The quick answer
For most small businesses around Forster and Tuncurry, a professionally built website costs somewhere between $2,000 and $6,000 up front, plus $30 to $100 a month for hosting and updates. Online shops and larger custom sites cost more. If paying up front is a stretch, weekly plans that bundle the build, hosting and updates are a popular middle ground.
Your main options
1. Do it yourself
Builders like Wix, Squarespace and Shopify cost roughly $20 to $60 a month. They are a fair choice if you enjoy tinkering and have time. The hidden cost is your time, and DIY sites often miss the basics Google looks for, like clear page titles, local wording and fast load times.
2. A local web designer
This is where most local businesses land. You get a site designed around your business, words written for you, and someone to call when something needs changing. As a guide, here is what we charge (all +GST):
- 1 page website: $1,995
- 5 page website: $2,995
- 10 page website: $4,995
- Online shop: from $4,995
3. A weekly or monthly plan
Instead of paying up front, you pay a weekly fee that covers the build, hosting, domain and updates. Ours start at $24 +GST a week for a one page site, with a 24 month minimum term. This suits new businesses that want to keep cash in the bank.
4. A big agency
Agencies in Sydney or Newcastle often quote $10,000 and up. That can make sense for complex projects, but for a café, trade or holiday rental in Forster it is usually more than you need.
What should be included
Whoever you choose, make sure the price covers these basics:
- A design that works properly on phones
- Contact forms, tap-to-call and a map
- Basic SEO: page titles, descriptions and local wording
- An SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser)
- Google Analytics or similar so you can see visitors
- Clear ownership of your domain name and content
Watch out for: very cheap builds where you do not own the domain, long contracts with no updates included, or monthly fees that are not explained up front.
Ongoing costs to budget for
- Domain name: around $50 a year for a .com.au
- Hosting and security: $29 to $99 a month with us, depending on how many updates you want
- Business email: Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, roughly $10 to $20 per person per month
- Google Business Profile care: optional, from $19 a week if you want it done for you
So what should you spend?
If you are a sole trader or new business, a one page site or weekly plan is plenty to start. Most established local businesses are well served by five pages. If you sell products online or serve lots of towns, budget for more pages or a shop. Have a look at our full price list, or tell us about your business and we will recommend the smallest option that does the job.