website price list
Realistic price ranges for web design, SEO, hosting and paid ads — what to budget and where your money goes
Confused by quotes that range from $0 to $10,000+? This practical guide breaks down typical pricing models and gives small businesses clear budgeting choices and negotiation tips.
DIY monthly & small costs
Typical managed website/month
Freelancer or small agency one-off
Full custom agency builds
Common pricing models explained
Website services are sold in a few consistent ways. Know the model and you’ll know what to expect from the quote.
- Low monthly fee or free tier
- Great when you have time to build
- Often limited features, extra charges for commerce, analytics or removing branding
- Pay upfront for design and development
- Good for unique, complex sites
- Maintenance, hosting and updates often extra
- Predictable monthly cost (commonly $30–$150/month)
- Includes hosting, SSL, and unlimited small updates at many providers
- Best for busy owners who want low-maintenance
How to recognise which model a quote uses:
- One-off price or fixed project fee → One-off build. Check what post-launch support costs.
- Monthly fee → Subscription/managed. Confirm if updates are unlimited or capped.
- Hourly rate listed → Likely freelance or ad-hoc support; estimate total hours.
Breakdown: what you’re paying for
A website isn’t one thing — it’s several components. Below are typical cost ranges (Australia & similar markets, 2025).
Design & UX
Design covers the look and conversion-focused layout.
- Template customisation: $0–$800
- Custom design (freelancer): $800–$3,000
- Agency custom design: $3,000–$15,000+
Development
Turning designs into a fast, responsive site.
- Basic site (5 pages): $300–$2,000
- Complex features (booking, e‑commerce): $1,500–$10,000+
- Hourly dev support: $60–$180/hr
Hosting & Domains
Ongoing costs to keep the site live and secure.
- Domain: $10–$40/yr
- Shared hosting: $5–$30/mo
- Managed hosting / CDN: $20–$200+/mo
- SSL: Often free (Let’s Encrypt) or $5–$50/yr for premium certs
Content & Media
Copywriting, photography and video — often overlooked.
- Stock images: $0–$50/image
- Professional photos: $300–$2,000 session
- Copywriting: $50–$300/page
Support, maintenance & updates
Ongoing care: backups, updates, small content changes.
- Hourly updates: $60–$200/hr
- Managed subscription: $30–$150+/mo (many include small edits)
- Security & backups: $10–$50/mo
SEO pricing: one-off vs ongoing
SEO work falls into two categories: technical/on-page setup (often one-off) and ongoing growth (continuous). Budgeting needs both.
Initial SEO setup (one-off)
What to expect:
- Technical audit & fixes: $300–$2,500
- On-page optimisation (titles, meta, headings): $150–$1,200
- Sitemap & schema setup: $100–$700
Ongoing SEO (monthly)
Ongoing activities to improve rankings:
- Local SEO (GBP/Maps): $150–$600/mo
- Content & link building: $500–$5,000+/mo depending on scope
- Monitoring & reporting: Often included in monthly fee
Budget rule of thumb: If you rely on Google for leads, allocate at least 10–20% of your marketing budget to SEO over time. Expect measurable results in 3–6 months for local SEO, 6–12+ months for broader competitive keywords.
Paid ads pricing: setup vs ad spend
Paid ads have two costs: the ad platform spend (Google, Meta, etc.) and the agency/manager fees to run them efficiently.
Typical fees
- Ad account setup (one-off): $200–$1,500
- Monthly management fee: $200–$2,000+ or 10–20% of ad spend
- Creative & landing page work: $300–$2,500 per campaign
Ad spend budgets
- Small local campaigns: $300–$1,500/month (platform spend)
- Scaling regional: $1,500–$10,000+/month
- Pay per lead/product: Cost varies widely; measure CPA (cost per acquisition)
Tip: Start small (2–4 weeks test) and measure CPA before scaling. Expect lower management fees as ad spend increases, but insist on transparent reporting and clear KPIs.
Sample price list — realistic ranges and what’s included
The table below shows common offerings and a short checklist of what you should confirm is included in each price.
| Service | Price range | Typical inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Template website (DIY) | $0–$40/mo | Hosting, template, limited customisation, add‑ons cost extra |
| Managed subscription site | $30–$150/mo | Hosting, SSL, domain (often first year), small updates, basic SEO, analytics |
| Freelancer one-off | $500–$5,000 | Design + dev for a small site; hosting & maintenance extra unless bundled |
| Small agency custom build | $3,000–$15,000 | Strategy, branding, custom design, integrations; may include limited support |
| Enterprise / product site | $15,000+ | Large teams, integrations, custom back-end, ongoing retainers |
| Initial SEO setup | $300–$2,500 | Audit, basic fixes, on‑page optimisation |
| Ongoing SEO | $150–$5,000+/mo | Local SEO, content, link building, reporting |
| Ads management | $200–$2,000+/mo or % of spend | Setup, creative, optimisation, reporting (ad spend extra) |
Checklist: ask your supplier to confirm (put these in writing)
- Are hosting, SSL and domain included? For how long?
- What counts as an included update? (e.g. 1–5 edits/month)
- Who owns the domain and content?
- Is SEO setup included or a separate fee?
- What are cancellation terms and notice periods?
Actionable tips to budget and choose wisely
Start with outcomes, not prices
Decide what the website must do: generate calls, collect leads, or sell online. Ask each vendor how their work achieves that outcome, then compare costs for the same goals.
Get a clear scope and written quote
Avoid vague proposals. Your quote should list pages, features, delivery timeline, and post-launch support terms. Anything missing should be budgeted separately.
Compare total cost of ownership
Compare 12-month costs (including your time). A low upfront cost can become expensive if updates and hosting are charged separately.
Check real support & update processes
Ask how to request edits — email, ticket, or text? How fast are changes made? Verify with references or recent clients.
Budget for testing and measurement
Plan a small monthly budget for analytics, A/B testing, and basic SEO monitoring — even $50–$150/mo gives useful insights.
Negotiate clear milestones
For one-off projects, tie payments to milestones (design approval, alpha, launch). Hold back a small amount until final QA passes.
Red flags to watch for
- No written scope or vague deliverables
- Requests for full payment upfront with no milestone plan
- Unclear ownership of domain and content
- Promises of #1 rankings without showing methodology
How to choose the right option for your business
Follow this simple decision flow to pick a pricing model that matches your time, budget and objectives.
I have time and a tiny budget
Use DIY platforms, buy a small template, and budget for occasional paid help for critical tasks.
I want predictable costs & no headaches
Choose a managed subscription that includes hosting, SSL and small edits. Confirm scope of 'unlimited updates'.
I need custom features or integrations
Budget for a one-off custom build with a maintenance retainer for updates and security.
A neutral suggestion (not a sales pitch)
If you’re time-poor and need reliable results, a professionally managed subscription often gives the best ROI: predictable monthly cost, hosted and secure site, and someone to handle updates quickly. If you need full ownership and unique functionality, a custom build makes sense — but factor in maintenance and hosting after launch.
If you want an example of a subscription-style provider that bundles hosting, domain options and unlimited small updates for one monthly price, look for services that clearly list what's included and offer month-to-month terms.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a small business budget for a website in Year 1?
Is subscription cheaper than hiring an agency?
How much should I budget for SEO and paid ads?
What if I can’t afford a big upfront cost?
Budget smarter — get the website that pays for itself
Use the price ranges and checklists above when you request quotes. Ask for itemised proposals and compare like-for-like. If predictable monthly pricing suits you, look for managed services that include hosting, updates and basic SEO.
Pro tip: Always get at least two written quotes and a payment schedule tied to milestones.
