How Much Does a Good Website Cost in Australia? [2024]
Table of Contents
- Who are we?
- Michael’s Journey: From Consultancy to eCommerce
- So, What Does a Good Website Cost in Australia in 2024?
- Factors that Influence Website Development Cost
- Breakdown of WordPress Website Development Cost
- Are There Any Other Additional Costs for Website Development in Australia?
- Bottomline
- Get Cost Estimates from Australia’s #1 Website Development Company
Simply diving into the article by just listing website development costs might sound a bit dull, right?
Instead, let’s share the story of one of our clients, Michael, a business founder and sales coach in Sydney, who needed two different websites developed—a business website for his consultancy and an eCommerce website for his new product line. He came to us for assistance.
Before we discuss further, it is important to share who we are and why our words matter on the topic of website development costs in Australia.
Who are we?
We are WP Creative and we have been creating websites for Australian businesses for the last 12 years. Our general market is marketers who are looking to get their business websites developed for performance & scalability.
So, in essence, we are one of the most authentic sources for learning about website development costs in Australia for 2024.
Now, back to the topic.
Michael’s Journey: From Consultancy to eCommerce
Michael approached us with two goals in mind. First, he wanted a professional, high-performance website for his consulting business. It needed to showcase his services, collect leads, and be easy to manage. Secondly, he was launching an eCommerce brand and wanted a separate website that could handle online orders, payment processing, and customer management.
1. The Business Website: Simple and Performance-Oriented
For his consultancy, Michael needed a site that was sleek and easy to navigate, with a focus on lead generation. We built him a custom WordPress website with a clean design, SEO-optimised content, and a fast-loading speed. We integrated a contact form and scheduling software so potential clients could book consultations directly from the site.
Cost Breakdown:
- Custom-designed website: AUD $12,000
- Ongoing Website Care and SEO: AUD $1,980/m
- WordPress Managed Hosting: AUD $46/month
In total, the business website cost Michael around AUD $10,000. It was a relatively straightforward project, focused on performance and scalability, ensuring that as his business grew, the site could evolve with him.
2. The eCommerce Website: Powering Online Sales
Michael’s eCommerce venture was a different challenge altogether. He needed a site that could handle online transactions, integrate with shipping providers, and manage customer orders seamlessly.
Since the website was supposed to be scalable and manage orders flawlessly, we chose WooCommerce to create this website. This gave him access to powerful eCommerce built-in plugins with a custom-designed front end that reflected his brand’s identity.
Read More: WooCommerce vs Shopify: Ecommerce Store Comparison Cost
Cost Breakdown:
- Custom designed WooCommerce: AUD $18,000
- Third-party Integrations: AUD $5,000
- Ongoing Website Care and support: AUD $1,980/month
In total, the eCommerce website set Michael back around AUD $23,000, with additional monthly expenses. But the investment paid off. Within six months of launching, his online store was generating significant revenue, and the robust infrastructure meant his site could handle the growth.
So, What Does a Good Website Cost in Australia in 2024?
The answer, of course, depends on what you need. But if you’re looking for a ballpark figure, here’s what you can expect in Australia this year.
Theme-Based Designs
Theme-based designs are ready-made templates that you can get directly and either install yourself or have an agency set up for you. These templates are pre-designed and offer a standard layout that can be customised to a certain extent.
Cost:
- Small Business Websites: AUD $2,000 – $8,000
- eCommerce Websites: AUD $3,000 – $12,000
Features:
- Pre-Designed Templates: You choose from a selection of existing themes and tweak them to fit your needs.
- Cost-Effective: Generally cheaper because you’re using a template that’s already been created.
- Quick Setup: Faster to get up and running since the design is already in place.
Custom Handcrafted Designs
Custom or handcrafted designs are made from scratch based on what your business wants and needs. This approach ensures your website is unique and tailored specifically to your brand.
Cost:
- Marketing Websites: AUD $15,000 – $30,000
- Enterprise-Level Websites: AUD $50,000 – $100,000+
Features:
- Bespoke Design: Everything is designed specifically for your business, reflecting your brand’s identity and goals.
- Unique and Exclusive: Your website will stand out because it’s custom-built just for you.
- Higher Cost: More expensive due to the custom work and time required to create a unique design.
Read More: Custom WordPress Build vs Premium Theme
Factors that Influence Website Development Cost
- Scope & Complexity
The scope of the website matters a lot. A business website with a simple theme will cost a lot less than a SaaS website built for the product as it may require complex coding on the front-end to cater to prospects.
The more complex a website is, the higher its cost will be. This cost is usually calculated in ‘development hours’. The agency you hire will give a rough cost based on the number of development hours it will have to put in to get the website developed.
- Design Customisations
Secondly, design and layout of the website will also play an influential role in the cost of the website. If you require multiple folds with lottie animations on the website to make it more appealing to the public, it will cost a lot more than a website that uses still images or CSS-based styling.
