance. emericano.com

Ascent Studio is another interesting middle ground: it advertises Chicago sites starting at $700 ($600 setup + $100/month), with local SEO fundamentals, Google Business Profile alignment, analytics and Search Console included. skiigen.comwww.westloopseo.com

What I'd actually do

For your business, I'd target $700–$1,500 upfront and <$150/month, and ask for:

• 4–5 pages: Home, Catering/Menu, Corporate Events, About, Contact
• Mobile-first design
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Titles/meta descriptions + basic local keyword research
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Schema/local-business markup
• Contact/quote form
• Fast-loading image optimization
• Ability for you to edit menus/photos yourselves

You don't need an expensive ongoing SEO retainer yet. For a new catering company, I'd spend the initial SEO effort on Google Business Profile, strong service/location pages, reviews, and getting the site technically sound before paying hundreds or thousands every month for content/link campaigns.

My first three calls would be SEOLEVELUP, Flamingo, and Ascent Studio, and I'd give all three exactly the same one-page scope so you can compare apples-to-apples. skiigen.comwww.westloopseo.com

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• RedShark Web Design SEO Services - 448 95th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 1TR - Website Design & SEO Services - 888 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• SEO Design Chicago - 2068 N Western Ave 1F - Front, Chicago, IL 60647, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid a traditional $5k–$10k agency. You can get a solid 4–6 page site + local SEO foundation for roughly $800–$2,500, then add SEO only once you’re getting traction.

My shortlist

• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — Best local fit. They’re actually in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin and combine web design with local SEO/Google Business Profile work. Good choice if you want someone nearby who understands Chicago search.
• Windy City Web Solutions — Best if you want ongoing support without a huge retainer. Their published pricing starts at $2,500 for a small-business site, with a $129/month support plan; SEO/local-search upgrades are available. Windy City Web Solutions
• PIXALPHA STUDIO — Best price-to-scope option. Their Chicago Starter package is $799 one-time for a 5-page mobile site with SEO structure, contact form and Google Maps; their $1,599 package adds Google Business Profile setup and more advanced SEO. Pixalpha Studio
• Ascent Studio — Best if you want a polished restaurant/catering look on a lean budget. They advertise Chicago sites from $600 setup + $100/month, including SEO-ready copy, analytics, sitemap submission and local SEO fundamentals. They specifically mention West Loop hospitality work. Ascent Studio
• Lizardo Agency — Good middle ground. Small-business sites start at $1,499 with basic on-page SEO; their local SEO service starts at $599/month. Lizardo Agency Lizardo Agency
• 67 Web Design — Cheapest ongoing option I found. Their Chicago package is $67/month for a 3-page managed WordPress site, hosting, basic SEO, domain, security and monthly updates. They're based in Michigan rather than Chicago, so I'd pick them for price rather than local presence. 67 Web Design

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd get quotes from SEOLEVELUP, PIXALPHA, and Ascent and ask each for exactly this:

5-page catering website: Home, Catering/Menu, Corporate Catering, About, Contact. Mobile-first, online inquiry form, Google Business Profile setup/optimization, basic local SEO, Google Analytics/Search Console, fast load speed, and ability for us to edit menu/photos ourselves.

For a catering startup, Google Business Profile + strong service/location pages + good photography + an easy inquiry form matter more initially than paying $600+/month for a big ongoing SEO campaign.

One other nearby option worth asking: The Loop Marketing Inc is on Sangamon in the West Loop and explicitly works with small businesses, with web design and local SEO among its services. I couldn't find a comparable low-budget published package, though, so I'd treat them as a quote-comparison option rather than my first pick.

If you tell me your rough budget ($500, $1k, $2k, etc.), I can narrow this to the 3 best fits and what I'd expect each to charge.

For a two-person West Loop catering business, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies—they’re likely to oversell you. These look much more aligned with a shoestring launch:

1. Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — best local fit
   • Right in Fulton Market/West Loop.
   • Specifically positioned around small/new businesses.
   • Offers website + Google Business/local visibility, which is exactly what a catering startup needs.
   • I’d ask for a stripped-down 3–5 page package rather than a full marketing engagement.

2. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best if SEO is the priority
   • Located at N. Laflin in the West Loop.
   • Focuses on website design plus local SEO and Google Maps/Business Profile optimization.
   • They advertise free audits/consultations and specifically mention startups and website refreshes. www.westloopseo.com

3. SITE IT NOW — worth getting a quote
   • Literally on W. Jackson Blvd, so very convenient for West Loop.
   • Does web design, hosting and digital marketing rather than forcing you to coordinate multiple vendors.

4. Design Henge — budget-oriented alternative
   • Chicago agency focused on small businesses/startups.
   • Their business profile specifically includes feedback about working with clients' budgets and affordability.

5. Digital Marketers Chicago — if you want ongoing SEO
   • Small-business oriented, with WordPress, local SEO and Google Business Profile work.
   • Less geographically convenient than the first three, but worth comparing on price.

Also consider a non-West-Loop option

Emericano is unusually inexpensive on paper: it advertises roughly $300 for a basic site, with basic SEO, mobile optimization and contact/lead forms, plus optional $20–$50/month care. It's Illinois-wide rather than specifically West Loop. emericano.com

Nous Frame is another Chicago option, but at $1,500 for a landing page / $2,500 for a small-business site, I'd only consider it if you can stretch the budget. Local SEO basics are included. www.nousframe.com

What I'd actually buy

For catering, you probably don't need "SEO" in the agency-retainer sense yet. I'd spend the initial money on:

• 4–5 page mobile-friendly site
• Strong catering/menu pages
• Inquiry form + click-to-call
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Local targeting around West Loop + Chicago catering + corporate catering + event catering
• Basic title tags, meta descriptions, schema and Search Console
• Reviews/testimonials
• Professional food photography if you don't already have it

I'd target roughly $500–$1,500 upfront and minimal/no monthly SEO retainer at this stage. Then revisit ongoing SEO once you're actually getting enough search traffic to justify it.

My first three calls would be Evolve with Digital, SEOLEVELUP, and SITE IT NOW. Ask each for a fixed-price, no-retainer starter package and explicitly tell them you're a two-person catering company with a very limited budget. That should make it obvious pretty quickly who actually works with tiny clients.

Since you said West Loop, I can narrow this to Chicago agencies—but I need to verify your location because I don't have a user-provided or device-derived location available.

genui{"ask_user_location_v2":{"suggested_cities":["West Loop, Chicago","Near West Side, Chicago","Chicago, IL"]}}

For a two-person West Loop catering company, I’d avoid a traditional full-service agency. You probably need a 4–6 page site, strong mobile experience, Google Business Profile/local SEO, and good service/location copy—not a $5k+ “brand strategy” engagement.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best West Loop fit
   • Actually located in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin St.
   • Focuses on small businesses, website builds, local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization.
   • Particularly worth talking to if you want the website and SEO handled together.

2. Affordable Web Design Chicago — best budget-first option
   • Explicitly targets small businesses and budget-friendly sites.
   • Offers website builds plus on-page/local SEO rather than forcing you into a big marketing retainer.

3. Emericano — cheapest published pricing I found
   • Advertises roughly $300 for a starter site, with basic SEO, contact forms and mobile optimization.
   • Ongoing support is advertised around $20–$50/month.
   • They serve Illinois, including Chicagoland. emericano.com
   • This is probably the first quote I'd get if your definition of “cheap” is genuinely cheap.

4. Windy City Web Solutions — good if you want ongoing help
   • Chicago-based, focused on small businesses, with WordPress development, hosting/maintenance and SEO.
   • Their model could make sense if neither of you wants to touch the website after launch.

5. Lizardo Agency — best step-up option
   • Their Chicago small-business package starts at $1,499, including up to four pages, WordPress, mobile optimization and basic on-page SEO.
   • Their $2,199 package adds keyword research, SEO structure, Google Analytics/Search Console and copywriting. lizardoagency.comemericano.com
   • That's a more realistic option if you can spend ~$1.5–2.2k rather than trying to do everything for a few hundred bucks.

