web design price
How much should a professional website cost in 2025? Understand real price ranges, what drives cost, and smart ways to get a high-performing site without breaking the bank.
Quick snapshot — Typical web design price ranges (Australia, 2025)
Use these ballpark figures to set expectations before you request quotes.
DIY Builders
Monthly: $0–$50 • One-off premium templates: $50–$350
Fast and cheap, but requires time and skills to get SEO and conversions right.
Freelancers
Typical project: $800–$6,000
Cost varies by experience, custom design, and integrations.
Agencies & Custom Builds
Typical project: $4,000–$50,000+
High quality and tailored, but expensive and often includes ongoing retainers.
What actually drives web design price?
Understanding the cost drivers helps you negotiate better quotes and get exactly what your business needs.
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Scope & Pages
Small brochure sites (5–7 pages) cost far less than content-heavy sites or full e-commerce catalogues. Each additional page or unique template adds hours of design and copy work.
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Custom Design vs Templates
Custom designs cost more because of unique layouts, design systems and asset creation. Pre-built templates reduce upfront cost but may limit differentiation.
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Functionality & Integrations
Booking systems, payment gateways, CRMs, customer logins or marketplaces increase complexity and testing time — and therefore price.
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Content Creation
High-quality photography, video, SEO copywriting and service descriptions require specialists and can be a significant portion of the budget.
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SEO & Local Optimisation
On-page SEO, schema, local citations and Google Business integration take expertise. Ongoing SEO retainer fees should be planned separately.
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Maintenance & Support
Hosting, security updates, backups and quick content changes incur monthly fees — either bundled or billed separately.
Rule of Thumb
Ask providers to break down estimates into design, development, content, integrations and ongoing costs. Avoid lump-sum quotes that hide recurring expenses.
One-off project vs subscription — which is better?
Both models have pros and cons. Choose based on budget, need for updates, and desired speed to market.
One-off (Custom Build)
- Large upfront cost
- Flexible customisation
- Ongoing maintenance separate
DIY & Template
- Low initial cost
- Ongoing subscription for premium features
- Time investment required
Managed Subscription (e.g., Congero)
- Flat monthly fee (Congero: $49/month)
- Includes domain, hosting, SSL & unlimited text-in updates
- Fast launch and ongoing optimisation
Live site in under 60 seconds — try a free demo with no credit card required.
Sample cost breakdowns — what you might actually pay
Real examples to help you budget for 2025.
Starter Trades Site
- 5 pages (Home, About, Services, Gallery, Contact)
- Basic contact form & map
- Local SEO setup
Service Business with Bookings
- 10 pages, booking integration, staff profiles
- Automated emails & calendar sync
Small eCommerce (up to 200 SKUs)
- Product pages, checkout, payment gateway
- Inventory, shipping rules, analytics
How to evaluate web design quotes — 7 practical checks
- Itemised scope: Make sure design, development, content, SEO and integrations are listed separately.
- Delivery timeline: When will a staging preview be available? How long to go live after approval?
- Revisions policy: How many rounds of edits are included and at what cost for extra changes?
- Support & maintenance: Is hosting, backups and security included? What’s the SLA for fixes?
- Ownership & export: Can you export content and assets if you leave? Who owns the code and images?
- SEO readiness: Are meta tags, schema and local SEO configured as part of launch?
- Future costs: Ask about extra charges for adding pages, features or redesigns later.
Fast alternative for price-sensitive businesses
If you want a professional, SEO-ready site with predictable costs, Congero’s $49/month approach includes all essentials and unlimited updates — ideal for trades and small service businesses.
TRY CONGERO FREEIs it worth it? Understanding website ROI
A well-built website should pay for itself through better leads, higher conversion rates, and stronger local visibility.
Lead Generation
Clear services, visible contact options, online booking and fast load times increase enquiries. Often the biggest measurable ROI.
Conversion & Trust
Professional design, client testimonials and case galleries reduce friction and increase close rates.
Local Search Visibility
Proper local SEO and schema put your business in front of customers searching "near me" — high intent traffic with strong conversion potential.
Checklist — what to prepare before asking for a web design price
Having these ready will speed up quoting and reduce unexpected costs.
- Business name, address and contact details (NAP)
- 3–5 core services with short descriptions
- Prefered domain name or note to register one
- Brand logo, colours and example photos
- Any required integrations (booking, payments, CRM)
Frequently asked questions about web design price
A simple small business site can range from $1,200 for a one-off build to $49/month for managed subscription models like Congero that include hosting, domain and unlimited updates. The best choice depends on whether you prioritise low upfront cost or long-term convenience and support.
High-end agency quotes reflect intensive discovery, custom UX/UI, bespoke development, third-party system integrations, enterprise-grade security, and long project timelines with dedicated teams. These are appropriate for large organisations with complex requirements.
Often yes for small businesses. A predictable monthly fee removes large upfront costs, and when it includes unlimited updates and SEO, the subscription can deliver better value and faster marketing results over 12–24 months.
Get a written, itemised quote and ask specifically about hosting, SSL, domain renewal, plugin licences, and support response times. Prefer providers who include core services in a single monthly payment to avoid surprise bills.
Yes. Ask your provider about content export (static HTML, CSV of content, images). Congero allows exports so you keep control of your site and content if you decide to move.
Want a predictable web design price and a site that actually gets leads?
Try Congero's free demo and see a working website preview in under 60 seconds — no credit card required. $49/month includes domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO and unlimited updates.
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