cost to build a website australia
Realistic price ranges, what affects cost, and a step‑by‑step checklist so you budget correctly and avoid surprise fees.
Typical Upfront Cost
From $0 (DIY template) to $30,000+ (enterprise custom build). Most small businesses pay between $1,500–$8,000 for a professional site.
Monthly / Ongoing
Hosting, domain and maintenance typically range from $10–$300+/month. Congero offers an all-inclusive managed solution for $49/month.
Typical Timeline
DIY templates: hours. Freelancers/small agencies: 1–8 weeks. Full bespoke builds: 2–6 months. Congero preview in under 60 seconds, live in minutes after domain setup.
How much does it cost to build a website in Australia?
Costs depend on who builds it and what features you need. Below are realistic ranges you can expect in 2025.
1. DIY Website Builders (Wix/Shopify/Squarespace)
Lowest upfront cost if you do the work yourself. Use templates and drag‑and‑drop editors.
- Cost: $0–$600/year for premium plans and templates
- Good for: startups, simple brochure sites, small shops
- Limitations: limited customisation, slower SEO at scale, ongoing app costs
2. Freelancer / Independent Developer
A middle ground — more hands-on development and custom tweaks.
- Cost: $800–$6,000 (depends on experience & complexity)
- Good for: custom templates, moderate integrations
- Limitations: variable quality, maintenance often extra
3. Small Agency / Boutique Studio
Professional design and project management; suitable for businesses wanting a strong brand presence.
- Cost: $4,000–$25,000
- Good for: multi-page sites, marketing integrations, SEO strategies
- Limitations: higher upfront cost and potential ongoing retainers
4. Enterprise & Bespoke Platforms
Custom systems, complex integrations and enterprise features.
- Cost: $25,000–$250,000+
- Good for: large businesses, CRMs, complex eCommerce
- Limitations: long timelines and significant maintenance budgets
An Alternative: Congero — Managed Websites for $49/month
For many trades and small businesses, the best ROI is an all-inclusive, managed website that launches quickly and stays updated.
- Instant site preview (under 60 seconds)
- Domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO & unlimited text-in updates
- Flat $49/month — no lock-in contracts
Key Factors That Affect Cost
- Design complexity & custom graphics
- Number of pages and content volume
- E-commerce (product SKUs, payment gateways)
- Third-party integrations (booking, CRM, accounting)
- SEO, content writing and ongoing marketing
- Support & maintenance agreements
Hidden Costs to Watch For
- Premium plugins or paid themes
- Custom development hourly rates
- Stock photo subscriptions or photography
- Ongoing support retainers
Real-world price examples (Australia, 2025)
Below are typical project scenarios to help you estimate a realistic budget.
Basic Trades Website
5 pages: Home, About, Services, Gallery, Contact
Estimated cost
$49/month (Congero) or $1,200–$3,500 (freelancer)
Small Retail / eCommerce
Up to 50 SKUs, payment gateway, shipping integration
Estimated cost
$2,500–$15,000 (depends on platform & integrations)
Professional Service / Agency
Custom design, lead capture, booking & CRM integration
Estimated cost
$6,000–$40,000+
How to budget for your website — step-by-step checklist
Answer these questions before you get quotes to avoid scope creep and unexpected charges.
- Purpose: Lead generation, bookings, sales, information only?
- Pages & Content: How many pages and who will write copy and supply images?
- Branding: Do you have a logo, colour palette and tone of voice?
- Integrations: Bookings, payments, POS, CRM, email marketing?
- SEO: Do you need local SEO setup and keyword research?
- Maintenance: How quickly do you need updates and will you pay hourly or via subscription?
- Timeline: When do you need it live?
Quick budgeting rule of thumb
Set aside 1.5× your initial quote for first-year costs to cover premium plugins, professional photography and initial SEO/ads. Example: if a quote is $3,000, budget ~ $4,500 for launch year expenses.
7 practical ways to reduce website costs
1. Start small
Launch with your core pages. Add extras later once you have traffic and revenue.
2. Use subscriptions for maintenance
Managed services like Congero bundle hosting, updates and SEO for a predictable monthly fee.
3. Prepare content in advance
Provide text and images to your developer to reduce development hours.
4. Reuse templates
Custom design is expensive — a well-customised template saves time and money.
5. Choose the right platform
For simple businesses, a managed platform beats a full custom CMS in total cost of ownership.
6. Do basic SEO yourself
Learn on-page basics (titles, meta descriptions, headings) to reduce initial agency SEO hours.
7. Negotiate scope not price
Ask vendors to phase features so you pay only for essentials at launch and add extras later.
Frequently asked questions about website costs in Australia
How much should a small business expect to pay in the first year?
Expect to pay between $500 and $8,000 depending on who builds it and the level of customisation. Include ongoing hosting/maintenance ($100–$2,000/year) and marketing costs.
Are there any free options?
Yes — free tiers exist on website builders, but they often use subdomains and show ads. For a professional presence, budget for at least domain + basic hosting or a managed $49/month option.
What ongoing costs should I expect?
Domain renewal (~$10–$30/year), hosting ($5–$200+/month), security and backups, plugin renewals, and marketing/SEO spend. Managed plans simplify this into a single monthly fee.
Is paying more always better?
Not necessarily. Pay for outcomes, not hours. A well-configured, SEO-optimised $49/month managed site can outperform a $5,000 brochure site that’s not maintained or marketed.