What I'd ask them to quote

Tell each agency you want:

• 5-ish pages: Home, Catering, Corporate Catering, Private Events, About/Contact
• Mobile-first design
• Online inquiry form (not necessarily full online ordering)
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic local SEO for terms like “Chicago catering,” “West Loop catering,” “corporate catering Chicago”
• Title/meta descriptions, headings, image optimization and schema
• Google Analytics + Search Console
• Fast hosting
• Ability for you to update menus/photos yourselves
• No ongoing SEO retainer initially

For a tiny startup, I'd prioritize one-time SEO setup + a good site and put ongoing SEO money toward it only after you have some reviews, traffic and actual search data.

My order of calls: SEOLEVELUP → Emericano → Affordable Web Design Chicago → Lizardo. That gives you a West Loop specialist, an ultra-budget quote, another budget specialist, and a more polished ~$1.5k+ benchmark.

SEOLEVELUP · Emericano · Lizardo Agency lizardoagency.comemericano.com

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid a big full-service agency. You mainly need a clean 3–5 page site, strong mobile performance, Google Business Profile setup, and basic local SEO—not a $2k+/month marketing program.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — West Loop
   • Best overall local fit. They’re actually at 355 N Laflin in the West Loop and focus on small-business websites, local SEO, and Google Business Profile optimization.
   • Particularly worth asking for a lean launch package rather than their full marketing services.
   • SEOLEVELUP website

2. Affordable Web Design Chicago — Chicago
   • Explicitly targets budget-conscious small businesses, with WordPress sites and on-page SEO.
   • Their public listing says they handle both website builds and standalone local SEO, so they’re worth getting a quote from. www.choosechicago.comwww.intuicodigital.com
   • Affordable Web Design Chicago

3. Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop
   • Small-business-oriented WordPress/web/SEO shop. They specifically emphasize avoiding bloated agency fees and working directly with the person doing the work.
   • Good option if you want someone to build it and stick around for occasional updates rather than sell you a giant retainer.

4. Slim Marty — Chicago
   • Positions itself around affordable SEO and web design for small/local businesses.
   • Worth comparing if your priority is keeping the monthly spend low.

5. Really Affordable SEO — Chicago
   • More SEO-focused than web-design-focused, but the business explicitly works with small businesses and has feedback indicating willingness to work within constrained budgets.
   • I'd consider them if you can build the site cheaply yourself and want help getting the local-search fundamentals right.

One interesting budget benchmark

If you're really trying to stay under $1,000 upfront, Emericano advertises Illinois small-business sites around $300, with basic SEO and roughly $20–$50/month for support. It's not a traditional Chicago agency, but it's a useful price benchmark when talking to local shops. emericano.com

For comparison, Chicago firms are also advertising packages around $149–$199/month, so don't assume "local agency" automatically means thousands upfront. www.intuicodigital.com

What I'd ask for:

4-page mobile-friendly site + catering menu/services + inquiry form + Google Business Profile setup + title/meta optimization + West Loop/Chicago catering keyword targeting + Search Console/Analytics setup.

I'd target $500–$1,500 one-time or roughly $150–$300/month, depending on whether hosting/updates are included. I would not pay $600+/month for basic SEO at this stage unless they're doing substantial ongoing content/link/local-search work; for context, one Chicago agency's published entry-level local SEO package is $599/month. lizardoagency.com

If you want, I can also narrow this to 3 agencies most likely to accept a <$1,000 total startup budget and compare their reviews, pricing, and catering/restaurant experience.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid a traditional “marketing agency” unless you have a few thousand dollars/month to spend. You probably need a simple conversion-focused site + Google Business Profile setup + basic local SEO, not a big campaign.

Here are Chicago-area options that look more aligned with a tiny budget:

A few Chicago freelancers/smaller shops also worth checking:

• Millennial Web Development — nearby in the South Loop area.
• SITE IT NOW — near the West Loop and offers website services.
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — near the West Loop with a web design/SEO focus.

