It's one of the most common questions we hear from small business owners: how much should a website cost?
The honest answer is: it depends. But that's not very useful, so let's break it down properly — including what you actually need, what you should expect to pay, and what to watch out for.
The Three Main Options
1. DIY Website Builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify Starter)
Cost: $25–$80/month (plus your time)
Builders like Wix and Squarespace let you create something yourself, which sounds great on paper. In reality, most small business owners spend 20–40 hours building their first site, end up with something that looks like a template, and then abandon it when it doesn't perform how they hoped.
The monthly fee is low, but the hidden cost is your time. DIY builders also have real limitations in terms of SEO performance, page speed, and design customisation — all of which affect whether your site actually helps your business grow.
2. One-Off Website from a Freelancer or Agency
Cost: $1,500–$15,000+ upfront
A one-off custom build from a freelancer or small agency typically sits in this range for most small businesses. You pay once, you own the site, and then pay separately for hosting ($20–$80/month) and any future updates.
The problem with this model is that websites go stale quickly. Technology changes, content needs updating, and security needs ongoing patching. A site built for $3,000 in 2021 may look and perform poorly today — and getting it updated or redesigned can be surprisingly expensive.
3. Monthly Website Plans (Subscription Model)
Cost: $99–$299/month, no upfront cost
This is the model we use at WebDevise, and we think it's the best fit for most Australian small businesses. You get a professionally designed and built website as part of your monthly plan — no upfront build fee. Hosting, maintenance, SSL, backups, and support are all included.
It works like a SaaS subscription: predictable monthly cost, no nasty surprises, and the site is always kept current.
What Does "Professional" Actually Get You?
It's tempting to compare a $25/month Wix plan to a $99/month professional plan and wonder what the extra $74 is actually paying for. Here's what you're getting:
- Custom design — built around your brand, not a template someone else is already using
- Performance — professionally built sites consistently score better on Core Web Vitals, which affects both user experience and Google rankings
- SEO foundations — proper page structure, metadata, schema markup, and local SEO setup
- Mobile optimisation — genuinely built to perform on phones, not just technically "responsive"
- Copywriting — words crafted to convert visitors into customers, not just fill space
- Ongoing support — someone to contact when something needs fixing or updating
Watch Out for These Hidden Costs
Whichever route you take, there are some common gotchas to look out for:
- Domain registration — typically $15–$25/year for a .com.au, often sold separately
- SSL certificate — required for any site that collects information. Should be free or included in any decent plan
- Image licences — stock photos aren't free, and using them without a licence can cause legal issues
- Plugin or app fees — many "free" platforms nickel-and-dime you for the features you actually need
- Update and maintenance fees — one-off builds often charge hourly rates for any changes after launch
Questions to Ask Before You Commit
- Who owns the website and domain after it's built?
- What happens if I want to leave — can I take my site with me?
- Is hosting, SSL, and maintenance included or charged separately?
- How long does the build take, and what do I need to provide?
- What does "support" actually mean — email only, or can I call someone?
The Bottom Line
For most Australian small businesses, a professionally built website on a monthly plan offers the best combination of quality, affordability, and ongoing support. You get the result of a custom build without the large upfront investment, and you're never left with an outdated site you can't afford to fix.
If you're weighing up your options, we're happy to have a no-pressure conversation about what makes sense for your business. Get in touch →