WEB DESIGN · · 6 min read
How much does a website cost in Melbourne? What actually drives the price
Quotes for a new website can vary wildly. Here are the five things that really move the price, the costs people forget, and how to compare quotes properly.
Rhys Telfer · Founder & Creative Director
It depends, but not in a vague way
Ask ten Melbourne agencies what a website costs and you will get ten different numbers. That isn't because the industry is making it up. It's because "a website" can mean a five page brochure site for a tradie or a custom-built platform with bookings, payments and a client portal.
The good news is the price is driven by a handful of predictable things. Once you understand them, quotes start making sense, and you can tell a fair one from an inflated one.
The five things that actually move the price
- Unique page designs, not total pages. A site with 40 service pages that share one layout can cost less than a site with eight pages that each need their own design.
- The platform. Squarespace and Framer sites are generally quicker to build and cheaper to run. WordPress sits in the middle. Custom code costs more upfront but gives you the most control.
- Content. Who writes the copy, who supplies the photos and who loads it all in. Copywriting and photography are often the biggest hidden line items.
- Functionality. Online bookings, ecommerce, member areas, forms that feed your CRM and multilingual content all add design, build and testing time.
- SEO and migration. If you're replacing an existing site, protecting your Google rankings with redirects and a proper content plan is real work, and it should be in the quote.
Template, custom design or custom code
Most projects fall into one of three tiers.
A customised template is the fastest route. You start with a proven layout and adapt it to your brand. It suits new businesses and anyone who needs to be online quickly.
A custom design on a platform like Framer or Squarespace is where most growing businesses land. The site is designed around your customers and your brand, then built on a platform your team can update without calling a developer.
Custom code is for when a platform gets in the way: complex functionality, unusual integrations, or performance and security requirements that off-the-shelf builders can't meet. It's the most flexible option, and the one that needs the clearest brief.
The costs people forget
The build is only part of the picture. Budget for these too:
- Domain renewal and business email, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
- Your platform or hosting subscription
- Paid plugins, apps or fonts
- Ongoing updates, backups and security for WordPress sites
- SEO and content once the site is live, because a new site doesn't rank on its own
How to compare quotes properly
When you're comparing two quotes, the cheaper one is often missing something rather than being better value. Ask each agency:
- How many unique page designs are included?
- Who writes the copy and sources the images?
- How many rounds of revisions do I get?
- Is basic SEO setup included, such as page titles, descriptions, a sitemap and Google Search Console?
- If you're replacing my current site, are redirects included?
- Who owns the site, the design files and the accounts when we're done?
- What does support look like after launch?
If a quote can't answer those clearly, that's your answer.
How we quote
At Sault Digital we quote on scope, not on a package. We'll recommend the platform that fits how your business works, even if it's the less expensive one, and we put everything in writing before we start.
Want a straight answer for your project? Book a 20 minute call and we'll give you a realistic figure, not a range that spans five digits.
Book a 20 minute call
WRITTEN BY
Rhys Telfer · Founder & Creative Director
Founded Sault Digital in 2018 after years on the client side. Leads strategy and creative on every project.