For your specific business, I’d ask any agency for a starter package containing:

1. 5–7 page site:
   • Home
   • Catering packages/menu
   • Corporate catering
   • Weddings/events
   • About
   • Gallery
   • Contact/quote form

2. Local SEO basics:
   • Google Business Profile optimization
   • “West Loop catering,” “Chicago corporate catering,” “Chicago event catering” targeting
   • Schema markup
   • Title/meta setup
   • Review strategy

3. Skip initially:
   • Monthly blog writing
   • Paid ads management
   • Fancy animations
   • Custom booking software

A realistic starter budget:

• $500–$1,500 one-time: lean freelancer/template approach
• $1,500–$3,000 one-time: solid small-business site
• $100–$300/month: basic SEO/maintenance

Given you’re in food service, I’d prioritize photos, testimonials, menus, and quote requests over a complicated site. A beautiful five-page site that converts event leads will likely beat a larger “SEO package” early on.

For a two-person catering startup in West Loop, I’d avoid big agencies and prioritize someone who can build a 4–6 page site, set up Google Business Profile/local SEO, and leave you with a manageable monthly cost.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit
   • West Loop: 355 N Laflin St.
   • Specifically combines web design with local SEO and Google Business Profile/Maps optimization.
   • Their positioning is geared toward small Chicago businesses, and they appear comfortable with fast-turnaround projects.
   • Ask for: a stripped-down catering site + GBP setup + basic local SEO rather than a full SEO retainer.

2. Windy City Web Solutions — good small-business option
   • South Loop: 801 S Wells St.
   • Focuses on WordPress sites for small businesses and offers SEO/maintenance. Their published higher-tier SEO care is $449/month, so I'd specifically ask whether they have a smaller starter package.

3. The Loop Marketing Inc — closest geographically
   • West Loop: 159 N Sangamon St.
   • Works with small businesses and offers both web design and local SEO.
   • I'd consider them if you want someone who can eventually handle Google Ads/social as you grow, but I'd push hard for a lean initial scope.

4. JJE Digital — very transparent pricing
   • Chicago small-business specialist; sites start around $2,500, including foundation SEO, with $199–$399/month afterward for hosting/support. jjedigital.com
   • Probably the cleanest option if you can spend ~$2.5k upfront.

5. Lizardo Agency — good middle ground
   • Chicago small-business sites start at $1,499 for up to four pages with basic on-page SEO.
   • Their $2,199 package adds keyword research, SEO structure, Google Analytics/Search Console and blog setup. lizardoagency.com
   • Their ongoing local SEO starts at $599/month, though you probably don't need that immediately for a tiny catering operation. lizardoagency.com

If your budget is really tight

Codecrew Chicago advertises $0 down / $175 per month, with a 5-page custom site, hosting and on-page SEO included. www.codecrew.studio

There's also Emericano, which advertises roughly $300 for a basic site + $20–$50/month and specifically targets small local businesses, including restaurants. emericano.com

What I'd ask for

Don't buy "SEO" as an open-ended retainer yet. For a catering startup, I'd request:

• 5-page mobile-friendly site
• Home / Catering Services / Menus or Packages / About / Contact
• Strong food photography
• Quote/inquiry form
• Click-to-call + email buttons
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic keyword targeting around "catering West Loop Chicago," "Chicago corporate catering," "event catering Chicago", etc.
• Title tags, meta descriptions, headings, image alt text
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Sitemap/indexing setup
• Review-generation basics
• No ongoing SEO commitment for the first 3–6 months

My first three calls would be SEOLEVELUP, JJE Digital, and Lizardo. If your ceiling is under ~$1,000, I'd start with Emericano or ask Codecrew about the monthly plan rather than trying to squeeze a conventional agency into an unrealistic budget.

