web design price list
Understand what you're actually paying for — website build, SEO, ads and ongoing maintenance — so you can budget with confidence.
Clear, practical guidance for small businesses: line-by-line pricing, hidden costs to watch, budgeting templates, and negotiating tips to get better value in 2025.
How web design pricing is structured (simple model)
Web design pricing typically falls into three models: fixed upfront build, monthly subscription, or hourly/retainer. Each model serves different needs — one-off custom work, predictable all-in service, or ongoing specialised support.
Upfront (Project)
One payment for a custom site. Good if you need total ownership and highly custom features.
Subscription (Monthly)
Flat monthly fee includes hosting, updates and often SEO basics. Best for busy small businesses who want predictable costs.
Hourly / Retainer
Charge per hour or monthly retainer for ongoing development and marketing. Ideal for constant changes or growth projects.
Quick rule: for most trades and service businesses in 2025, a professional subscription (e.g. Congero at $49/month) delivers the fastest ROI — professional design, SEO foundations, hosting and unlimited updates — for far less than the time cost of DIY or the upfront cost of agencies.
Line-item web design price list (typical ranges, 2025)
Use this as a checklist when reviewing quotes. Prices vary by region and quality—these are market-average ranges.
| Item | Typical Price (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter one-page site | $0–$600 (subscription) / $300–1,200 (one-off) | Basic brochure site; fast to launch via subscription. |
| Small business multi-page (5–10 pages) | $600–$3,500 | Depends on custom content and features. |
| E‑commerce setup (small) | $1,200–$6,000 + monthly fees | Payment integration, product setup, shipping rules. |
| Custom features / integrations | $100–$250/hr or $1,000–$8,000+ | API connections, booking engines, CRM integrations. |
| Premium photography | $300–$1,500 | Professional photos beat stock for conversions. |
| Copywriting (per page) | $150–$800 | SEO-friendly copy improves search visibility. |
| SEO - initial setup | $300–$2,000 | Meta tags, schema, sitemap, Google search console setup. |
| Ongoing SEO (monthly) | $300–$2,000+/mo | Depends on competition, keywords and local vs national focus. |
| Google / Meta Ads setup | $200–$1,200 one-off | Campaign setup, tracking, initial creatives. |
| Monthly ad spend (recommended start) | $300–$2,000+/mo | Ad spend sets reach; agency fee is additional (10–20%). |
| Hosting & domain (premium) | $0–$50+/mo (domain often free 1st year) | Enterprise or managed hosting costs more but offers speed and uptime. |
| Maintenance / updates (if billed) | $50–$150/hr | Subscription models often include unlimited updates. |
How to read this list
Use the lower ranges as a reality-check for subscription or templated builds. Higher ranges reflect custom work and premium assets. When a quote sits significantly below market for a custom project, ask what’s missing.
Common packages: what to expect
DIY Platforms
Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com — low monthly fee, templated design.
- Cost: $10–$50/mo
- Time: 10–60 hours
- Usually no unlimited updates
Subscription / Managed
Flat monthly price that bundles design, hosting, maintenance and often SEO basics.
- Cost: $30–$200/mo
- Time: 24–72 hours launch
- Unlimited updates often included
Traditional Agency
Custom design and development. Best for complex builds and brand-driven projects.
- Cost: $3,000–$25,000+
- Time: 4–12+ weeks
- Updates usually charged hourly
If you want speed, predictable costs, and ongoing tweaks without surprise bills, subscription services are the best fit for most small businesses in 2025. If your project requires custom integrations or unique e‑commerce workflows, an agency or hourly developer may be necessary.
Practical budgeting: website, SEO and ads (simple templates)
Below are recommended starter budgets and a 12-month plan you can adapt.
Starter (local trade)
- $49/mo — Managed website subscription
- $300–$600 — Initial SEO setup (one-off)
- $300/mo — Ads spend (Google + Meta)
- Total month 1: $649–$949 (includes SEO setup)
- Ongoing months: $349/mo (site + ads)
Growth (business scaling)
- $99–$250/mo — Managed website + enhanced SEO
- $800–$1,500 — Monthly SEO retainer
- $1,000–$5,000/mo — Ads spend depending on market
- Focus: conversion rate optimisation and tracking before scaling ad spend.
12‑month budgeting checklist
- Month 1: Build site (subscription) + SEO setup + small ad test ($300)
- Months 2–3: Measure leads, improve landing pages, increase ads if CPA acceptable
- Months 4–6: Invest in professional photography and testimonials to improve conversion
- Months 6–12: Scale ads gradually; hire SEO retainer if organic traffic lags
Tip: Always measure cost-per-lead (CPL). If CPL from ads is lower than your customer lifetime value, scale ads.
How to compare web design quotes — a practical checklist
What must be in the quote
- Exact deliverables (pages, features, integrations)
- Timeline and launch date
- All-in pricing vs exclusions (hosting, domain, SSL)
- Post-launch support & update policy
- Ownership details (who owns code and content)
Questions to ask
- Are updates included? If so, how many and how fast?
- Do you handle SEO basics and schema?
- What tracking will be installed (Analytics, conversions)?
- Can I keep my domain if I cancel?
- Will the site be mobile-first and fast?
Scoring quotes
Create a simple scorecard (0–5) for: design quality, speed to launch, SEO included, support policy, total cost. Choose the provider with the best score — not necessarily the cheapest price.
Smart negotiation tips to reduce costs without sacrificing quality
- Bundle services: Ask for website + hosting + SEO + updates in one predictable monthly fee — vendors often give a discount for bundled work.
- Define scope tightly: The clearer your brief, the less likely a quote will swell. Include required pages, functionality, and integrations.
- Ask for staged payments: For custom builds, negotiate milestones (design approval, development, launch).
- Request trial or pilot: For ongoing services, ask for a 30‑90 day trial at reduced cost to evaluate results.
- Negotiate deliverables not hours: Get fixed deliverables so you won’t pay for developer inefficiencies.
Pro tip: Use competitive quotes to negotiate; if one provider offers unlimited updates, ask others to match — it's often a service differentiator that costs them little but saves you a lot.
Final checklist before you sign
- Deliverables, timeline and launch date confirmed in writing
- All inclusions/exclusions listed (hosting, domain, SSL, backups)
- Update policy (what's included, response times)
- Ownership clause — you own your domain and content
- Exit plan — how to export content if you leave
- Performance guarantees (uptime, speed targets) if applicable
Frequently asked questions
What's a fair price for a small business website?
Do I need to pay for SEO separately?
How much should I budget for ads?
Is subscription better than custom in 2025?
Ready to stop guessing and budget with confidence?
Get a clear, all-inclusive quote that covers design, hosting, SEO basics and unlimited updates — no surprise bills. Try Congero's managed website solution for a low monthly fee and fast launch.
Congero builds and manages websites for trades & service businesses — live in 60 seconds via simple text instructions, with domain, hosting and local SEO included for one predictable monthly fee.
