How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Australia?

If you've been shopping around for a website, you've probably seen prices ranging from $500 to $50,000. That range is real, and it's confusing. Here's how to make sense of it.

The three tiers of website pricing

Cheap DIY builders ($0–$50/month)

Tools like Squarespace or Wix let you build something yourself for next to nothing. The downside: they look like templates, they're slow, and you'll spend hours figuring it out. For most small businesses, your time is worth more than the money you save.

Freelancers and small agencies ($1,000–$6,000)

This is where most small businesses land. A good freelancer will build you a custom site that looks professional, loads fast, and is set up for Google. Budget $1,500–$3,500 for a standard 5–8 page site.

Large agencies ($10,000+)

If someone's quoting you $10k+ for a small business website, you're paying for overhead, account managers, and a very long process. You don't need this.

What affects the price?

• **Number of pages** — A 3-page landing site costs less than a 10-page site with a blog.
• **E-commerce** — Selling products online adds complexity and cost.
• **Custom features** — Booking systems, calculators, member portals all add time.
• **Copywriting** — Writing the words on your site takes real skill. Some agencies include it, others don't.
• **Ongoing maintenance** — Hosting, updates, and support are usually monthly fees on top.

What you should get for $1,500–$3,500

At this price point, you should expect:

• A fully custom design (not a template)
• Mobile-responsive on all devices
• Basic SEO setup (meta tags, Google Business integration, fast load times)
• Contact form that emails you directly
• A simple way to update your own content
• 1–2 rounds of revisions

Red flags to watch out for

• **No fixed quote** — If they won't give you a number upfront, run.
• **Ongoing "platform fees"** — Some builders lock you into monthly fees for basic features.
• **No local SEO** — A website that doesn't show up in Google searches near you is mostly useless for a local business.
• **Slow turnaround** — A simple website should not take 3 months.

The bottom line

For most Australian small businesses — a tradie, café, salon, or retail shop — a solid website costs **$1,500–$3,500** one-time, plus about **$20–$30/month** for hosting. If you're quoted significantly more, ask exactly what you're paying for.