If you tell me your actual website budget (e.g. $500, $1,500, $3k), I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd contact and what I'd ask each one to quote.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid big Chicago agencies and look for a small shop that can do a 5-page site + Google Business Profile + basic local SEO without locking you into a big retainer.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit
   • Actually located in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin.
   • Focuses on small businesses, website design, local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization.
   • Good choice if you want one person/company handling both the site and getting you into Google Maps/local search. biznifysolutions.com

2. Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — worth getting a quote
   • Right in Fulton Market/West Loop.
   • Specifically serves small/newer businesses and combines web design with local visibility/marketing.
   • I'd ask them for a stripped-down starter package rather than their full marketing services.

3. West Town Websites — good budget-oriented option
   • West Town-based, so very local.
   • Their positioning explicitly emphasizes big-agency capabilities for smaller budgets, including technical/on-page SEO and performance optimization.
   • Potentially a good middle ground if you want something more polished than a $300 template site.

4. Affordable Web Design Chicago — cheapest-looking traditional agency option
   • Their stated focus is budget-friendly websites for small businesses, with WordPress, responsive design and on-page SEO. www.choosechicago.com
   • Their office is in Portage Park rather than West Loop, but that's irrelevant if you're comfortable working remotely.

5. Emericano — best price benchmark
   • Not a West Loop agency, but this is the kind of pricing I'd use when negotiating: they advertise roughly $300 for a 1–3 page site, or about $300 + $35/month for a 3–5 page site with basic SEO and support. emericano.comwww.westloopseo.com
   • If your budget is genuinely tiny, get a quote from them before committing elsewhere.

One I'd particularly consider

For catering, you don't need a complicated website. I'd ask for:

• Home
• Catering/menu & packages
• Weddings/events/corporate catering
• About
• Contact/request-a-quote
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Basic Chicago/West Loop SEO
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Mobile optimization
• Review/testimonial section
• Click-to-call and inquiry form

I'd target ~$500–$1,500 upfront and $0–$150/month afterward for the initial version. You don't need an ongoing $600+ SEO retainer yet; get the fundamentals right, collect Google reviews, and build useful catering/location pages first.

If you want the absolute cheapest viable route, compare Emericano, West Town Websites, and SEOLEVELUP. If you care most about having someone literally nearby who understands West Loop businesses, start with SEOLEVELUP and Evolve with Digital. emericano.comwww.westloopseo.com

SEOLEVELUP
West Town Websites
Emericano

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid big Chicago agencies and look for a shop that will do a lean 4–6 page site plus local SEO basics rather than sell you a $2k+/month marketing package.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit
   • Actually located in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin.
   • Does both web design and local SEO/Google Business Profile optimization.
   • Their positioning is specifically around Chicago small businesses, and reviews mention small-business projects and quick-turnaround work. www.westloopseo.com
   • Ask for: a stripped-down catering site + GBP setup/optimization, not an ongoing full SEO campaign.

2. Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — worth getting a quote
   • At 1375 W Fulton Market, so extremely close to you.
   • Focuses on small/newer businesses and combines website work with Google Business Profile and local SEO.
   • Only one review showed up in the local-business data, so I'd compare their quote against the others before committing.

3. The Loop Marketing Inc — good if you want ongoing help
   • West Loop office at 159 N Sangamon.
   • Explicitly works with small businesses and offers web design plus local/ongoing SEO.
   • Likely more marketing-oriented than you need initially, so ask for a one-time launch package rather than a retainer.

4. Windy City Web Solutions — good small-business alternative
   • Chicago-based, focused on small organizations, with WordPress, hosting/maintenance and SEO.
   • Their model includes monthly website support, which could be useful once you're too busy catering to update the site yourselves.

