how much would it cost to build a website
Realistic cost ranges for build, SEO and marketing — plus actionable budgeting tips so you don't overspend.
Whether you're a tradie, a local service business or an online seller, this guide breaks down typical costs in 2025 (upfront and ongoing), explains SEO and marketing expenses, and gives practical templates to plan your first 12 months.
What you actually pay for when building a website
A website cost is the sum of several components. Below are the standard line items and realistic 2025 price ranges (USD/AUD equivalence aside — adjust for your region).
Design & Build (Upfront)
What you can expect to pay:
- DIY / Template: $0–$500 (time cost separate)
- Subscription / Modern Agency (done-for-you): $0–$1,000 upfront or $0 upfront with monthly fees (typical offer)
- Custom Agency / Freelancer: $2,000–$15,000+ depending on scope
Tip: Many modern services (including Congero) remove large upfront fees by charging a predictable monthly subscription while delivering professional design fast.
Hosting, Domain & Security (Ongoing)
Typical monthly costs:
- Domain name: $0–$20/year (often included first year)
- Hosting (shared / managed): $5–$150+/month
- SSL certificate: $0–$20/month (often included)
Bundled subscriptions usually include domain, hosting and SSL in one predictable monthly price — valuable for small businesses that need simplicity.
Content (copywriting, photos, video)
Your content costs depend on whether you do it yourself or hire pros:
- DIY text & photos: $0 (time)
- Freelance copy / basic photos: $200–$1,500
- Professional photography / video: $500–$5,000+
Action: Good photos and clear service descriptions convert more leads — don't skimp if you rely on web enquiries.
Features & Integrations
Special functionality adds cost:
- Booking system: $0–$50+/month (third-party) or custom integration fees
- E-commerce: $0–$200+/month plus transaction fees; setup $500–$5,000
- CRM / SMS / Payments: monthly fees + setup
Pro tip: Choose native integrations that match your workflow to avoid ongoing connector costs.
Maintenance & Updates (Ongoing)
Options:
- Pay-as-you-go updates: $50–$200+/hour
- Managed subscription: $30–$300+/month with updates included
- Security & backups: $10–$50/month if not included
Reality check: DIY updates cost you time; freelancers cost dollars. A monthly plan that includes unlimited small updates often saves money long-term.
SEO and marketing — the costs that actually drive traffic and leads
A website is only valuable if people can find it. SEO and paid marketing are where many budgets are spent. Below are common costs and what they buy you.
SEO Setup (initial)
- Basic on-page SEO (titles, meta, headings, sitemap): $200–$1,000
- Local SEO (Google Business Profile optimisation): $200–$1,500
- Technical SEO audit & fixes: $500–$3,000
If you want local customers, invest in local SEO. It often pays back quickly for trades and services.
Ongoing SEO & Content
- Basic ongoing SEO (small site): $300–$800/month
- Growth-focused SEO: $1,000–$5,000+/month
- Content creation (blog posts, pages): $100–$500 per article
Ongoing SEO is an investment — expect 3–9 months to see strong organic gains.
Paid Ads (PPC & Social)
- Ad spend (Google/Facebook): $300–$5,000+/month depending on goals
- Management fee: 10–20% of spend or $300–$1,500/month
- Landing page optimisation & tracking: $200–$1,000 initial
Paid ads are the fastest way to get leads but require well-optimised landing pages and tracking to be cost-effective.
Analytics & Tracking
- Google Analytics / GA4: Free to install (setup: $100–$400)
- Call tracking / conversion tracking: $20–$200/month
- Monthly reports & insights: $0–$400/month
If you can't measure performance, you can't improve it. Include tracking setup in your initial build budget.
Pricing models — what to expect
DIY (Template)
Good if you have time and need the cheapest option.
- Platform fee: $12–$50/mo
- Time: 40–100+ hours
- Limited customisation
Subscription / Managed (e.g. Congero)
Predictable monthly price that usually includes design, hosting, updates and basic SEO.
- Price: $30–$99/month (Congero: $49/month all-in)
- Delivery: 60 seconds – 48 hours
- Unlimited small updates common
Custom Agency / Freelance
Best for high-complexity projects or unique integrations.
