Are you wondering how much a new website will cost for your Melbourne business? What is the real cost of getting a website made for your business in Melbourne?

It’s one of the most common questions we get asked, and it's something that many small business owners struggle with, often leaving them confused as to what’s a fair price and what’s not. We understand that website costs can be a key concern for business owners, especially those in the Melbourne market, who are looking to get the best value for their money.

If you are going to spend the money, you need to know the ins and outs of what a website actually costs, as it’s an area you want to make the correct decision about.

It’s hard to know the true cost, which is why it’s difficult for businesses to know where to even begin. Let's explore this together and simplify this topic, so you know the main areas that affect price.

This guide aims to break down the various costs involved and give you a solid understanding of the typical website pricing for local businesses, all while also showing you what goes into building a website.

In this guide, we will help you budget for your website project, while also showing what options there are available for you, as well as understanding what goes into building a website, so you have all the details needed to make an informed decision when you are looking to improve your online presence.

Understanding the Price Range of Website Costs

It’s important to understand that there is a wide range of costs when it comes to building a website, which is why research is vital. Here is a breakdown of some options you have:

"Free" and Very Low-Cost Website Options

While there are website building options that are cheap pricing that seems too good to be true, be aware of the limitations of what you will be getting in the long run. There are numerous template website options, but they are not considered professional options, and they often come with many restrictions that won’t help your business grow and achieve maximum results from a strong website foundation.

While there are $99 options flying around, free or almost-free templates might be okay to start, they will not assist your business in the long term, as they lack the important elements a business driven website needs. These will be lacking the strategy, the customisation, and all the key components of a professional, business driven website and will not provide you with a good return on investment web design. You'd might be better off with a DIY website builder option.

Professional, Once-Off Website Builds

A professional, once off website build will usually be from $749 to $2500. This cost will vary greatly depending on numerous factors such as the number of pages, the complexity of the website design and layout, the number of functions and features needed for the site, as well as any complex integrations that will need to be implemented into the final design.

The level of custom design and functionality can also affect the final price. It’s best to look at each element and see how they fit within your budget, to ensure you have an amazing design that fits your needs, as well as your budget and that you are getting good value for the service. Professional websites will provide a stronger basis for your business goals.

E-commerce Website Builds

For websites that have an online store component, prices for e-commerce websites usually range from $2,500 - $25,000, and depend on the number of products you have, as well as the specific functionality that you need for this more complex build. If you are selling products directly online, your website costs are going to increase to reflect the functionality that is needed for you to sell online to your customers, or to help with your services.

E-commerce website costs Melbourne are more complex, and will take more planning to make it a great, high-converting sales funnel. This will include payment gateways, security features and a seamless online shopping experience for your clients, and will have a notable influence on your overall costs for implementation.

Custom Enterprise or Government Website

Custom enterprise or government websites can be anything from $20,000 – $100,000, or even more. These options require a much more comprehensive approach to the design and build and often have a much higher budget associated with them.

If you are after this level of service, you will need to budget significantly to make your website vision a reality, as well as needing ongoing maintenance, support and assistance, that will also add to overall costs for the life of your business’s website.

Factors Influencing Website Pricing Costs in Melbourne

What factors actually affect the price of a website build? Here are some things you need to know so you have the best knowledge to get a great professional web design cost for your business, and to ensure you know what to consider when comparing prices:

Website Complexity and Size

If you have a simple single-page website, your costs are going to be far less than if you have 20 pages with numerous images, complex page layouts, and numerous functionality options. Website complexity and size both significantly influence your overall website build cost Melbourne. The larger the project, the more time and work will go into it, as well as more intricate planning for each page on the website. The number of pages that you have also significantly influences the overall build cost, so it's an area to take into account before making your final decisions.

Custom Design vs. Template

Fully custom website design and functionality will always lead to a higher fee. If you have a more ‘generic’ approach that uses elements of a pre-existing template, then this will naturally lead to lower fees overall. You will need to consider what is best for your business, as to whether to fully customize, or opt for a more cost-effective pre-existing option. By looking at what your budget can cover, you will be able to make an informed decision on this step of the process.

• Templates will help with cost, but customisation shows a dedication to your brand and overall value.

