Budgeting Guide 2025

how much does it cost to build a good website

A clear, practical breakdown of what drives price — and how to budget so your website actually brings customers.

If you're a tradesperson, local service, or small business owner, this guide walks you through realistic price ranges, hidden costs to watch for, and step-by-step tips to plan a website budget that delivers returns.

See Typical Pricing See How It Works

$0–10k+

Total first-year cost (varies by needs)

24 hrs — 12 weeks

Typical delivery time

$30–49

Common subscription price / month

Unlimited

Updates included on many subscription plans

In this guide

What drives website costs Realistic price ranges Budgeting for design Budgeting for SEO Advertising budgets that work Hidden costs to avoid Where to get ROI first Budget checklist & next steps

What actually drives website cost?

Understanding the components makes budgeting simple. Most cost variation comes from choices you make—not secret fees.

1. Design and visual polish

Custom design, brand work, and high-quality photography raise upfront cost but increase trust and conversion. A template can be cheaper but may look generic.

2. Functionality & integrations

Booking systems, e-commerce, quoting tools, customer portals, or CRM integrations add development time. The more custom the feature, the higher the price.

3. Content: words & images

Copywriting, service descriptions, and professional photos save time and improve SEO. If you supply content, costs drop; if you need the provider to create it, budget increases.

4. SEO (on-page and ongoing)

Basic on-page SEO (titles, meta, schema) is often bundled. Ongoing SEO—local optimisation, content creation, link building—requires a monthly budget.

5. Hosting, security & maintenance

Good hosting, SSL, daily backups, and software updates are essential. Some services include them in a subscription; others charge separately.

6. Edits & ongoing changes

Factor in how often you'll want updates. Hourly change fees add up; unlimited update packages are more predictable for growing businesses.

7. Advertising & traffic costs

Building a site is step one. Paid search, social ads or local ads are how customers find you quickly—expect a separate, ongoing ad budget.

Realistic price ranges (what you'll see in 2025)

Barebones DIY

$0–500

Template, your time, minimal features

- DIY platform monthly fee
- Low design polish
- Expect 20–80 hours of your time

Modern subscription

$30–49 / month

Professional design, hosting, updates included

- $360–588 / year
- Fast launch (24–72 hrs)
- Unlimited small updates often included

Custom agency build

$3,000–15,000+

Bespoke design, complex features

- Higher conversion potential if well done
- Often 4–12 week turnaround
- Ongoing maintenance costs extra

Rule of thumb: For most local trades and service businesses, a modern subscription (professional design + hosting + updates) gives the best cost-to-value ratio in 2025.

How to budget for design that converts

Design isn't decoration — it's a sales tool. Allocate budget based on how important online leads are to your business.

Starter budget (low risk)

Allocate $0–500 up front or $30/month subscription. Accept template-based layouts but ask for customised headlines, colours, and your logo to avoid a generic look.

Balanced budget (recommended)

Allocate $500–2,000 in the first year (or $30–49/mo). Expect a professional layout, tailored hero section, service pages, and a few custom images. This is ideal for most small businesses.

Premium budget (high growth)

If your site is your primary lead source and you need advanced features (e-commerce, quoting calculators), budget $3,000–15,000 for a custom build with conversion optimisation.

Tips to get more from your design budget

Prioritise a clear call-to-action (phone + booking) above the fold.
Invest in 3–6 professional photos of your work — they pay back via trust.
Reuse blocks: ask for modular sections that can be used across pages to keep costs down.
Choose a subscription that includes fast design turnaround so you can iterate.

Budgeting for SEO — what to plan for

SEO is split between setup (one-time) and ongoing work.

One-time SEO setup

- Keyword research and page mapping: $300–1,200
- Meta tags, headings, and schema: often included or $150–500
- Google Business Profile setup: $0–200
- Sitemap & analytics setup: usually included

Many subscription services include these basics at no extra cost.

Ongoing SEO

- Local SEO maintenance: $150–600 / month
- Content creation (blog posts, service pages): $100–400 / article
- Link building (ethical): $300–1,000+/month

Start with a small monthly package ($150–300) focused on local optimisation and high-intent keywords.

Practical approach: Get the basic on-page SEO included in your website build. Then budget a small monthly amount for local SEO and content for the first 6 months — that’s when you’ll see traction.

How much should you spend on advertising?

Advertising is the fastest way to generate leads from a new site. Budget depends on margin, lead value, and how quickly you want results.

A simple budgeting formula

Decide how many new customers you want per month and multiply by your target cost-per-acquisition (CPA).

Example: Want 10 new customers / month, target CPA $50 → ad budget = 10 × $50 = $500 / month.

Typical ad budgets

Test & learn: $200–500 / month for 1–2 months to find what works
Steady growth: $500–2,000 / month depending on market and margins
Scale: $2,000+ / month once you have proven ROI

Where to advertise first

Google Search ads for high-intent customers
Facebook/Instagram for visual services (trades before/after, beauty)
Local directories and retargeting for repeat exposure

Hidden costs to watch for

Hourly update fees: small changes billed at $80–150/hr add up fast.
Premium plugins or integrations: may have recurring fees ($10–100/mo).
Stock photo charges or custom media: $10–200 per asset.
Conversion tracking and analytics setup: sometimes extra if not included.

Ask any provider for a written list of what’s included and what costs extra. Predictable monthly plans generally avoid surprises.

Where to prioritise spend for best ROI

1. Conversion-first homepage

Clear headline, phone number, and one action — this pays back immediately.

2. Local SEO setup

Get your Google Business Profile right — it helps customers find you locally with minimal ongoing spend.

3. Fast hosting & security

Fast, secure sites convert more and avoid penalties from Google.

Small businesses often see fastest returns by focusing first on a clear homepage (or service landing page), local citations, and one testing ad campaign.

Budget checklist — plan your spend in 30 minutes

Decide your goal: leads, bookings or e-commerce? That decides cost.
Pick a delivery speed: fast launches favour subscription services; complex builds need agency budgets.
Allocate design budget: $0–500 (DIY), $500–2,000 (recommended), $3k+ (custom).
Plan SEO: setup $0–1,200; ongoing $150+/month.
Set ad test budget: $200–500 for month 1–2 to gather data.
Reserve contingency: 10–20% for extras like integrations or premium images.

A realistic first-year budget for most local businesses: $360–1,500 (subscription + modest SEO + small ad test) or $3,000–8,000 for a custom agency approach.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cheap website always a bad idea?

Not always. Cheap can work for an informational page, but if you rely on the site for leads, invest in design and local SEO.

How fast can I get a usable site?

Subscription services can deliver a working, optimised site in 24–72 hours. Custom builds take weeks.

Should I pay for ongoing SEO?

If you want more organic leads over time, yes. Start small and scale up once you see results.

Ready to plan your website budget?

Use the checklist above to set a clear budget. When you're ready, choose a delivery speed and start small — iterate as you get results.

See How It Works See How It Works

Prefer a quick estimate? Use a subscription with a predictable monthly fee to avoid surprises and get started fast.