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How Much Does a Website Cost in Melbourne? 2025 Pricing Guide

"How much does a website cost?" It's the first question every business owner asks—and the answer is: it depends. In this guide, I'll break down exactly what you can expect to pay for a website in Melbourne in 2025, what affects the price, and how to get the best value for your investment.

Why Website Prices Vary So Much

You've probably seen ads for "$99 websites" and proposals for $15,000 sites. Here's why the range is so huge:

1. Who's Building It

• DIY Website Builders: Cheap but time-consuming, limited features
• Freelancers: $50-$150/hour depending on experience
• Small Agencies: $100-$200/hour with team support
• Large Agencies: $150-$300+/hour with full service
• Offshore Developers: $20-$50/hour but quality varies

2. What Features You Need

A simple 5-page brochure site costs far less than an e-commerce store with 500 products, payment processing, and custom features.

3. Design Complexity

Template-based designs are faster and cheaper. Custom designs from scratch take longer and cost more.

4. Functionality & Integrations

Every integration (CRM, booking system, payment gateway) adds development time and cost.

Website Cost Breakdown by Type

Option 1: DIY Website ($0-$500)

Best for: Very small businesses, solopreneurs testing an idea, or those with lots of time and minimal budget.

What You Get:

• Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com template
• Drag-and-drop builder
• Basic pages (Home, About, Services, Contact)
• Mobile responsive
• Hosting included

Limitations:

• Looks like a template (not unique)
• Limited customization options
• Restricted SEO capabilities
• Platform branding (unless you pay extra)
• Takes YOUR time to build and maintain
• No professional design guidance

Hidden Costs:

• Monthly subscription: $20-$50/month
• Premium templates: $100-$300
• Apps/plugins: $10-$50/month each
• Your time: 20-40 hours to build

Real Cost: While advertised as "free" or cheap, you're trading money for time. If your time is worth $50/hour and it takes 30 hours, that's $1,500 of your time—plus ongoing maintenance.

Option 2: Budget Professional Website ($500-$1,500)

Best for: Startups with minimal budget, simple service businesses, or those who just need an online presence quickly.

What You Get:

• 3-5 page website
• Premium template customized with your branding
• Basic SEO setup
• Contact form
• Mobile responsive
• 1-2 weeks turnaround

What's Usually NOT Included:

• Logo design
• Professional photography
• Content writing
• Advanced SEO
• Custom features
• Ongoing support

Typical Melbourne Pricing:

• Template customization: $500-$800
• Basic 5-page site: $800-$1,200
• Simple business site: $1,200-$1,500

Option 3: Professional Small Business Website ($1,500-$3,000)

Best for: Established small businesses that need a professional online presence to generate leads and build credibility.

What You Get:

• 5-10 professionally designed pages
• Custom or semi-custom design
• Logo design or refresh
• Brand style guide (colors, fonts)
• SEO-optimized content structure
• Contact forms and lead capture
• Google Analytics setup
• Mobile responsive design
• Basic training on how to update content
• 3-4 weeks turnaround

Typical Melbourne Pricing Breakdown:

• Design & Development: $1,200-$2,000
• Logo & Branding: $200-$400
• Basic Content Writing: $200-$400
• SEO Setup: $200-$300

Total: $1,800-$3,000

Option 4: Growth-Focused Business Website ($3,000-$6,000)

Best for: Growing businesses that want to use their website as a primary marketing tool to generate leads and sales.

What You Get (Everything Above Plus):

• 10-15 pages with strategic content
• Fully custom design
• Advanced SEO optimization
• Google Business Profile setup
• Blog setup with 3-5 initial posts
• Lead generation forms and automation
• Email marketing integration
• Booking/quote system integration
• Performance optimization (fast loading)
• Security hardening
• 2-3 months of support
• 6-8 weeks turnaround

Typical Melbourne Pricing Breakdown:

• Custom Design & Development: $2,500-$3,500
• Professional Content Writing: $500-$800
• Advanced SEO: $400-$600
• Integrations (CRM, email, etc): $400-$800
• Training & Support: $200-$400

Total: $4,000-$6,000

Why This Investment Makes Sense: If your average customer is worth $500 and this website generates just 1-2 extra customers per month, it pays for itself in 3-6 months.

Option 5: Custom Enterprise Website ($6,000-$20,000+)

Best for: Established businesses, e-commerce stores, or companies needing advanced features and custom functionality.

