typical website cost
A practical breakdown of what to expect — design, SEO, hosting and ongoing services, with real budgets for small businesses
Confused about quotes? This guide translates common web industry fees into simple line-items and clear yearly budgets so you can plan and avoid surprises.
Key cost factors that determine website price
Instead of a single price, think in line-items. Below are the most common cost drivers and realistic price ranges in 2025.
Design & UX
Custom design ranges from $500 for a simple refresh to $3,000+ for a unique, multi-page design and prototypes. Template customisation sits between $200–$800.
Development & CMS
A simple CMS (Squarespace, Wix) setup: $0–$800 (time or small fee). A custom WordPress build: $1,500–$8,000. Modern subscription services deliver professional sites for $30–$49/month with no upfront dev fee.
SEO & Launch Optimisation
Basic setup included in many subscriptions. Professional SEO setup: $300–$1,500 (initial). Ongoing SEO: $200–$2,000+/month depending on scope and competition.
Content & Photography
Expect $200–$1,200 for professional copy. Photography: $0 (stock) to $500–$1,500 for a local shoot. Quality content reduces bounce rates and improves conversions.
Hosting, Domain & SSL
Domain: $10–$30/yr. Basic hosting: $10–$50/mo. Managed hosting/enterprise: $50–$200+/mo. SSL is often included free with hosting. Congero includes domain, hosting and SSL in one price.
Maintenance & Updates
Hourly rates: $50–$150/hr for ad-hoc changes. Subscription models often include unlimited updates for a flat monthly fee ($30–$49/mo). Factor security patching and backups into your ongoing budget.
Ecommerce & Payments
Basic ecommerce setup: $500–$2,500. Ongoing payment fees + hosting may add $20–$200/mo. Large stores with custom integrations cost more.
Analytics & Conversion Tracking
Setup $0–$300. Ongoing reporting often included in subscription services; standalone analytics platforms or advanced funnels can add costs.
One-off vs ongoing costs — plan for both
Separate your budget into upfront (one-off) and monthly/yearly running costs. Here's a compact view.
| Cost type | Typical one-off | Typical monthly / yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Design & strategy | $0–$3,000 | $0 |
| Development / setup | $0–$8,000 | $0–$50 (hosting) |
| SEO setup | $0–$1,500 | $200–$2,000/mo |
| Content & photos | $0–$2,000 | $0–$500/mo (content retainer) |
| Maintenance & updates | $0 | $0–$200+/mo (or unlimited updates included) |
| Total Year 1 (typical ranges) | $500–$9,500+ | $120–$7,200 |
How subscriptions change the math
Subscription services (like Congero) reduce upfront costs by rolling design, hosting, domain and maintenance into a flat monthly fee (example: $30–$49/mo). This turns a large upfront bill into a predictable operating expense and often includes unlimited updates and basic SEO.
Realistic budget examples for small businesses
Brochure site (trades / local service)
- Pages: Home, Services, About, Contact
- Features: Contact form, map, gallery
- Timeline: 24–72 hours (subscription) or 1–3 weeks
Small service business
- Pages: Services, Pricing, Reviews, Contact
- Includes: Local SEO, Phone tracking
- Timeline: 48–96 hours (subscription) or 2–4 weeks
Ecommerce / Store
- Features: Product pages, payments, shipping, inventory
- Timeline: 2–8 weeks
- Complexity adds integrations and testing time
Quick rule of thumb
If you want minimal upfront cost and a professional result fast, expect to pay a flat monthly subscription ($30–$49/mo) which includes hosting, domain and updates. If you require unique features or full ownership without subscriptions, plan for higher upfront investment.
How to reduce website costs without sacrificing results
- Choose an all-inclusive subscription — bundling hosting, domain, SSL, updates and basic SEO keeps costs predictable.
- Use a strong brief — clear content and photos reduce design time and revisions.
- Start lean — launch with core pages and add features later when you have data.
- Leverage templates smartly — a tailored template can look custom with modest design work.
- Ask about unlimited updates — some subscriptions include unlimited edits so you avoid hourly charges.
When to invest more
Invest more where it drives revenue: booking flows, ecommerce checkout optimisation, high-quality photography for product pages, and local SEO for trades. These investments usually pay back in enquiries or sales.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What exactly is included in the quoted price? (Design, hosting, domain, SSL, updates, SEO?)
- Are there any hidden fees? (Plugins, premium integrations, stock photos)
- How are updates handled and charged? (Unlimited, hourly, ticket system)
- Who owns the domain and content? (You should always own your domain)
- What is the expected launch timeline? (24–48 hours for subscription services; weeks for custom builds)
- Do you provide analytics and reporting? (Monthly reports help measure ROI)
- Is there a trial or demo? (Try before you commit)
Simple budgeting checklist
- Decide upfront vs subscription: do you want a predictable monthly fee or full ownership?
- List required pages & features (contact form, booking, shop).
- Gather content and photos to reduce design hours.
- Allocate a marketing budget for SEO and ads (if needed).
- Plan for ongoing maintenance: backups, updates, security.
- Keep 10–20% contingency for integrations or unexpected fees.
- Brochure site (custom): $1,000–$5,000 upfront + $120–$600/yr hosting
- Small ecommerce: $2,000–$10,000 upfront + $300–$1,200/yr running costs
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum I should budget for a professional small business website?
Are monthly subscriptions cheaper long-term?
How much should I budget for SEO initially?
What hidden costs should I watch for?
Plan smart — avoid surprises
Budget around the line-items above, prioritise features that drive revenue, and choose transparent pricing. If you want predictable, all-inclusive pricing with fast launches and unlimited updates, Congero is built for small businesses.
Congero: Australia’s AI-powered web agency — domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO and monthly analytics included. No lock-in contracts.