- Upfront: $2,000–$50,000+
- Hosting: $20–$200+/month
- Ongoing maintenance charged hourly
Which model saves you money?
If your priority is speed, ongoing updates and predictable cost, a managed subscription often gives the best return on investment for small businesses. If you need highly custom systems (marketplace, large e-commerce), a custom build may be necessary.
Quick cost summary (typical ranges)
| Item | Typical upfront | Typical monthly / ongoing |
|---|---|---|
| Design & build | $0–$10,000+ | — |
| Hosting & domain | $0–$100 | $5–$50 |
| SSL | $0–$200 | $0–$5 |
| Initial SEO setup | $200–$3,000 | — |
| Ongoing SEO / content | — | $300–$2,500+/month |
| PPC ad spend | — | $300–$5,000+/month |
| Modern managed subscription (all-in) | $0–$500 | $30–$99 |
Sample 12‑month budgets — realistic examples
Local tradie / sole trader
- Website (managed subscription): $49/mo → $588
- Initial SEO / GBP optim: $400 (one-off)
- Ad spend (Google Local): $500/month → $6,000
- Content / photos: $300 one-off
- Total Year 1: ~$7,288
Service business (appointments)
- Website (managed): $49/mo → $588
- Initial SEO + landing pages: $1,200 one-off
- Ongoing SEO/content: $600/mo → $7,200
- Ad spend: $1,000/mo → $12,000
- Total Year 1: ~$21,000
Small e‑commerce store
- Custom build or advanced subscription: $2,000–$5,000 upfront
- Hosting & payments: $50–$200/mo
- Product photos and copy: $1,000–$5,000
- PPC + social ads: $2,000+/month → $24,000+
- Total Year 1: ~$30,000+ depending on scale
How to choose your budget
Decide based on expected return. If a website plus ads generates customers worth $5,000/month, investing $1,000–$2,000/month to scale is reasonable. If you only need a brochure site, choose a lean managed option.
Actionable tips to budget effectively
1. Prioritise what drives revenue
Start with a clear goal: calls, bookings or online sales. Allocate budget first to conversion-driving features — clear service pages, contact CTA, tracking and local SEO — before fancy extras.
2. Bundle to reduce surprises
Ask for all-inclusive pricing (design, hosting, SSL, domain, basic SEO and updates). Bundled subscriptions give predictable costs and remove hidden fees.
3. Set a 90‑day marketing test budget
For paid ads, plan a 90‑day experiment. Allocate ad spend + landing page improvements and measure cost per lead. Scale what works and pause what doesn't.
4. Value your time — compare to hourly rates
If your hourly rate is $50–$150, paying a managed service that saves 10–40 hours per year often pays for itself immediately.
5. Negotiate milestones, not just price
Agree on deliverables and timeframes. For agencies, ask that SEO basics and tracking are completed before final payment.
6. Keep a 10–20% contingency
Unexpected costs happen — third‑party apps, extra pages, or feature tweaks. Reserve a contingency in your website budget for the first year.
Quick budgeting checklist
- Design & build cost
- Hosting & domain
- Initial SEO & tracking
- Content/photos
- Ongoing SEO/ads
- Contingency 10–20%
How Congero helps you save and predict costs
If predictable, low-cost websites are your goal, Congero is built for busy small businesses:
- Flat monthly fee (all-inclusive hosting, SSL, domain options)
- Live in under 60 seconds or same-day delivery — no lengthy agency timelines
- Unlimited text-in updates — avoid hourly update fees
- Built-in local SEO basics and analytics reporting
- No lock-in contracts — cancel anytime
If your priority is speed, predictable billing and hands-off maintenance, a modern subscription can dramatically reduce Year 1 cost and time investment compared with a custom agency build.
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum I should budget for a professional website?
How much should I allocate to marketing after launch?
Is it cheaper to pay upfront or monthly?
Can I reduce costs without hurting performance?
Ready to budget your website with confidence?
Use predictable pricing, measure performance, and prioritise what drives revenue. If you want a fast, low‑risk start, try Congero's managed subscription — professional site, hosting, SEO basics and unlimited updates for one flat monthly fee.
Want a budget reviewed? When you start a demo with Congero we explain what you can expect to spend on SEO and ads for your specific business — free and without obligation.
