Ask five web designers what a website costs and you’ll hear five very different numbers. That’s not because anyone is hiding something, but because a five-page site for a plumber and an online shop with 300 products are different jobs.
So how much does a website cost? This guide explains what you’re actually paying for, so you can compare quotes properly and spot the costs that turn up later.
The short answer
How much a website will cost depends on three things: how many pages you need, what the site has to do (take bookings, send quote requests, sell products), and who writes and looks after it. Whatever you choose, ask for a fixed quote in writing before any work starts.
What you’re paying for
A professional website is more than a design. In fact, most quotes are made up of:
- Design: the look, layout and how a visitor moves from page to page.
- Build: turning the design into a fast, secure website that works on every phone.
- Content: the words and photos. If you write it yourself, it costs less, but it also takes your time.
- SEO setup: page titles, descriptions, a page for each service and area, and a fast load time, so Google can find you.
- Features: online booking, quote forms, payments or a connection to the software you already use.
- Training: showing you how to update the site yourself.
What changes the price of a website
- Brochure website A handful of pages that explain what you do and make it easy to call. Drives the cost Number of pages and who writes the content.
- Lead or booking website Built to bring in enquiries, with quote forms, online booking or missed-call text-back. Drives the cost The features and the tools they connect to.
- Online shop Products, payments, shipping and stock. Drives the cost Number of products, payment and shipping setup.
- Redesign A new look for an existing site, keeping the Google rankings you already have. Drives the cost How much content moves across and how much changes.
Ongoing costs most quotes leave out
The build is a one-off. However, these costs come around every month or year:
- Domain name: renewed every year or two.
- Hosting: where your website lives. Cheap hosting is often slow hosting, so it can cost you visitors.
- Plugins and licences: some features need a paid licence each year.
- Care plan: updates, backups and security checks, so the site doesn’t break or get hacked.
- Email: if your business email is set up through your website provider.
Ask for every monthly and yearly cost in writing, alongside the build price. A cheap build with expensive extras isn’t cheap.
Cheap website or one that pays for itself?
A do-it-yourself builder can be a fine place to start. However, the costs usually show up later: a slow site, pages Google can’t make sense of, or a design that doesn’t turn visitors into calls.
A better question than “what does it cost?” is “what will it bring in?” For example, if a website brings in one extra job a week, it can pay for itself quickly. But that only happens when it’s built for Google and for phones from day one.
How to compare website quotes
First, put every quote side by side. Then check:
- How many pages and which features are included?
- Who writes the content?
- What SEO is included at launch?
- What does it cost every month or year after launch?
- Will the domain, website and logins be in your name?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
For the full list, read How to choose a web designer in Newcastle.
What 4SPixel charges
Want to know how much your website will cost? Every project starts with a free audit and a fixed quote in AUD, agreed before any work starts. You also own everything, and there are no long contracts to get going. See our starting prices on the pricing page.
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