What You Get:

• Fully custom design (from scratch)
• 20+ pages with strategic architecture
• E-commerce functionality (if needed)
• Custom features and integrations
• Multi-language support
• User portal/login areas
• Advanced analytics and tracking
• Professional photography/videography
• Comprehensive SEO strategy
• Paid ads setup
• 6+ months support and optimization
• 3-4 months development time

Typical Melbourne Pricing:

• Simple E-commerce (50 products): $6,000-$10,000
• Large E-commerce (500+ products): $10,000-$25,000
• Custom Web Application: $15,000-$50,000+
• Enterprise Portal: $25,000-$100,000+

Hidden Costs Most People Forget

1. Domain Name

• Cost: $15-$50/year
• Premium domains: $500-$5,000+ (one-time)

2. Hosting

• Shared Hosting: $5-$20/month (slow, limited)
• Quality Managed Hosting: $20-$50/month (recommended)
• VPS/Cloud Hosting: $50-$200/month (for larger sites)

3. SSL Certificate

• Cost: $0-$100/year (often free with good hosting)

4. Professional Email

• Google Workspace: $9-$18/user/month
• Microsoft 365: $8-$22/user/month

5. Stock Photos

• Free options: Unsplash, Pexels (limited selection)
• Paid stock photos: $10-$50 per image
• Subscription services: $30-$100/month
• Professional photography: $500-$2,000

6. Ongoing Maintenance

• Updates & security: $50-$100/month
• Content updates: $50-$150/hour
• Full maintenance package: $100-$300/month

7. Marketing & SEO

• Monthly SEO: $500-$2,000/month
• Google Ads: $500-$5,000+/month (ad spend + management)
• Social media management: $500-$2,000/month

How to Choose the Right Option

Go DIY If:

• You're just starting and have no budget
• You have time to learn and build
• You need something online TODAY
• Your website isn't critical to your business

Choose Budget Professional ($500-$1,500) If:

• You need a simple online presence quickly
• Your business is very new
• You just need the basics (contact info, services list)
• You're not relying on the website for leads

Choose Professional ($1,500-$3,000) If:

• You're an established small business
• You want to look professional and credible
• You need basic SEO and lead capture
• Your website is one of several marketing channels

Choose Growth-Focused ($3,000-$6,000) If:

• Your website will be your primary marketing tool
• You want to generate consistent leads online
• You need advanced features (booking, quotes, automation)
• You're serious about ranking on Google
• You want measurable ROI from your website

Choose Custom/Enterprise ($6,000+) If:

• You need e-commerce or complex functionality
• You have unique requirements
• Your website IS your business (SaaS, marketplace, etc.)
• You need enterprise-level security and scalability

Red Flags: Pricing That's Too Good to Be True

Watch Out For:

1. "$99 Website" Offers

• Often using cheap templates
• Hidden monthly fees
• No real customization
• You don't own the site
• Locked into their platform

2. Offshore "Cheap" Developers

• Communication barriers
• Time zone differences
• Quality concerns
• No local support
• May disappear after project

3. "Free Website" Scams

• Free website = expensive ongoing fees
• You never own the site
• Difficult to leave the platform

Questions to Ask Before You Pay

How to Get the Best Value

1. Be Clear About Your Goals

The more specific you are about what you need, the more accurate the quote and better the result.

2. Prepare Your Content

Having your text, images, and branding ready saves development time (and cost).

3. Start Simple, Scale Later

Begin with core features, then add advanced functionality once you're generating revenue.

4. Think Long-Term

A slightly more expensive site that's built right will cost less than constantly fixing a cheap one.

5. Focus on ROI, Not Just Cost

A $5,000 website that generates $50,000 in revenue is cheaper than a $500 website that generates nothing.

Real Melbourne Examples

Case 1: Fitzroy Cafe

• Budget: $2,500
• Included: 7-page site, menu, location, reservation integration, Instagram feed
• Result: 30% increase in online reservations

Case 2: Melbourne Plumber

• Budget: $4,500
• Included: 12-page site, local SEO, quote form, service area pages, Google Business Profile
• Result: Ranking #2 for "emergency plumber melbourne", 15+ leads per month

Case 3: Richmond Boutique

• Budget: $8,500
• Included: E-commerce site with 100 products, custom checkout, email automation
• Result: $25,000+ monthly online sales

Final Thoughts

There's no single "right" answer to "how much does a website cost?" The right investment depends on your business goals, budget, and how critical your website is to your success.

Here's my honest advice:

• If you're bootstrapping, start with DIY but plan to upgrade within 6-12 months
• If you're a legitimate business, invest at least $1,500-$3,000 for a professional presence
• If your website will drive leads and sales, $3,000-$6,000 is money well spent
• If you're doing e-commerce or need complex features, budget $6,000+ minimum

Remember: your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. Investing in a quality website isn't an expense—it's an investment in your business growth.

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• Local SEO for Melbourne Small Businesses
• 5 Signs Your Website Is Losing Customers