Why “how much does a website cost” has no single answer
Asking the cost of a website is like asking the cost of a house — it depends entirely on size, features and finish. A one-page site for a sole trader and a multi-hundred-product online store are both “websites”, but they are worlds apart in work. So instead of a single number, it helps to understand the ranges and what drives them.
Typical price ranges in Australia
Broadly, Australian small-business websites fall into a few bands:
Simple professional sites — a handful of pages presenting your services, with contact forms and mobile-friendly design. These typically start from around $750 ex-GST on WordPress.
Larger business sites — more pages, custom design, blog, integrations and stronger SEO foundations. Costs scale up with scope.
E-commerce stores — product catalogues, checkout, payments and shipping. More moving parts, so higher cost, depending on the number of products and features.
At WebGlobals our web design starts from $450 ex-GST, scoped to what your business actually needs rather than a one-size-fits-all package.
What actually drives the price
Several factors move the number:
Number of pages and complexity of the design.
Custom design vs template — bespoke work costs more than a configured template.
Functionality — bookings, memberships, e-commerce, integrations and automation all add scope.
Content — whether you supply copy and images or need them produced.
SEO foundations — building for search and speed from the start.
Don’t forget the ongoing costs
The build is a one-off; a website also has running costs. Budget for your domain (small annual fee), hosting (monthly or annual), and maintenance to keep it updated and secure. At WebGlobals, WordPress care plans start from $90/mo ex-GST — covering updates, backups, monitoring and support so your investment does not quietly degrade.
Cheap vs cost-effective
The lowest quote is not always the best value. A very cheap site that is slow, hard to update, invisible in search or awkward on mobile can cost you far more in lost enquiries than you saved on the build. The better question is what the site needs to do — generate enquiries, take bookings, sell products — and what it will take to do that reliably. A website is a business asset; scope it to earn its keep.
