How much does a small-business website cost in Australia?
By Isitolo Ahio, Novi Digital · · 4 min read
If you ask five web designers what a small-business website costs, you'll get five different answers. That isn't because anyone is hiding something. A website can be anything from a single page to a custom build with booking, forms and integrations, and the price follows the work.
This guide explains what drives the cost, what you'll pay for after the site is built, and the two ways most Australian businesses pay for it. Then you can compare quotes on the same basis.
What drives the price
- Number of pages. A five-page site is much less work than a thirty-page one. Most small businesses need a home page, a page per main service, an about page and a contact page.
- Custom design or a template. A template is cheaper and faster, but it looks like a template. A custom design is built around your brand and how your customers actually decide.
- Words and photos. Someone has to write the copy and supply good photos. If you can't, the designer will do it, and that takes time.
- Features. Contact and quote forms, online booking, a map, a chatbot or a shop all add work.
- Who looks after it afterwards. A site that is never updated, backed up or secured becomes a risk. Someone needs to own that job.
The costs people forget
The build is only part of it. A website also needs:
- A domain name, which is renewed each year through a registrar.
- Hosting, so the site is online and fast.
- An SSL certificate, which gives you the padlock in the browser and encrypts visits.
- Security updates and backups, so a problem can be fixed quickly.
- Content changes when your hours, prices or services change.
- Support when something breaks.
When you compare quotes, ask whether each of these is included, and what each costs if it isn't.
Two ways to pay
A one-off build fee. You pay a larger amount up front, and then usually pay separately for hosting and any changes. This can suit a business that wants full control and has someone to manage the site.
A monthly plan. You pay a flat amount each month that covers the build and the ongoing work. There's no big bill up front, but you keep paying for as long as you want the service. It suits owners who would rather not think about hosting, security or updates.
Neither is better in every case. What matters is what you get and what happens if you leave.
What our monthly plan looks like
For transparency, here's how Novi Digital does it. Novi Websites is $150 a month with no setup fee and no lock-in. It includes:
- A custom, premium design of up to about 10 pages
- Mobile-responsive pages, contact and quote forms, booking integration and a Google Map
- Basic SEO and analytics
- Hosting, an SSL certificate, security and backups, and performance monitoring
- Minor content updates and technical support
Over a year that's $1,800 ($150 × 12). Prices are in Australian dollars, and we don't charge GST because Novi Digital isn't registered for GST. You can cancel any time. Your website is a hosted service: Novi Digital owns the design and code, and you keep your logo, photos, written content and domain name. If you cancel, the site is taken down at the end of the month you've paid for, unless you buy a handover for $450 and take a copy of the files. The Terms set this out in full.
Questions to ask any web designer
- What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
- Who owns the design, the content and the domain name?
- What happens if I want to cancel or move to another provider?
- Who handles security, backups and updates?
- How long will it take, and what do you need from me?
- Can I see examples of similar work you've actually built?
A good provider will answer these plainly and in writing.
The short version
A small-business website costs what the work costs: pages, design, content, features and ongoing care. Decide whether you want to pay once and manage it yourself, or pay monthly and have it looked after. Then compare quotes on the same list of inclusions.
If you'd like to talk it through, book a free 15-minute discovery call. You can also see what's included on the Websites page.
Want to talk it through?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call with Isitolo, or ring 0485 074 747 to hear Alex, our AI receptionist.