How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Australia?
If you’re planning a new website for your business, one of the first questions is usually: how much is this actually going to cost?
The answer can vary quite a bit.
A simple DIY website might cost very little upfront, while a professionally designed website can range from a few thousand dollars to much more depending on the size of the site, the features you need and how much support is included.
For most small businesses, it helps to understand what you’re actually paying for rather than comparing prices alone.
Typical website costs for small businesses
There’s no single standard price for a business website, but these are some common ranges you might come across in Australia.
DIY website builders
If you’re happy to build the website yourself using a platform like Squarespace, Wix or Shopify, your main costs will usually be your website subscription, domain name and any extra apps or tools you choose to use.
This can be the cheapest option, but it does require your own time to plan the site, write the content, choose the layout, optimise it for mobile and make sure everything works properly.
DIY can be a perfectly reasonable option for a brand-new business with a very small budget, especially if you enjoy working on your own website.
Professionally designed small business websites
A professionally designed website for a service-based small business will often start from around $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the designer and what’s included.
This type of website might include pages such as:
Home
About
Services
Contact
FAQs
Portfolio or Gallery
The price will usually increase if you need additional pages, custom features, copywriting, advanced integrations or more complex design work.
E-commerce websites
Online stores generally cost more because there’s more setup involved.
Products need to be added and organised, payments connected, shipping or pickup options configured and the checkout process tested.
For a small e-commerce website, professional design commonly starts from around $3,000, with larger stores costing more depending on the number of products and the complexity of the setup.
What affects the cost of a website?
Two businesses can both need a five-page website and still receive very different quotes.
That’s because the number of pages is only one part of the project.
The size of the website
A straightforward website with five or six pages will naturally take less time to build than a site with 20 pages, multiple service areas and lots of custom content.
E-commerce
Adding an online store introduces additional work such as product setup, payments, shipping, pickup options and store settings.
Your content
If you already have polished copy and professional photography ready to go, your website project may be simpler.
If you need help organising your content, sourcing images or rewriting sections, that may increase the scope of the project.
Extra functionality
Things like online bookings, memberships, forms, email marketing, custom integrations or advanced e-commerce features can all affect the final cost.
The level of customisation
A simple template setup is very different from a website where the layout, styling and user experience are carefully tailored to the individual business.
Support after launch
Some website packages end as soon as the site goes live.
Others include training, handover guides, post-launch support or ongoing website care.
It’s worth checking exactly what’s included when comparing quotes.
What should a professional website package include?
Every designer works differently, but a professional small business website package will often include:
Custom page design
Mobile optimisation
Basic SEO setup
Contact forms
Domain connection
Website navigation
Social media links
Analytics setup
Testing before launch
Handover or training
Post-launch support
Some designers may also include copywriting, stock imagery, branding or photography, while others offer these separately.
When comparing prices, it’s worth looking at the whole package rather than just the final number.
When is it worth hiring a professional web designer?
A DIY website can work well when you’re just getting started, but there often comes a point where doing everything yourself becomes frustrating or time-consuming.
It may be worth hiring a professional if:
your current website no longer reflects the quality of your business
you’re spending too much time trying to fix the site yourself
the website feels difficult to navigate
it doesn’t work well on mobile
you don’t feel confident sending people to it
your business has grown and the website hasn’t kept up
you need the site to generate enquiries or sales
A professional website isn’t just about making things look nicer.
It should help people quickly understand what you do, who you help and what they should do next.
How much does New Leaf Web Studio charge?
At New Leaf Web Studio, small business website design currently starts from $2,250.
E-commerce website design starts from $3,250.
Each website is built in Squarespace and designed around the individual business rather than simply filling in a generic template.
Projects can include design, mobile optimisation, basic SEO setup, forms, domain connection and handover support, depending on the package.
New Leaf Web Studio is based in Launceston, Tasmania and works with small businesses across Australia.
The cheapest website isn’t always the cheapest option
It can be tempting to choose the lowest quote available, especially when you’re running a small business and watching every expense.
But if the website needs to be rebuilt six months later, doesn’t work properly on mobile or makes it difficult for customers to understand what you offer, that cheaper option can end up costing more in the long run.
The right website should feel like a useful part of your business, not another thing you have to constantly fight with.
Need help with your website?
If you’re considering a new website or wondering whether your existing site needs a refresh, explore New Leaf Web Studio’s website design services for small businesses in Launceston, Tasmania and across Australia.
