How much does a small business website cost in Australia?

By Francis Valente, Navaro Systems · Updated 17 October 2026

Short answer: A small business website can cost anything from a monthly subscription to a DIY builder to five figures with an agency. The honest comparison is the total over about three years: the build, hosting, the domain, and what you pay each time something needs changing. Before you sign, find out who owns the domain and the site, what's charged monthly, and what happens if you leave.

Key points

Compare three-year totals, not the upfront quote.
The domain should be registered in your business's name, with you holding the login.
Ask what a small change costs and how long it takes.
A low setup fee plus a monthly plan can cost more over three years than a fixed-price build.

The three ways to get a site

DIY builders such as Wix and Squarespace: a subscription in the tens of dollars a month, plus your own time. Good for simple sites if you will actually do the work.
A freelancer or small studio: usually a fixed price for the build, then hosting and changes on top. Quality varies widely, so look at sites they've built for businesses like yours.
An agency: higher prices that pay for a team, process and account management. Worth it for complex sites, often more than a small business needs.

Work out the three-year total

Quotes are easy to compare badly. Add up everything you'll pay over three years:

The build or setup fee.
Hosting and any care plan.
Domain renewals.
Email, which is often separate.
Changes: billed per hour, per request, or included?

Example arithmetic, not market rates: $0 setup on a $150 a month plan is $5,400 over three years. A $3,000 build with $300 a year of hosting is $3,900.

Questions to ask before you sign

Who owns the domain? It should be registered to your business. A .com.au needs an ABN or similar to be eligible.
Can I take the site with me if I leave? Some platforms and agencies keep the design, so know before you start.
What does a small change cost, and how quickly is it done?
Can I update prices, photos or stock myself without calling anyone?
Is it built to load quickly on a phone and be readable by Google and AI assistants?
What's included in hosting: backups, security updates, the SSL certificate?

What a small business site actually needs

A clear statement of what you do and where, on the first screen.
A phone number people can tap.
A page for each main service.
Proof: reviews, photos of real work, a named person.
A short enquiry form that goes to an inbox someone reads.
Fast loading on a phone.

How Navaro prices websites

Fixed price, quoted once we've talked, built so you can run it yourself afterwards, with hosting included for the first three years. Recent builds include two finance broker websites and an independent used car yard that now updates its own stock.

Questions people ask

Is a Facebook page enough?

It's a start, but you don't own it, it's hard to find from Google, and the platform decides who sees your posts. A simple site you control plus a Google Business Profile does more for being found.

How long does a small business website take to build?

A simple site typically takes a few weeks, and most of that is waiting on content: photos, service descriptions and prices. Having those ready is the fastest way to speed it up.

Do I need to pay monthly for a website?

You need hosting and a domain, which cost something every year. Beyond that a monthly fee should buy something specific, such as changes or support. If you can't say what it covers, ask.

Free 60-second website read at navaro.com.au, no sign-up. Or ring Francis Valente on 0426 951 399.