WHY THIS GUIDE
You're thinking about getting a website. Maybe you've been putting it off. Maybe you've been quoted $15,000 and you're wondering if that's normal. Maybe you're halfway through a DIY builder and realising it's harder than you thought.
This guide covers everything. What it costs, whether you need one, DIY versus hiring someone, how to pick a developer, and what happens after launch.
No fluff. Just the practical stuff you need to know to make a good decision for your business.
DO YOU NEED ONE?
Short answer: probably.
In 2026, a website is how people check if you're legitimate. Before they call, before they visit, they Google you. If there's nothing there, or just a Facebook page that hasn't been updated in two years, they move on.
It doesn't matter if you're a tradie, a cafe, or a professional service. If you rely on new customers finding you, you need somewhere to send them that you control.
Even tradies who get most work through word of mouth benefit from a simple website. It answers the basic questions so you don't have to. It shows you're a real business. It gives people confidence to call you instead of the next person on the list.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
This is the big question everyone wants answered first.
A proper small business website in Australia costs somewhere between $2,500 and $8,000. That's for something custom-built, properly set up, mobile-friendly, and ready to actually work for you.
DIY website builders cost anywhere from $0 to $40/month. Sounds cheap, but you're paying with your time instead of money.
I've written detailed breakdowns for different regions. If you're in Gippsland, read what a website costs in Gippsland. For a broader Australian view, check small business website costs across Australia.
The price depends on what you need. A simple 3-page site for a tradie is different from a 20-page site for a cafe with online ordering. But any developer charging you $15,000 for a basic small business site is taking the piss.
DIY VS PROFESSIONAL
DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify are good at one thing: getting something online fast.
They're not good at everything else. Performance, mobile experience, SEO, flexibility, ownership.
I'm not saying don't use them. I'm saying know what you're getting into. Here's an honest comparison of DIY builders versus hiring a developer.
DIY makes sense if you're testing an idea, you genuinely enjoy that sort of work, or you're too early to justify the investment. It doesn't make sense if your time is worth $100/hour and you're spending 40 hours wrestling with a drag-and-drop builder.
Professional development makes sense when you want it done properly, you don't want to maintain it yourself, and you want something that'll actually bring in customers instead of just existing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
When you hire a professional, what are you actually paying for?
A lot more than just the website itself. Here's what's included in a professional website build.
You're paying for strategy, design, development, content help, mobile optimisation, speed optimisation, SEO setup, security, hosting setup, training, and support.
The actual code is maybe 30% of the work. The rest is making sure it works properly, looks good, loads fast, and helps your business.
If someone quotes you $1,500 for a "full website," they're skipping most of this. You'll get a website. It won't be a good one.
CHOOSING A DEVELOPER
Not all developers are the same. Some are great. Some are terrible. Most are somewhere in between.
If you're in regional Victoria, I wrote a whole guide on how to choose a web developer. It covers what to look for, what questions to ask, and what red flags to avoid.
Quick version: Look at their previous work. Make sure they answer questions in plain English, not jargon. Check they do ongoing support, not just build and disappear. And make sure you'll actually own your website when it's done.
Local developers understand your market. They know your customers. They've worked with businesses like yours. That's worth something.
Big city agencies will charge you double and treat you like a number. Overseas developers will be cheap and you'll get what you pay for. Local is usually the sweet spot.
AFTER LAUNCH
Getting a website built is just the start. Here's what happens after launch.
You need hosting, security updates, backups, content updates, performance monitoring, and someone to call when something breaks.
Some developers include this. Some charge extra. Some disappear completely and leave you stranded.
Make sure you know what the ongoing costs are before you start. A $3,000 website with $50/month ongoing support is better than a $2,000 website where you're on your own if something goes wrong.
You also need to think about website speed and mobile performance. These aren't nice-to-haves. They're basics. If your site is slow or doesn't work properly on phones, you're losing customers.
NEXT STEPS
You've read the guide. You know what it costs, what's involved, and what to look for.
If you want to chat about your specific situation, I can give you an honest answer about what you need. No sales pitch. If I think you're better off with a DIY builder, I'll tell you.
If I think you need a full custom build, I'll explain why and give you a fixed price with no surprises.