Similarly, a template-based website design will cost a lot less than a custom-designed website. In the custom design, developers will have to start from scratch. They will first create the design on Figma, then wireframes, and then code that as a WordPress theme.
- Features & Additional Functionalities
The more advanced features you require, the more cost they will entail. Basic features are easier to implement on the website like contact forms, banner folds, pop-ups, and blog sections.
However, advanced features such as e-commerce integration, membership booking system, and third-party integration can take more time in designing and development.
- Hosting/Domain Cost
Hosting & domain can have additional costs depending on the type of hosting solution you have purchased. VPS and dedicated hosting servers can cost a lot more than shared hosting. However, shared hosting is not suitable for enterprise or ecommerce websites as it is not scalable and can have higher downtime and lower performance.
- Maintenance Updates & Upgrades
Although WordPress & WooCommerce updates are completely free, they do have maintenance costs for plugins. Especially if you purchase paid plugins for any specific functionality of your website.
Similarly, if you are not managing your own website, you will have to hire someone to manage and maintain it. The cost for maintenance of a website can be either hourly or a monthly payment. This is also another cost that influences the overall website cost.
Breakdown of WordPress Website Development Cost
Let’s go in-depth and see the different types of website development practices and how their cost compares.
- DIY Website
If you create your own website on WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, Wix or any other platform, you will have to pay a basic fee for either the platform or for hosting your website. You will also have to add a professional template that will also have some cost. Similarly, you may have to add paid plugins required to support some functionality on your website.
Cost Range: AUD $200 – AUD $1,500 per year
Pros: Affordable, easy to set up, ideal for blogs, portfolios, or small businesses with minimal needs.
Cons: Limited design flexibility, scalability challenges, and may require upgrading to more expensive plans for additional features.
- Freelancer
If you hire a freelancer to develop your website, they will usually charge either you on an hourly basis or on a monthly basis.
Cost Range: AUD $2,000 – $10,000
Pros: More personalised and design flexibility compared to DIY design. Can also add more complex features.
Cons: Dependence on one person for ongoing support
- Agency-Developed
Businesses that are looking for a professional website design can hire Australian website development agencies to get their website developed. Agencies can offer more creatives, better design quality, and faster execution since they have different departments working in-house.
Cost Range: AUD $10,000 – $50,000+
Pros: High-quality design, custom development, and full support throughout the project lifecycle. Agencies typically have specialists for every aspect of your website, from SEO to user experience design.
Cons: Higher upfront costs and potential ongoing fees for maintenance and support.
- Ecommerce
Ecommerce stores are more complex in nature than average websites. They require the integration of shopping carts, payment methods, inventory management systems, and accounting systems for order processing.
They demand greater customisation in design and more security in operations. That is why they are more expensive in comparison with other websites.
- Cost Range: AUD $20,000 – $100,000+
- Pros: Functional online store that can handle payments, manage inventory, and offer a seamless shopping experience.
- Cons: Higher upfront and ongoing costs for maintaining security, integrating with third-party payment gateways, and handling complex logistics.
Read More: WordPress vs SquareSpace: Which One is Better for Australian Developers?
Comparison Table of Website Development Cost in Australia (2024)
| Type | Cost Range | Pros | Cons |
| DIY Website | AUD $200 – $1,500 per year | – Affordable- Easy to set up- Ideal for blogs, portfolios, or small businesses with minimal needs | – Limited design flexibility- Scalability challenges- May require upgrading to more expensive plans for additional features |
| Freelancer | AUD $2,000 – $10,000 | – More personalised and flexible design- Ability to add more complex features | – Dependence on one person for ongoing support |
| Agency-Developed | AUD $10,000 – $50,000+ | – High-quality design- Custom development- Full support throughout the project lifecycle- Specialists for SEO and UX design | – Higher upfront costs- Potential ongoing fees for maintenance and support |
| eCommerce | AUD $20,000 – $100,000+ | – Fully functional online store- Handles payments, manages inventory- Seamless shopping experience | – Higher upfront and ongoing costs- Requires more security- Complex logistics and payment gateway integrations |
Are There Any Other Additional Costs for Website Development in Australia?
Maybe but rarely. Most of the costs have already been covered in the above table. There may be other costs attached with the development of the website. We will highlight them below.
- Website plugins & tools development can cost in the long-run especially if they are freemium.
- Changes to website layout after handover can also incur more costs
- Changing hosting solutions can also impact website costs.
Bottomline
The cost of building a website in Australia in 2024 varies based on three factors including unique needs, business goals, and budget.
Whether you’re a small business owner or launching a complex eCommerce platform in Australia, understanding the key factors that can influence your website costs will help you make informed decisions and budget wisely.
Get Cost Estimates from Australia’s #1 Website Development Company
Whether you need a business website or a full-fledged ecommerce store, we at WPCreative can help you get the best website designed. We offer a full suite of website development services, including custom WordPress themes, plugins, and e-commerce integration.
If your current website is slow, outdated, or poorly designed, reach out to us today, and let us transform it into a high-performing, user-friendly site.
