Every web designer you speak to will tell you "it depends". That is true, but unhelpful. Here is a more useful breakdown of what websites actually cost in Australia in 2026 - and what you get at each level.
DIY website builders ($0 to $500/year)
Squarespace, Wix, and similar tools will get you a site for $20-50 per month. They look decent out of the box and are fine for businesses that do not rely on their website for leads.
The catch: you are building on someone else's platform, the templates are used by thousands of other businesses, and getting ranked on Google requires significant extra effort. For a tradie or medical practice that needs their website to actually bring in customers, these tools rarely deliver enough.
Small agency and freelancer builds ($750 to $5,000)
This is where most small businesses should be. A good small agency or experienced freelancer can build a custom, SEO-ready website for $750 to $3,000 for a standard brochure site, or $2,000 to $5,000 for a site with a blog, booking system, or more complex service structure.
At the lower end of this range you should get: mobile-first design, fast load times, basic on-page SEO, and a site you actually own. Web Engine's packages start from $750 and include design, build, and launch.
E-commerce and custom builds ($5,000 to $50,000+)
E-commerce sites on Shopify or WooCommerce start around $3,500 to $5,000 for a basic store. Add custom functionality - bookings, memberships, directories, API integrations - and costs climb quickly.
Large agency builds with extensive strategy, multiple rounds of design, and a full content migration will sit in the $15,000 to $50,000+ range. These are usually for businesses where the website is a core revenue channel, not a digital brochure.
The hidden costs to budget for
Beyond the build cost:
- Domain name: $15-30/year - Hosting: $10-50/month depending on your site size and traffic - SSL certificate: usually included in modern hosting, but check - Ongoing updates and maintenance: $50-200/month if outsourced - SEO: separate engagement, typically $300-1,000/month for ongoing work
A website without ongoing SEO is like a shopfront in a laneway. It exists, but nobody walks past.
How to decide what to spend
Start with your customer value. If a new customer is worth $500 to your business on average, a $5,000 website needs to generate 10 customers to break even. That is usually achievable in the first six months if the site is built and optimised correctly.
If a new customer is worth $5,000 - a common figure for tradies on larger jobs - the maths is much easier. Invest in a site that works, and the return is clear. Talk to us if you want to run the numbers for your specific situation.