The budget wildcard

If “cheap” means genuinely cheap, I'd also look at Codecrew Chicago. They're Chicago-based and advertise a $0-down/$175-per-month option for a five-page custom site, with on-page SEO included; they also list a $2,750 one-time option. www.codecrew.studio

There's also Emericano, which advertises roughly $300 for a starter site and $20–$50/month for care, including basic SEO, contact forms and local-keyword structure. They're Illinois-based rather than West Loop-local, but that price is much closer to a tiny startup budget. emericano.com

What I'd buy in your shoes

For a catering company, I'd target $500–$1,500 one-time, with:

• Home
• Catering / menus
• Corporate & event catering
• About
• Contact / quote request
• Google Business Profile setup
• Basic local SEO + title/meta/heading optimization
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Mobile speed optimization
• Schema/local-business markup
• Ability for you to change menus/photos yourselves

Don't pay for monthly SEO yet. First get the fundamentals right, collect Google reviews, and build pages around searches like West Loop catering, Chicago corporate catering, Chicago event catering, etc. Then consider a monthly SEO budget once you know which services actually generate inquiries.

For the first three, I'd ask all of them for the same fixed-scope quote so you're comparing apples to apples.

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies and look for someone willing to build a 4–6 page site with local SEO, Google Business Profile setup, and no bloated retainer.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best overall local fit
   • Actually located in the West Loop at 355 N Laflin.
   • Combines web design with local SEO and Google Business Profile/Maps optimization.
   • Their positioning is specifically around small businesses and lead generation.
   • Ask for: a stripped-down catering-site package rather than a full SEO campaign.

2. Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — best if you want someone very nearby
   • Located at 1375 W Fulton Market.
   • Structured around newer/smaller businesses and offers website + branding + Google Business/local visibility work.
   • I'd specifically ask them for their smallest website/SEO bundle.

3. Windy City Web Solutions — good practical option
   • South Loop-based and focused on WordPress, hosting/maintenance and SEO for small organizations and businesses.
   • Could make sense if you want a site you can keep relatively inexpensive after launch.

4. Affordable Web Design Chicago — worth getting a quote
   • Explicitly targets budget-conscious small businesses and combines web design with foundational/on-page SEO and local SEO.

5. RedShark SEO — SEO-heavy alternative
   • Chicago-based, with a strong local-search/Google Maps orientation and web design.
   • Their reviews specifically include small clients saying they felt like a priority.

One especially cheap option

Emericano isn't specifically West Loop-based, but its published pricing is unusually startup-friendly: roughly $300 for a basic site, with $20–$50/month for maintenance/support, including basic SEO structure and contact forms. It serves Illinois small businesses. emericano.com

If you're trying to keep the initial spend under ~$1,000, I'd put this one on the quote list.

What I'd budget

For catering, you really don't need an elaborate site. I'd target:

• 4–5 pages: Home, Catering/Menu, Events/Services, About, Contact
• Mobile-first design
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Titles/meta descriptions + Chicago/West Loop catering keywords
• Schema/local business basics
• Contact/quote form
• Google Analytics + Search Console
• Fast hosting
• 5–10 good food/event photos

I'd rather spend $500–$1,500 on that foundation than sign a $1,000+/month SEO contract right away. For example, Lizardo's Chicago small-business site starts at $1,499 with basic on-page SEO, while its ongoing SEO starts around $599/month—probably more than you need initially. lizardoagency.com

My first three calls would be SEOLEVELUP, Evolve with Digital, and Emericano. Tell each one: “We're a two-person catering startup in West Loop. We need a simple lead-generating site and basic local SEO, not an ongoing enterprise marketing program. What's your cheapest sensible package?” That should make the price comparison pretty revealing.

For a two-person catering startup in the West Loop, I’d avoid big full-service agencies. You mainly need a fast 4–6 page site, strong mobile UX, Google Business Profile/local SEO, and a catering inquiry form—not a $5k+ “brand strategy” engagement.

