Most Australian small businesses pay roughly $2,000 to $8,000 for a professionally built website, plus ongoing hosting and maintenance. Independent cost guides such as What’s the Damage put a typical 5 to 10 page small business site at $2,000 to $6,000, while agency guides such as WP Creative show service-business sites at $3,000 to $8,000. Custom builds, online stores and anything with complex features cost more. All figures here exclude GST unless a source says otherwise, so check how any quote is stated.
This guide explains what moves a quote up or down, compares DIY, freelancer and agency options, lists the costs people forget, and shows how to get a quote you can actually compare. The ranges below are indicative market figures from third-party sources, mostly agencies selling these services. They are not a quote from NumLogic.
Website costs at a glance
| Type of site | Indicative cost (AUD) | Typical source of range |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace and similar) | About $500 to $1,500 a year, plus your time | WP Creative’s 2026 pricing guide |
| Small business brochure or service site (5 to 10 pages) | $2,000 to $6,000 | What’s the Damage, 2026 cost guide |
| Service business with several services and locations | $3,000 to $8,000 | WP Creative, 2026 pricing guide |
| Custom design with advanced features | $6,000 to $15,000+ | What’s the Damage; Bark |
| Online store | Usually from about $8,000; complex builds far higher | Bark, 2026 website design cost guide |
| Ongoing hosting, domain and upkeep after launch | About $75 to $400 a month | What’s the Damage, 2026 cost guide |
Sources: What’s the Damage, WP Creative and Bark, as published in 2026. Sources disagree at the edges, which is normal: scope varies far more than the headline price suggests.
What drives the cost of a website
Two quotes for “a five-page website” can differ by thousands of dollars because the word “website” hides a lot of variables. These are the ones that matter most.
Number and type of pages
A five-page brochure site is a very different job from a 40-page site with service pages, location pages and a blog. Every page needs design, copy, images and checking on mobile. If you want custom page layouts rather than a template, expect the price to rise.
Design: template or custom
A well-chosen template, customised to your brand, is the sensible choice for most small businesses and keeps the price down. Fully custom design is worth paying for when your brand or product demands it, but it is rarely the best use of a first-year budget.
Features and integrations
Booking systems, quote calculators, membership areas, payment gateways, CRM connections and multilingual content each add build and testing time. If you only need a contact form and a map, say so, because it is the cheapest option and often converts well.
Content: who writes it?
Copywriting and photography are the most underestimated line items. Some quotes assume you supply every word and image. Others include professional writing. Ask which one you are being offered, because the gap can be significant.
SEO and speed foundations
A site that looks good but loads slowly or is built without sensible headings and page titles will be harder to find on Google. Basic on-page SEO and speed work should be part of the build, not an expensive extra. If you want a deeper programme afterwards, see our SEO services and our guide to what SEO costs in Australia.
DIY, freelancer or agency: which should you choose?
| Option | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder | Lowest upfront cost; you control everything | Your time is the real cost; limited SEO and design flexibility; you can be locked into one platform |
| Freelancer | Often good value; direct contact with the person doing the work | One person means limited capacity; check who handles hosting, backups and fixes after launch |
| Agency or studio | Defined process, wider skills (design, development, SEO), accountability | Higher price; some agencies resell the same templates at agency rates |
None of these is automatically best. A sole trader with a simple service can do very well with a template site. A business that relies on its website for leads should treat it as a sales tool and budget accordingly.
At NumLogic you deal with one point of contact, while the hands-on build is done by our vetted team in Pakistan. That delivery model is one reason we can quote at the lower-middle of the Australian market without cutting scope. Our WordPress website design packages are listed at From A$1,490 (starter) and From A$2,490 (business), and the full list is on our pricing page. Confirm GST treatment in your written proposal.
Hidden and ongoing costs people forget
- Domain name: renewed every year. Make sure it is registered in your name, not the developer’s.
- Hosting: from budget shared hosting to managed hosting. Cheap hosting can mean slow pages.
- Security and updates: WordPress core, themes and plugins need regular updates and backups. See website maintenance costs in Australia.
- Premium plugins and licences: some tools renew annually.
- Content changes: find out whether edits are included, or billed hourly.
- Email, forms and spam protection: small, but they add up.
- GST: if the supplier is registered for GST, add 10% to any ex-GST figure. Many businesses can claim it back as an input tax credit, but confirm with your accountant.
What’s the Damage estimates ongoing costs of roughly $75 to $400 a month after launch, depending on hosting and support. That is a useful planning range, not a guarantee.
Redesigning an existing site
A redesign is not always cheaper than a new build. If your current site already ranks for useful searches, a careless redesign can lose that visibility. A good redesign plans redirects, keeps what works and fixes what does not. Our website redesign and migration service is built around that, and if you are moving platforms, the same care applies to a Shopify migration.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What exactly is included: pages, copywriting, images, SEO setup, speed work, training?
- Do I own the domain, hosting account and all files if I leave?
- Is the price fixed, and what triggers extra charges?
- Is GST included in the figure you have given me?
- Who handles updates, backups and security after launch, and what does that cost per month?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- What is the timeline, and what do you need from me to stay on schedule?
- Can I see live sites you have built, and speak to someone who owns one?
- Where is the work done, and who is my day-to-day contact?
How to get an accurate quote
Write a one-page brief before you contact anyone: what the business does, who the site is for, the pages you think you need, any features such as booking or payments, example sites you like, and your budget range. Sharing a budget is not a trap. It lets a good provider tell you what is realistic rather than guessing. Send the same brief to three providers and compare scope line by line, not just totals. If you want a fixed-price proposal with scope in writing, see how we work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic website cost in Australia?
For a professionally built small business site of around 5 to 10 pages, the 2026 guides we reviewed point to roughly $2,000 to $6,000, with some agencies quoting up to $8,000. DIY builders cost far less in cash but more in time.
How much does a website cost per month?
If you pay upfront, expect ongoing costs of about $75 to $400 a month for hosting, maintenance and support, according to What’s the Damage. Some agencies bundle the build into a monthly subscription, which can look cheaper but often costs more over three years and may leave you without ownership of the site.
Why are some website quotes so much cheaper than others?
Scope. Cheaper quotes often exclude copywriting, SEO setup, speed work, revisions or support. Ask for a written list of inclusions before comparing.
Is a website tax deductible in Australia?
Business website costs are often deductible or depreciable, but the treatment depends on your situation, so ask your accountant. We do not give tax advice.
Should I pay extra for custom design?
Only if your brand, product or conversion goals need it. A well-customised template is often the better value for a first site.
How long does a small business website take to build?
It depends on scope and how quickly you supply content. We confirm the timeline in your fixed-price proposal rather than promising a number up front.
Want a clear, fixed-price scope for your website? Tell us what you need and we will tell you honestly what it takes and what it costs.