E-commerce Functionality

If you are selling products directly online, your website costs are going to increase to reflect the functionality that is needed for you to sell online to your customers, or to help with your services, increasing your e-commerce website costs in Melbourne. An online store has extra needs, which will increase your website's design and build. The added functionality will reflect in the overall budget, so this will greatly influence the final price.

Specific Features and Integrations

What other elements does your business need that would affect the price? All functionality and features do impact the cost overall, such as booking systems, or membership portals. Do you need a blog, membership options, booking systems, or other complex components? All of these elements will influence the overall Melbourne website development cost, and will require specific focus on planning and overall functionality. If these are elements that will help you gain clients or better serve your overall business, they are worthwhile investments.

Content Creation

Do you have a good idea about the content you want to show? Do you need to have this professionally created, or will you be supplying this? This all has an affect on the overall website build cost Melbourne. Having quality copy and images takes time, and you also need to ensure that it meets all accessibility standards for your ideal client. If you choose to have this professionally created, be aware this will increase your costs and will be an additional charge in the overall building process.

• Ensure that all content meets the needs of all clients and meets all readability requirements.

Ongoing Website Maintenance

A website is not just ‘one and done’, you also have recurring costs that can help improve your overall user experience. You have website hosting, security, and software updates, as well as ongoing support. These will need to be budgeted for and taken into account as a business expense to help maintain the quality and the performance of your website.

These ongoing needs are a core requirement to help your business and your website stay as fresh and up to date as possible.

Making Informed Decisions and Getting Quotes

What do you need to do before getting a website and when deciding on quotes? Here are a few key tips to consider before taking the leap:

Define Your Websites Needs and Goals

Before getting web design quotes Melbourne, think about what your business actually needs, what is the overall goal you are looking to achieve from the website? If you are unclear about what you are after, then getting a correct quote for your needs will be extremely difficult, so plan out all key details beforehand, to allow for you to make the correct business decision for your requirements.

• Think about functionality, page layouts, your brand and your ideal client before requesting a quote.

Tips Before Hiring A Web Designer Or Developer

You need to ensure that this web designer or developer has the right skills, the experience, and that their previous work is in alignment with your requirements, with feedback from other clients to help support this decision. When it comes to hiring a designer or developer, be sure to:

• Have a budget in mind (but be open to increasing it).
• Be sure that this person is in alignment with what you’re looking to achieve for your business, from budget, to business goals and to ensure you will see great value overall for your investment.
• See their past work and also get feedback from their past clients and see their overall testimonials to see their overall track record with success.

How To Get The Best Quotes

You need to ensure you shop around to get an idea of pricing and make an informed decision. Be wary of cheap pricing that seems too good to be true, as it often results in bad quality work and a lack of experience from the business you have hired, which in turn will lead to your business’s website underperforming. 

Web design quotes in Melbourne can vary from one provider to another, so don't lock in right away, but also don’t be lured into services that don’t align with value, and can end up impacting you negatively.

The Value of a Professional Website

A website is one of the most important investments you will make for your business, and it's one area you don’t want to make shortcuts on, as these ‘shortcuts’ will often lead to an underperforming website. Your website can be your biggest online asset, so it is vital you do it properly and you put enough time and effort into it to give it the best chance to succeed and be one of the greatest investments for the future of your business, that has amazing longevity.

By creating a professional website, your business will get increased awareness and leads for all areas of your business, and this requires ongoing investment to help you and your business grow in the best possible way.

Conclusion

Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of how much it costs to build a website for your Melbourne business. When it comes to website design, a lot of factors influence pricing, which is why it’s important to make a note of them all to create a proper budget. Now, you need to make a decision as to what best suits your overall business needs and how you want your website to represent your business.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when understanding website costs, and to also understanding what goes into building a website.

Now that you have a better understanding of business website costs, reach out today and let's discuss what your business needs, so that we can work together to help you get an amazing, high-performing website that aligns with all of your needs and goals.

Having the right website is an asset to any business, so ensure you are setting aside enough budget for this to allow your business to reach its maximum potential, and allow it to really excel in your field. The better prepared you are, the more results you will see for your business, so now is the time to put your new knowledge to action.