How Much Should a Tradie Website Cost in Australia?

If you've looked into getting a website for your trade business, you've probably noticed the prices vary enormously. One agency wants $5,000 upfront. A freelancer on Airtasker offers to do it for $300. A monthly subscription service sits somewhere in the middle.

So what's the right number, and what are you actually getting at each price point?

The Budget End: Under $500 Once Off

At this price, you're usually looking at a template site built quickly with minimal customisation. Sometimes the freelancer is just getting started and using you as a portfolio piece. Sometimes the result is fine. Sometimes it looks like it.

The biggest problem with cheap one-off websites isn't usually the initial quality, it's what happens afterward. Who updates it when something breaks? Who makes changes when your services change? Who fixes it when the contact form stops working?

A cheap site that nobody maintains usually ends up looking worse than no site at all within a couple of years.

The Mid Range: $1,500 to $3,000 Once Off

This is where you'll find a lot of small web design agencies and experienced freelancers. For this price, you should expect a properly designed site, some customisation to your brand, mobile optimisation, and a handover where you have access to manage it yourself.

The question is, do you want to manage it yourself? Most tradies don't. That means you'll be paying ongoing fees to someone every time you need a change made, or you'll let it sit unchanged for years.

A one-off build has a lifespan. If it's not being updated, added to, and maintained, it gradually becomes less effective.

The Agency End: $5,000 and Up

At this price, you're getting a full-service agency treatment. Proper discovery process, custom design, sometimes SEO strategy included, professional copywriting.

For a large construction company or a multi-location trade business, this investment can make a lot of sense. For a solo tradie or a small crew, it's often more than the situation calls for. The ongoing support costs also tend to be high.

Monthly Subscription Models

A growing number of tradie website services in Australia charge a monthly fee that covers the website, hosting, maintenance, and updates. No big upfront cost, and the site is always being looked after.

This model suits tradies who want their online presence sorted without thinking about it. You pay a predictable monthly amount, the site is always current, and someone else handles the technical side.

The thing to check with any subscription service is what you actually get for the fee. Does it include updates when you need them? Is SEO part of the package? What happens to your domain if you stop paying?

What to Ask Before You Spend Anything

Regardless of who you use or how much you spend, ask these questions:

Who owns the domain name? Your domain should be registered in your name or your business name. Not the agency's or developer's.

What happens if I want to leave? If you stop using the service, what do you keep? Some providers lock you out of your own website when you stop paying.

Is hosting included? If not, that's a separate ongoing cost.

Who do I call when something breaks? Websites have problems sometimes. Know who's responsible for fixing them.

What does Google visibility look like? Any provider worth using should be able to explain how your site will be found in local search.

The Real Cost Comparison

When you're comparing options, compare the total cost of ownership over two or three years, not just the upfront price.

A $2,500 build plus $150/month in maintenance and hosting adds up fast. A well-run subscription service at $99/month covers everything and includes someone who knows what they're doing. The numbers often come out similar, but the experience is very different.