spideeThe honest answer: anywhere from $0 to $15,000+. That range is so wide it's almost useless, so let's break it down properly.
Your actual cost depends on who builds it and what you actually need. Here's what the market looks like right now.
The four options
| Option | Build cost | Ongoing cost | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (Wix, Squarespace) | $0 | $25–$50/mo | High (you build it) |
| Freelancer | $500–$3,000 | $20–$50/mo hosting + your time | Medium |
| Agency | $3,000–$15,000+ | $100–$300/mo support retainer | Low (if you choose well) |
| AI-assisted (Spidee) | $0 (free to build) | From A$19/mo to publish | Very low |
Option 1: DIY with Wix or Squarespace
Wix and Squarespace are genuinely good products. You can build a professional-looking website without writing a single line of code.
The catch: you still have to do it. Every page, every image, every word. And "looking professional" depends entirely on your design instinct. Most small business owners end up with something that looks like… a Wix template.
If you enjoy this kind of thing, or you have a team member who does, DIY is fine. But be honest with yourself about whether you'll actually finish it, and whether the result will genuinely help your business.
Real cost: $0 upfront, $25–$50/month, plus 20–40 hours of your time to build it properly.
Option 2: Hire a freelancer
A good freelancer can deliver a well-designed, custom website for $500–$3,000. You'll typically pay 50% upfront and 50% on completion.
The risks are real. Freelancers get busy, go quiet, or build something that doesn't match what you described. There's no handover process, no support after launch, and if they disappear — your site might go with them.
The best freelancers are excellent. But finding a reliable one takes time, and you won't know until you've paid the deposit.
Real cost: $1,500–$3,000 for a solid result. Budget more time for revisions than you think.
Option 3: Hire a web agency
Agencies bring structure: a brief process, a design phase, a development phase, a launch process. For complex sites — e-commerce, membership portals, custom integrations — they're often worth it.
For a standard small business brochure site (home, about, services, contact), you're paying for overhead. Junior developers. Account managers. Project management software. Lunch meetings. You're paying $5,000–$10,000 for something that doesn't actually need to cost that much.
Real cost: $5,000–$12,000 for a standard business site. Ongoing monthly retainer on top.
Option 4: AI-assisted (the new option)
This is where things have shifted significantly in 2025–2026. AI tools can now do the research, competitive analysis, copywriting, and design that used to take an agency weeks — in a fraction of the time.
The result isn't a cookie-cutter template. The AI analyses your current site (if you have one), researches your competitors, and generates a design specific to your business and industry. You then review, edit, and refine it yourself before publishing.
You build and preview the whole site before paying anything. If you love it, you pay to publish. If not, you walk away. No invoice, no obligation.
Real cost: A$0 to build and preview your site. From A$19/month to publish it, keep it online, and get your own web address. Cancel anytime.
The honest comparison: For a five-page business site with good copy and a design built around your specific industry, the AI-assisted option delivers comparable results to a $3,000–$5,000 freelance job — for free to build and from A$19/month to keep it online. The catch is that it's not right for complex sites (e-commerce, custom booking systems, membership portals).
The hidden costs nobody mentions
Whatever option you choose, budget for these:
- Domain name: $15–$25/year for a .com.au
- Hosting: $20–$60/month (included with Spidee, included with Wix/Squarespace)
- SSL certificate: Free with most modern hosts
- Professional photos: $500–$1,500 if you need them
- Google Business Profile: Free — do this regardless
- Ongoing updates: Who updates the site when your prices change? Budget for it.
Which option is right for you?
A few honest guidelines:
- If you enjoy building things and have the time — try DIY first. Squarespace is genuinely good.
- If you need a simple business site and want someone else to handle it — AI-assisted is the best value on the market right now.
- If you need e-commerce, bookings, or custom functionality — you need a developer. Budget $3,000+.
- If you're a larger business with ongoing needs and a content team — an agency relationship makes sense.
The worst outcome is paying $5,000 for a site that looks like a template, launching it, and never touching it again. A site is only valuable if people find it and it converts them into customers. Design is just the start.
The bottom line
For most small businesses in Australia, a professional website should cost between $999 and $3,000 to build, and between $20 and $50 per month to maintain. Anything above that needs a clear reason.
If you're spending more than $5,000 on a brochure site, ask hard questions about what you're actually getting.
And if you haven't seen what your site could look like — we'll design it for free, no card required. Worth five minutes to find out.