how much for a website design
Real cost ranges, what drives price (SEO, features, integrations) and clear steps to get accurate quotes for your small business.
Whether you're a tradie, cafe owner, or small professional service, this guide breaks down realistic prices, explains the value behind each cost, and gives a step-by-step checklist so you won’t overpay for a website that doesn't deliver.
Typical website design cost ranges (quick reference)
Use this as a starting point. Final price depends on features, SEO, content, and who builds it.
How to read these ranges
Lower end assumes a basic brochure site with template styling. Higher end includes bespoke design, content writing, advanced SEO, booking systems, e-commerce or custom integrations (CRMs, payment gateways, property feeds).
What actually drives website design price?
Four buckets explain most of the cost: Scope, SEO & marketing, integrations & features, and ongoing services.
1. Scope & content
- Number of pages: 1–5 pages is cheapest; 10–30 pages adds time & cost.
- Content writing & photography: If you need the seller to write copy, add $500–$3,000 depending on quality.
- Custom design: Unique visual design increases upfront cost vs. pre-built templates.
2. SEO & discoverability
SEO isn't optional for businesses that rely on local leads. Quality SEO work often shows the highest ROI.
- Technical SEO setup: schema, sitemap, robots, mobile optimisation — $200–$1,200.
- Local SEO: Google Business Profile setup, citations, local keyword optimisation — $300–$1,500+
- Content strategy & copy: Ongoing blog content or service pages to rank — $100–$300 per article.
- Monthly SEO retainers: $300–$2,000/mo depending on competition and goals.
3. Integrations & features
- Contact forms & lead capture: included in most builds but advanced routing adds cost ($50–$300).
- Booking / calendar systems: $200–$1,500 to integrate & style.
- E-commerce: $1,000–$20,000+ depending on product count and payment/fulfilment needs.
- CRM / API integrations: $300–$5,000 depending on complexity.
4. Hosting, security & ongoing maintenance
- Hosting & SSL: $0–$50/mo for shared or managed hosting (many subscriptions include it).
- Maintenance & updates: If billed hourly, $50–$150/hr. Managed plans bundle this for predictable cost.
- Backups & monitoring: $5–$50/mo depending on service level.
Feature-by-feature: estimated extra cost (one-time)
Use these estimates to build a clear requirements list before requesting quotes.
Core items
- Professional homepage + 4 service pages: $800–$3,000
- Mobile-first responsive adjustments: $100–$400
- Basic SEO setup (titles, meta, sitemap): $150–$700
- SSL & hosting setup: $0–$200
Lead capture & conversion
- Custom contact forms + email routing: $50–$400
- SMS/WhatsApp lead integration: $100–$600
- Conversion-focused landing page: $200–$1,000
- Analytics & conversion tracking setup: $100–$400
Advanced & integrations
- Booking or appointment system: $300–$1,500
- Payment gateway / e-commerce: $1,000–$20,000+
- CRM or API integrations: $300–$5,000+
- Custom backend features: $2,000–$50,000+
How much should you pay for SEO work?
SEO is not a single line item — it’s a spectrum from basic on-page setup to ongoing content & local optimisation.
Basic setup
Cost: $150–$700 one-off
Includes meta tags, sitemap, robots, page speed tweaks, and Google Search Console.
Local SEO
Cost: $300–$1,500 setup + $100–$600/mo
GBP optimisation, citations, and local landing pages — critical for service-area businesses.
Ongoing content & link building
Cost: $500–$3,000+/mo
This is long-term work that drives organic traffic. Only invest if you want consistent lead growth from search.
How to decide how much to spend — ROI rules for small businesses
Treat website cost as an investment. Use the simple ROI checks below to choose between cheap, managed subscription, or custom builds.
1. Estimate monthly lead value
If one new customer is worth $1,000 and you expect 2 extra leads per month from a better site, each month you could earn $2,000 more. That easily justifies a $49/month subscription.
2. Time vs money
If you value your time at $50/hr and building a template site takes 40 hours, your time cost is $2,000. Often a managed subscription that saves that time is better value.
3. Prioritise revenue-driving features
Spend on features that directly generate leads (contact forms, booking, clear CTAs, local SEO). Delay low-impact features like fancy animations or large galleries until after you have leads.
4. Choose predictable costs
Subscriptions (e.g., $30–$49/mo) remove surprises: domain, hosting, updates, and security are bundled. That predictability helps small businesses budget.
How to get accurate quotes — what to include in your brief
A clear brief gets you comparable quotes. Use this template when contacting vendors.
Minimal brief checklist (paste this into emails)
- Business type & target customers: explain who you serve and where.
- Primary goal: leads, bookings, product sales, or information.
- Pages required: e.g., Home, About, Services (3), Contact, Blog.
- Must-have features: contact form, booking, MLS feed, payment gateway.
- SEO expectations: local SEO only vs ongoing content and link building.
- Existing assets: logo, photos, domain, Google Business Profile access.
- Timeline & budget range: be honest — gives vendors context.
Negotiation & avoiding hidden costs
Common traps and how to avoid them when reviewing quotes.
Watch for vague scopes
If a supplier writes "design tweaks included" ask: how many? What’s the turnaround time? Get limits or guaranteed SLAs in writing.
Confirm ownership & data access
You should own your domain and content. Ensure you can export your site if you choose to leave. Ask where the code and content are stored.
Spot hidden monthly fees
Ask about third-party subscriptions (analytics, booking tools, plugin licences) that might be billed separately.
Negotiate staged delivery
Break payment into milestones tied to deliverables: design sign-off, dev completion, go-live. That reduces risk and keeps suppliers accountable.
Quick checklist before you sign
- Does the quote itemise design, features, and ongoing costs?
- Is local SEO or basic SEO setup included?
- Who owns the domain and content?
- How are updates handled and how fast?
- Are there guaranteed turnaround times for updates?
- Are there cancellation terms or lock-in contracts?
- Ask for references or recent examples in your industry.
Frequently asked questions
Is a $49/month website good enough for a small business?
Should I pay extra for custom design?
How much for e-commerce?
Can I start cheap and upgrade later?
Ready to get a real price for your business?
Use a short brief to request comparable quotes — or try a managed solution to go live quickly with predictable cost.
Congero example: all-inclusive, managed websites from a flat monthly fee (includes domain, hosting, unlimited updates and local SEO). No lock-in. Live in 60 seconds with a demo — perfect if you need a professional site fast.
Need help building your brief? We can walk you through it — get a free demo or compare managed plans to see which option fits your budget and goals.
