Websites · Guide
How much does a small business website cost in Australia?
Website prices in Australia range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. Here’s what drives the cost, what you can expect to pay with each option in 2026, and the ongoing costs that often get forgotten.
3 min read · SiteBuddy guide
The short answer
For most small businesses, a professional website costs somewhere between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars upfront, plus ongoing costs for a domain name and hosting. Where you land depends on who builds it, how many pages you need, who writes the content, and whether you need extras such as online bookings or a shop.
Typical upfront cost
Good for
Do it yourself (website builder)
Monthly subscription, often a few hundred dollars a year
Very simple sites, if you have the time
Low-cost package service
From a few hundred dollars
Getting online quickly on a tight budget
Freelancer
Roughly $2,000 to $8,000
A custom site with one point of contact
Agency
Roughly $5,000 to $25,000+
Larger sites, complex features and ongoing marketing
A guide, not a quote. These are typical ranges from Australian pricing guides published in 2026. Prices vary widely with scope, so always compare what is actually included.
What affects the price
- Number of pages. A 3-page site is a very different job from a 20-page site.
- Design. Adapting a proven layout costs less than designing everything from scratch.
- Content. Writing the words, sourcing photos and moving content from an old site all take time.
- Features. Contact forms are standard; bookings, online payments, stores and integrations add cost.
- SEO setup. Basic page titles, headings and a sitemap should be included; local SEO work is often extra.
- Who builds it. Agencies have more people and overheads; freelancers and package services are usually leaner.
Ongoing costs to budget for
Typical cost
Notes
Domain name
About $15 to $30 a year
Registered in your name, renewed yearly
Hosting
About $5 to $15 a month
Enough for most small WordPress sites
Maintenance
Your time, or a monthly plan
Updates, backups and security checks keep the site safe
Email accounts
Usually per user, per month
Often a separate service from your website
Premium plugins or tools
Varies
Some features carry a yearly licence
A .com.au domain needs an Australian business connection, such as an ABN. auDA, which manages .au domains, is tightening its eligibility rules, so check the current requirements with your domain registrar. For what to look for in a host, see how to choose WordPress hosting.
How to avoid paying twice
- Register the domain name in your name, not your developer's
- Make sure you own the website and its content once it is paid for
- Ask exactly what is included: pages, rounds of changes, SEO setup and launch
- Ask about hosting and domain costs before you commit
- Choose a platform you can take elsewhere later, such as WordPress
- Avoid lock-in contracts where you rent a website you will never own
- Check their example sites on your phone and look at how fast they load
Red flags
- No written scope or a vague quote
- No SEO basics included
- No support after launch
- Slow or unclear communication
- No examples of previous work
- A very low price that only works with a long subscription
What you get at different budgets
Under $1,000: a simple site built on an existing layout, usually with a few pages and limited changes. A smart way to start, as long as you own it.
$1,000 to $5,000: a site designed around your business, with more pages, written content and better SEO foundations.
$5,000 and up: custom features, larger sites, online stores and more involved marketing work.
Where SiteBuddy fits
For transparency: SiteBuddy’s Starter Website is a 3-page WordPress website for $199, or $249 with a starter logo, and websites designed around your business start at $990. Hosting and your domain are separate and stay in your name. You can see exactly what each package includes on our website design page.
Related service · Website Design
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