WHY THIS MATTERS
A website for a plumber is not the same as a website for a cafe. A website for a motel is not the same as a website for an accountant.
Every industry has different needs. Different questions customers ask. Different things that make people book or buy.
This guide breaks down what actually matters for different industries. No generic advice. Just what works for your type of business.
TRADIES
Plumbers, electricians, builders, carpenters, landscapers. You get most work through word of mouth. But people still Google you before they call.
Here's why tradies need a website in 2026 and what it should include.
What you need: Clear services list. Service areas. Phone number impossible to miss. Photos of your work. Google Business Profile setup. Mobile-friendly (because people call you from their phone while standing in front of a leaking pipe).
What you don't need: 20-page site. Fancy animations. Blog. Newsletter. Just make it easy for people to see what you do, where you work, and how to call you.
Expected cost: $2,500-4,000 for a solid 3-5 page site.
RESTAURANTS & CAFES
People want to know three things: What do you serve? When are you open? Where are you?
What you need: Menu (that's actually updated). Opening hours. Location and parking info. Photos of food and venue. Online booking if you take reservations. Google Business Profile with lots of photos.
What you don't need: Auto-playing music. Flash intros. PDF menus that don't work on mobile.
Your menu needs to be on your website, not just a PDF link. People on phones won't download a PDF to see if you have gluten-free options.
Expected cost: $3,000-5,000 for a proper restaurant site with menu and booking system.
MOTELS & ACCOMMODATION
You're competing with booking.com and Airbnb. Your website needs to work hard.
What you need: Great photos. Room types and rates. Availability calendar. Direct booking system (so you're not paying commission to booking sites). Local area information. Clear check-in/check-out info. Mobile-friendly because people book on their phones while driving.
What you don't need: Music. Video backgrounds that slow the site down. Complicated navigation.
If someone can't figure out how to book in 30 seconds, they'll go to booking.com instead. Make it easy.
Expected cost: $4,000-7,000 for a motel site with booking system.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Accountants, lawyers, consultants, financial advisors. People are hiring you for expertise. Your website needs to show that.
What you need: Clear explanation of services. Who you help. How you help. Team bios (people want to know who they're working with). Contact form and phone number. Blog or resources section (shows expertise). Professional design (not fancy, just clean and trustworthy).
What you don't need: Stock photos of people in suits shaking hands. Jargon that nobody understands. Complicated navigation.
People hiring professional services are looking for expertise and trust. Show both.
Expected cost: $3,500-6,000 for a professional services site with 8-12 pages.
RETAIL SHOPS
If you sell products, you need an online presence. That might be a full e-commerce site or just a catalogue site with phone orders.
What you need: Product photos and descriptions. Pricing. Stock availability if possible. Opening hours. Location. Phone number. Payment options. Delivery or pickup info.
What you might need: Full online store with shopping cart and payment processing. This depends on how much you sell online versus in-store.
What you don't need: Fancy product configurators unless you actually need them. Complicated checkout processes that lose customers.
Expected cost: $3,000-5,000 for a catalogue site. $5,000-10,000 for a full e-commerce site depending on product count.
SEAFOOD & FISHING
Seafood shops, fishing charters, seafood wholesalers. Fresh product, changing availability, seasonal business.
What you need: Current availability (updated regularly). Pricing. Photos of product and boats/shop. Contact details. Location. Opening hours. How to order.
What you might need: Online ordering if you do delivery. Charter booking system if you run fishing trips.
What you don't need: Complicated content management systems you'll never update.
The key is keeping your availability current. If your website says you have flathead and you don't, people will call and be annoyed.
Expected cost: $2,500-4,500 depending on whether you need online ordering or booking.
MARKET VENDORS
You sell at farmers markets, craft markets, or festivals. You're there some days and not others.
What you need: What you sell. Photos. Which markets you're at and when. Contact details. Social media links. Online store if you sell between markets.
What you don't need: Complicated site. Just a simple one-pager or small site that tells people where to find you and what you sell.
Your website is basically a digital business card. Keep it simple.
Expected cost: $1,500-3,000 for a simple market vendor site.
COMMON NEEDS
Every industry is different. But some things apply to everyone.
Mobile-friendly is not optional. Most local searches happen on phones.
Fast loading is not optional. Slow sites lose customers.
Clear contact information is not optional. If people can't figure out how to contact you in 5 seconds, they'll go to your competitor.
Google Business Profile setup is not optional. That's how people find you.
Regular updates are not optional. Outdated information is worse than no website.
Everything else depends on your industry and your customers.
NEXT STEPS
Found your industry? Good. Now you know what you actually need instead of what some agency is trying to sell you.
If you want to chat about your specific situation, I can tell you exactly what you need and give you a fixed price quote. No surprises, no upselling.
I work with businesses across regional Victoria and southern NSW. If I think you're better off with a DIY builder or someone else, I'll tell you.