Pricing for websites is all over the place. Here’s what the numbers actually mean, and what you should expect at each level.
One of the most common questions I get from small business owners is some version of “I got a quote for $800 and another for $8,000. What’s going on?”
It’s a fair question. Website pricing in Australia is genuinely all over the place, and without context it’s almost impossible to know if you’re getting a deal or getting ripped off. So here’s a straight answer.
The $500 to $1,500 Range
At this price point you’re typically looking at a template website built on a drag-and-drop platform like Squarespace or Wix, with minimal customisation. It can look fine, but it usually comes with limitations around SEO, performance, and flexibility. You’re also often locked into a monthly platform subscription that adds up over time.
This works for someone who just needs something live quickly and has very basic needs. For a business trying to grow, it usually creates more problems than it solves within 12 to 18 months.
The $2,000 to $4,000 Range
This is where you start to see proper WordPress builds, some genuine customisation, and a designer who has thought about your user flow and not just your colour palette. Quality varies a lot in this bracket depending on who you work with. Some of it is excellent. Some of it is a template with your logo dropped in.
Questions to ask: Does it include copywriting? Mobile optimisation? SEO setup? A handover and training session? If those things aren’t included, factor in the cost of getting them done elsewhere.
The $4,500 to $7,000 Range
This is the professional end of the market for small to medium businesses. At this level you should expect a fully custom build, on-page SEO from the ground up, proper mobile optimisation, a content strategy behind the page structure, and a handover that actually leaves you knowing how to manage your own site.
My Signature Build sits at $4,500 and includes all of the above. Not because I picked a number out of thin air, but because that’s what it takes to do the job properly without cutting corners.
What People Forget to Budget For
The website itself is only part of the cost. Make sure you factor in:
Hosting, which typically runs $350 per year for a well-maintained WordPress setup. Domain registration, usually $20 to $30 per year. Stock photography if you don’t have professional images. And ongoing updates if you’re not managing the site yourself.
The Real Question to Ask
It’s not “how much does a website cost?” It’s “what do I need my website to actually do, and who is the right person to build it?”
A website that brings in consistent enquiries is not an expense. It’s your best-performing employee. The cost of getting it wrong, redoing it 18 months later, or losing clients because your site doesn’t convert is always higher than doing it properly the first time.
If you’re a South West WA business trying to figure out what’s right for your situation, I’m happy to have that conversation.