My shortlist

1. 67 Web Design — best ultra-budget option
   • $67/mo for a 3-page managed WordPress site, including hosting, SSL, basic SEO, domain, and monthly updates.
   • They specifically mention having worked with West Loop restaurants.
   • Their basic SEO plan is another $67/mo, though it has a 12-month minimum.
   • This is the one I'd contact first if cash flow is tight. 67webdesign.com

2. BUILTbyBackspace — best small-studio fit
   • Chicago-based, one person handles the project, with no account-manager/outsourcing layer.
   • Explicitly works with small businesses and restaurants.
   • Offers Webflow sites plus local SEO, and you can take over the site yourself after launch.
   • Pricing isn't published, so I'd ask for a stripped-down startup package rather than their full service. www.builtbybackspace.com

3. Lizardo Agency — best if you can spend ~$1.5k upfront
   • Chicago-focused small-business agency.
   • Starts at $1,499 for a site with up to four pages, WordPress, mobile optimization and basic on-page SEO.
   • They specifically mention restaurants among their Chicago clients.
   • I'd ask them to quote a catering-specific 5-page version rather than automatically moving you into a bigger package. lizardoagency.com

4. Prismatics Digital — best restaurant-specific technical option
   • Chicago-area boutique studio with actual restaurant/POS/ordering experience.
   • Their restaurant offering includes menu architecture, catering/ordering integrations and local SEO/Google Business alignment.
   • The catch: their starter website is $1,999+, so I'd only consider them if you want something more polished/custom. www.prismaticsdigital.com

5. Codecrew Chicago — interesting monthly-payment option
   • Chicago-based and explicitly geared toward small businesses.
   • Advertises $0 down / $175 per month, with SEO built into the development rather than bolted on afterward.
   • Worth comparing against 67 if you prefer a more custom site but can't do a large upfront payment. www.codecrew.studio

What I'd actually buy

For your situation, I'd target $500–$1,500 total upfront or <$200/month, and ask for:

• Home
• Catering Services / Packages
• Menus
• About
• Contact / Catering Inquiry
• Google Business Profile setup/optimization
• Page titles + meta descriptions
• LocalBusiness/restaurant schema
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Mobile speed optimization
• Basic targeting around “West Loop catering,” “Chicago catering,” “corporate catering Chicago,” and your specific cuisine
• Easy-to-update menu
• Catering inquiry form that captures date, guest count, venue, budget, and type of event

I wouldn't pay for ongoing SEO yet unless they're doing concrete work beyond monthly reports. Get the local SEO foundation right, collect Google reviews, create useful catering pages, and let the site establish some history first.

One important wrinkle: my local-business search is currently resolving to the St. Louis/St. Charles area, while the agencies above are Chicago-area based; I used Chicago-specific web research because you explicitly said West Loop. So I wouldn't treat the local-business ratings returned for St. Charles as recommendations for your Chicago search.

For a two-person catering startup in Chicago’s West Loop, I’d avoid a traditional full-service agency. You mainly need a sharp 3–5 page site, Google Business Profile setup/optimization, and basic local SEO—not a $1k+/month marketing retainer.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit
   • West Loop: 355 N Laflin St.
   • Specifically combines website design with local SEO and Google Business Profile optimization. Their positioning is aimed at Chicago small businesses and lead generation.
   • Why I'd call: You're literally in their neighborhood, and you can potentially get website + Maps SEO from one shop.
   • Ask them for a bare-bones launch package, rather than their full SEO program.

2. Affordable Web Design Chicago — budget-first option
   • Chicago-based and explicitly focused on small businesses/solo operators.
   • Offers website builds with on-page SEO fundamentals and separate local SEO services.
   • I'd ask for a 4-page catering site + GBP optimization with no ongoing SEO retainer initially.

3. Lizardo Agency — best polished option
   • Chicago agency with a published $1,499 starting price for up to four pages, WordPress, mobile optimization and basic on-page SEO. lizardoagency.com
   • Their next tier is $2,199 and adds keyword research, SEO structure, analytics/Search Console and blog setup. lizardoagency.com
   • They even have a testimonial from David Charcuterie Chicago, which makes the food/catering angle particularly relevant. lizardoagency.com
   • Probably the one I'd choose if you can stretch to ~$1,500.

4. SiteCraft Studio — cheapest sensible starting point
   • Their $250–$350 package combines Google Business Profile setup/optimization, a simple one-page site, and local SEO basics. sitecraft-studio.com
   • They also list a $500 landing page and $2,000 custom website.
   • For a brand-new catering company, this may actually be enough for the first 6–12 months.

