Let’s say you’re setting out to create a website for your small business in 2025, and you’re likely asking yourself, “How much is this going to cost me?”
The short answer?
It depends.
The long answer?
Well, let’s analyse it in detail so you can decide for yourself.
How Much Do You Have to Pay for DIY vs. Professional Web Design?
You have two options to design a website:
Option 1: DIY Website Builders – The Low-Cost Alternative
If you’re on a tight budget and willing to do the work yourself, website builders such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify allow you to create a site for anywhere from $0 to $600. This covers everything from web hosting to templates and basic features. But this is the least expensive option, and it does have caveats:
- Not much design flexibility – you’re kind of locked into pre-existing templates.
- Not always good for SEO — so your site may not rank well in Google
- You’ve got to do all the managing yourself from updates to security.
- Not scalable – if your business is growing, your website might not be.
Option 2: Hiring a High-Quality Professional Web Designer
If you are looking to get a high-quality, professional and smooth website that is designed right from scratch, you need to hire a web designer. Here’s what you can expect to pay for the medallion, which varies, and you will pay anywhere from $3,000 to $30,000+ for these medallions, depending on a few factors:
- Designed to match your own brand.
- Enhanced SEO structure to rank higher on search engines.
- More in depth features such as booking systems, payment gateways and customer logins.
- Pro care and maintenance
Let’s explore the costs of other types of websites in Australia.
Website Type Cost Breakdown
If you hire professional web designer here’s what you can expect for various website types in Australia:
| Website Type | Estimated Cost |
| Simple 7-10 page website | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Custom-designed 7-10 page site | $5,500 – $8,500+ |
| Standard WordPress website | $5,500 – $10,000+ |
| WooCommerce website | $10,000 – $20,000+ |
| Shopify website | $10,000 – $20,000+ |
| Custom Framework website | $25,000+ |
Alternately, visit our website cost estimator to explore more about pricing.
What Affects Website Pricing?
Now, you’re probably asking why there’s such a wide price gap? Here’s what influences the cost of web design in Melbourne and across Australia:
1. The Type of Website You Need
Building a simple brochure website (showing only information) will clearly have a much lower price tag than a full-fledged eCommerce website design with payment gateways, inventory management, and lots of custom features.
2. Custom Design vs. Templates
If you’re happy with a template-based design, you’ll save money. However, if you want a hand-crafted, unique website that is tailored to your brand, expect to pay much more for the designer’s time and expertise.
3. Number of Pages
A basic 5-page website (Home, About, Services, Blog, Contact) will cost much less than one that’s 50 pages long with custom layouts and functionality.
4. SEO & Marketing Features
To rank on Google, you’ll need web design with optimised keywords, and potentially blogged content to get your site indexing. These services can be expensive, but are necessary to attract traffic.
5. eCommerce & Payment Features
Need an online store? More development time is needed on framework designed for payment processing, inventory management, and customer login areas, increasing the cost.
6. Hosting & Domain Costs
A domain name (.com.au) generally only costs between $20–$50 per year while web hosting starts from around $10 to $200+ monthly depending on traffic and security needs.
7. Security & Maintenance
If you’ll be collecting customer data or processing payments, you’ll need SSL certificates, firewall protection and regular updates. This is why a lot of companies take website maintenance plans made to be $50–$500 a month.
Explore more reliable & cost effective web hosting options in Australia with exHost.
Which Is the Best Choice for Your Business?
If you’re just beginning and need a simple online presence, a do-it-yourself website may work. But if you want a professional looking site that ranks on Google, brings customers in and grows with your business, investing in an ideal website is the way to go.
Here’s an easy roadmap for whether to read:
- DIY Website ($600-1,000): Best for personal blogs, small hobby sites, or new startups with little-to-no budget.
- Small Business Website ($3,000–$8,500): Great for service-based businesses, consultants, and local businesses
- eCommerce Web Development ($10,000): Designed for businesses selling goods online with a solid payment processing system.
- Custom Website Design ($15,000–$30,000+): For large businesses or those needing advanced functionalities such as memberships, custom dashboards, or integrations.
Is Your Investment In a Website Worth It?
Absolutely! Your website is your online storefront, and as we approach 2025, an online presence that’s a force to reckon with is imperative.
A well-designed website can:
- Enhance your credibility – A business site makes you look more professional.
- Bring in more customers – SEO is the right way to make your site appear at the top of Google searches.
- Drive Sales – An improved eCommerce website can increase its revenue.
- Save time — Automated features like online booking and FAQs minimise manual work.
- Improve user experience – People who visit your site stay there longer if it loads fast and is mobile-friendly.
Skimping on your website will ultimately cost you much more in lost customers or a site that doesn’t work.
How a Custom Website Drives More Traffic
Curious whether a custom design makes sense?
If you’re interested in driving more traffic, gaining better rankings, and having actual business growth- a thousand percent!
Let’s break it down.
Google Loves Custom Websites
If you want people to discover your business and find you online, you will need to rank well on Google. And guess what? Google prefers fast, responsive websites with well-structured and content-rich pages — typical with custom websites.
DIY website builders can seem nice at a glance, but they usually end up with tons of extra code, slow load times, and really bad SEO. That means your competitors who have custom-built websites are appearing in search results ahead of you.
A Melbourne-based electrician, for example, decided to upgrade from a basic template site to a custom-built site that features content focused on SEO. In three months, their traffic had doubled, and they were receiving more calls from local customers.
Keeps Visitors On Your Site (And Off Your Competitor’s)
Truthfully, people has have super short attention spans. If they arrive on your website only for it to be slow, clunky or hard to get around, chances are they’re hitting that back button faster than you can say “lost sale.”
Custom website designs are in a way to engage site visitors. It’s user friendly, responsive and designed to lead potential customers to the next step. So, whether that’s booking a service, requesting a quote, or making a purchase, everything is intended to have seamless and simple processes around them.
More Features = More Conversions
With a DIY site, you’re stuck with whatever features the platform provides. But with a custom website? The options are practically limitless.
Would you like a live chat function to allow customers to contact you right away? Done.
Looking for an online booking system that integrates with your calendar? Easy.
Do you need a pricing vi, calculator that generates immediate quote for your visitors? No problem.
For instance, consider a cleaning company based in Sydney. In the first month they added an interactive booking form to their custom site, customer inquiries increased by 40 percent. It’s just that, simple, your business grows when your website does the hard work for you.
A Stronger Brand Builds Trust
Your business website is the first point of contact for most customers. You are not going to see your own services in the same way, too.
A bespoke website allows you to present your brand just the way you want it: professional, trustworthy, and memorable. According to studies, 75% of participants claimed that they determined a company’s credibility based on the website design. So if you really want to build trust and stand out, a custom site is not only an option – it’s a must.
And So, Is a Custom Website Worth It?
If you simply need a basic online presence, a DIY website may suffice.
However, if you’d like more traffic, better rankings, and a site that actually performs for your business, then investing in a custom design is hands into the better route.
Thinking about getting one? Let’s chat. We’ll create a site that not only looks nice but also generates real results for you.
Need a Website? We’ve Got You Covered
With our expertise in professional Website Design in Melbourne and Australia, at 21 Webs, we help you with all of your website development needs! Whether you require a simple website or a comprehensive eCommerce site, we will develop a product that appears stunning and suits your organisation.
Want a free web design quote? Contact us today and let’s make your website dreams come true!
