website design and pricing
Exact costs explained: agency vs freelancer vs DIY vs AI-built websites. Learn typical budgets, hidden fees, and how to get a professional, SEO-ready site for a predictable price.
Why pricing varies so much — and how to choose the right path
Website costs depend on who builds it, how customised it is, and whether ongoing maintenance, hosting and SEO are included. This guide breaks down realistic price ranges in 2025 and shows how trades and service businesses can get a professional site without surprises.
Time to Launch
From under 60 seconds (AI demo) to 6–12+ weeks (custom agency builds).
Typical Costs
One-off builds: $0–$20,000+. Monthly managed services: $0–$200+/month. We explain what each price includes.
Best For
Trades and local services usually need fast, local-SEO optimised sites — not expensive custom portals. Predictable pricing wins.
Agency vs Freelancer vs DIY vs Congero
A realistic cost and value comparison so you can decide with confidence.
DIY Builders
Low costWix, Squarespace, Webflow — quick and cheap, but often require you to manage SEO, mobile tweaks and plugins.
- $0–$50/month (plus templates & plugins)
- DIY content & images required
- Limited local SEO by default
Freelancer
FlexibleAffordable custom work from a single developer/designer — but timelines and availability vary.
- $800–$6,000 one-off
- Maintenance + hosting extra
- Quality varies by portfolio
Agency
PremiumFull-service design, branding, development and strategy — top results but high cost and long timelines.
- $5,000–$50,000+ one-off
- Monthly retainers common
- Best for complex platforms
Congero
PredictableAI-driven, managed website service tailored for trades & local services — live fast, updates via text, all-inclusive pricing.
- Live in 60 seconds (demo)
- Unlimited text-in updates
- Monthly analytics & SEO
No credit card required • Cancel anytime
What a price should include — and the hidden costs to watch for
Compare line-by-line so you know what you're actually paying for.
Common Inclusions
- Responsive design (mobile-first)
- Hosting & SSL
- Basic on-page SEO (meta tags, heading structure)
- Contact forms & map embeds
- Monthly analytics report
Hidden & Ongoing Costs
- Custom integrations (booking systems, APIs)
- Premium stock photos or custom photography
- Advanced SEO or paid campaigns
- Security, backups, and recurring maintenance with some providers
- Transaction/merchant fees for e-commerce
How Congero simplifies costs
Congero bundles domain (or transfer), secure hosting, SSL, local SEO and unlimited content updates into a single $49/month plan — eliminating surprise bills and making ROI easy to measure.
Real examples: costs, leads and payback periods
Examples based on Australian trades & service businesses in 2025.
Local Plumber
Typical agency cost: $8,000. Congero cost: $49/month. New leads/month (conservative): 8.
- Lead value (avg): $250
- Monthly revenue from leads: $2,000
- Payback on $49 plan: immediate
Electrician (Suburb)
Freelancer cost: $2,500–$4,000. Congero cost: $49/month + zero surprises.
- Leads/month: 6
- Avg job value: $350
- ROI: 5–10x in new revenue vs DIY
Beauty Therapist
Agency cost for booking integration: $12k+. Congero: $49/month + integrations available on request.
- High-value repeat customers
- Monthly analytics to improve offers
- Better long-term ROI with predictable spend
How to pick the right website option in 5 minutes
- Define your goal: Get more local leads, accept bookings, or sell products? Your goal determines complexity.
- Estimate annual budget: Include one-off design fees, hosting, maintenance and marketing — not just the upfront price.
- Check inclusions: Ensure hosting, SSL, backups, analytics and local SEO are included or quoted separately.
- Speed to market: If you need leads now, a fast managed service beats a long agency build.
- Future flexibility: Will you need booking systems, e-commerce, or integrations? Confirm upgrade paths and costs.
Quick Recommendation
For trades and service businesses that care about leads, speed and predictable pricing, an all-inclusive managed plan like Congero's $49/month often delivers the best ROI versus expensive one-off builds.
Frequently asked questions about website pricing
Answers based on typical small business needs in 2025.
Yes — Congero's standard plan covers domain registration (or transfer), hosting, SSL, unlimited content updates via text, local SEO setup, and monthly analytics. Custom integrations or advanced e-commerce may incur extra costs, but we quote them upfront.
Agencies typically quote $5,000–$50,000+ depending on design, custom functionality, and strategy. Agencies can deliver bespoke branding and complex systems — but at much higher cost and slower timelines.
Basic local SEO and monthly analytics are included in managed plans like Congero. Advanced SEO campaigns, paid search management, or content marketing are usually separate services offered a la carte.
Yes. Most providers, including Congero, allow you to export your content and static site files. Always confirm export policies and domain transfer terms before signing up.
Request Congero’s free demo: provide a few business details via WhatsApp and get a live website preview and pricing in under 60 seconds. Click "SEE YOUR PRICE" above or jump to the demo anchor.
Visualising where your budget goes makes it easier to get the best value. Focus on conversions and local SEO — those drive revenue fastest for small services and trades.
Ready to stop guessing and get a predictable price?
See a live website preview for your business in less than 60 seconds and get a clear, no-surprises price.
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