5. Windy City Web Solutions — worth getting a quote
   • South Loop-based, so very close geographically.
   • Focuses on WordPress, hosting/maintenance and SEO for small local organizations.
   • I'd ask specifically for a fixed-price starter site rather than an ongoing marketing engagement.

What I'd buy in your shoes

I'd target $500–$1,500 upfront, then keep recurring costs minimal.

Your initial site should have:

• Home
• Catering/Menu
• Weddings & Events / Corporate Catering
• About
• Contact / quote form
• Google Business Profile setup
• Titles/meta descriptions for Chicago + West Loop catering searches
• Schema/local business basics
• Google Search Console + Analytics
• Fast mobile loading
• Strong food/event photography

Don't pay for monthly SEO yet. First get the fundamentals right and collect reviews. For a tiny catering business, Google Maps/GBP, reviews, location-specific service pages, and genuinely good photos can be more valuable initially than a big content/backlink campaign.

One caution: West Loop SEO is also an especially relevant boutique option—it says it's a small downtown Chicago agency, offers website refreshes plus technical/local SEO, and provides free audits/consultations. Pricing isn't published, though, so I'd ask whether they'll do a small fixed-scope starter project. www.westloopseo.com

West Loop SEO · Emericano · Lizardo small-business pricing · SiteCraft Studio

If you tell me your rough budget (e.g. $300, $750, $1,500) and whether you already own a domain/logo/photos, I can narrow this to the 2 best choices and what I'd ask each one to quote.

For a two-person West Loop catering startup, I’d avoid the big Chicago agencies. You mainly need a clean 4–5 page site, Google Business Profile/local SEO, and solid on-page basics—not a $5k+ marketing program.

My shortlist

1. SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago — best local fit
   • 355 N Laflin St, right in the West Loop
   • Does both website builds and local SEO/Google Maps optimization.
   • Particularly worth contacting because they explicitly work with Chicago small businesses and offer rush projects.
   • Ask for: a bare-bones catering site + Google Business Profile setup/optimization, with no ongoing PPC.

2. Chicago Website Design SEO Company — good budget-oriented option
   • Downtown, at 10 S Riverside Plaza.
   • Offers web design, SEO, Google Business Profile/local search work, and serves local businesses.
   • Their positioning/reviews suggest they're accustomed to smaller projects rather than only enterprise accounts.

3. SEO Design Chicago — SEO-first choice
   • Chicago-based, with a strong small-business focus.
   • Their published SEO packages start at $299, and they combine SEO with web design. www.seodesign.pro
   • I'd ask specifically for a one-time SEO foundation package rather than signing up for a large monthly campaign.

4. Anchor Bay Marketing — boutique alternative
   • Downtown Chicago boutique agency offering web design, SEO, content and local visibility work.
   • Worth getting a quote if you want the site to look more polished/brand-forward.

If you're really cash-constrained

There are some unusually cheap options worth comparing against the agencies:

• Emericano advertises small-business sites around $300, with basic SEO, contact forms and $20–$50/month care. emericano.com
• Codecrew Chicago advertises $0 down / $175 per month, including a 5-page site and on-page SEO. www.codecrew.studio
• Lizardo Agency starts at $1,499 for up to four pages, WordPress, mobile optimization and basic on-page SEO. lizardoagency.com

For your particular business, I'd contact SEOLEVELUP, Chicago Website Design SEO Company, and SEO Design Chicago first. Get all three to quote exactly the same scope so you can compare apples-to-apples.

For a catering company, I'd target roughly $750–$1,500 upfront if possible, with $0–$300/month afterward initially. Your first site only needs: Home, Catering/Menu, Corporate Catering, About, Contact/Quote + Google Business Profile + basic local SEO around terms like Chicago catering, West Loop catering, corporate catering Chicago, and your specific cuisine/event types.

If you tell me your rough maximum budget ($500, $1k, $2k, etc.), I can narrow this to the 2–3 most realistic choices and check their current pricing/contact options.