It's the first question most business owners ask, and fair enough — nobody wants to get stung. The honest answer is that website cost varies a lot depending on who builds it and what they're actually delivering. This guide breaks it all down so you can make an informed call.
Option 1: DIY website builders (Wix, Squarespace, etc.)
Cost: $20-$50/month
Platforms like Wix and Squarespace let you drag-and-drop your own site using templates. On the surface it sounds like a good deal. In practice, most business owners who go down this path end up with one of two outcomes: a site they never finish because it takes longer than expected, or a site they do finish that looks like a template and does nothing for their Google rankings.
DIY builders are fine if you genuinely enjoy building websites and have the time. Most busy business owners don't, and time is money. Also worth knowing: the ongoing monthly fees add up. $40/month is $480/year — for a site that's probably not converting much traffic.
Best for: Business owners who are comfortable with tech and want to build something themselves in their spare time.
Option 2: Cheap template agencies ($300-$700)
Cost: $300-$700 one-off
There's a whole industry of cheap website mills that charge $500 and deliver a templated site with stock photos and placeholder copy. You get something live, but it's generic, it's probably on a platform you don't own, and there's often a hidden ongoing fee attached.
The bigger problem: these sites usually have no real SEO work done on them. They exist, but they don't rank for anything. You get a website and still no leads.
Best for: Nobody, honestly. The price is tempting but the value isn't there.
Option 3: Done-for-you business websites ($999-$1,500+)
Cost: $999-$1,500+ one-off, with optional ongoing management
This is the sweet spot for most local service businesses. A proper custom-built website — not a template — written with your business in mind, set up for local SEO from day one, and delivered within a week.
At AMACCA, this is exactly what we do — custom-built websites for local businesses with different packages depending on what you need. From a clean starter site through to fully managed builds with ongoing support. No lock-in contracts on any plan. If you're not happy, you can leave. We're confident you won't want to.
Check out our packages or get in touch for a quote — pricing depends on your needs and we'll give you a straight answer.
Best for: Business owners who want a professional result without spending a fortune or doing it themselves.
Option 4: Web design agencies ($3,000-$15,000+)
Cost: $3,000-$15,000+
Big agencies build beautiful websites and charge accordingly. For most local service businesses, this is overkill. You don't need a $10,000 website to get leads — you need a fast, well-optimised site that shows up on Google and looks professional. A $10,000 site isn't going to rank ten times better than a well-built one at a fraction of the price.
Best for: Large companies or franchises with complex requirements and big budgets.
What should a business website cost?
For a local service business — an electrician, plumber, builder, landscaper, personal trainer, or similar — you should expect to pay somewhere in the $1,000-$2,000 range for a well-built, properly optimised website. Anything less and you're probably getting a template with minimal SEO. Anything significantly more and you're likely paying for overhead that doesn't benefit you.
The other thing to consider is ongoing cost. A website isn't a set-and-forget thing. Hosting, security updates, content changes, and SEO maintenance all take time. Some providers bundle this, some charge separately. At AMACCA, we offer management plans that cover everything — get in touch and we'll tailor something to your needs.
What's the return on investment?
One new client from a Google search covers the cost of your website in most service industries. If your average job is worth $500, your website has paid for itself after a single lead. The ones we build generate leads consistently — so the payoff compounds over time.
Ready to see what's included?
Check out our full pricing and packages, or get in touch for a free quote. No hard sell, no obligation — just a straight conversation about what would work for your business.
Or call Adam on 0420 498 037.