The short answer: a professional business website in Melbourne costs between $3,000 and $25,000+ in 2026. Most service businesses that want a site that actually generates enquiries land between $8,000 and $15,000.
That's a wide range, and that's the problem. Most agencies won't put a number on their website. We will. Here's what each price bracket really gets you, what pushes the cost up, and how to tell if you're about to overpay or, worse, underpay.
Website Costs in Melbourne at a Glance
| Type of website | Typical cost (ex GST) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $0 – $1,500 + monthly fees | Testing an idea |
| Freelancer / template site | $2,000 – $6,000 | Simple brochure sites |
| Agency website (WordPress or custom) | $8,000 – $15,000 | Service businesses that need leads |
| eCommerce store | $5,000 – $25,000+ | Selling products online |
| Custom platform / web app | $12,000 – $50,000+ | Bookings, portals, memberships, marketplaces |
What You Get at Each Price Point
DIY builders: $0 – $1,500
Cheap upfront, but you're the designer, copywriter and SEO specialist. Monthly fees add up, and the templates are the same ones your competitors use. Fine for testing an idea. Rarely good enough to beat a competitor who's invested properly.
Freelancer or template sites: $2,000 – $6,000
A template with your logo and content dropped in. It can work for very simple businesses. The risks: slow load times, generic design, no conversion strategy, and a freelancer who's hard to reach when something breaks. A cheap website is often the most expensive thing a business buys, because it quietly costs you leads every single month.
Agency websites: $8,000 – $15,000
This is where strategy comes in: discovery, custom design, copy direction, a mobile-first build, speed optimisation, on-page SEO, tracking and training on how to update it yourself. Everything is built around one job: turning visitors into enquiries.
At Established, our website design builds on WordPress start from $9,200 ex GST, and full rebuilds of existing sites start from around $10,100.
eCommerce: $5,000 – $25,000+
Price depends on how many products you sell, your payment and shipping setup, and integrations like Xero or Klaviyo. The checkout is where online stores make or lose money, so that's where your budget should go.
Custom platforms: $12,000 – $50,000+
Booking systems, customer portals, quoting engines, member areas and marketplaces. These are built around how your business actually runs. Our custom platforms start from $11,800 ex GST. See examples in our work.
7 Things That Drive the Price Up (or Down)
- Number of pages and templates. Five pages costs less than fifty.
- Custom design vs template. Custom design costs more, but it's what makes you look premium.
- Copywriting. Words sell. Professional copy is worth paying for.
- Functionality. Bookings, payments, logins and integrations all add build time.
- eCommerce scale. More products and variants mean more setup.
- SEO and AI search setup. Ranking on Google and showing up in ChatGPT takes proper groundwork. See our SEO & AI search service.
- Timeline. Need it in two weeks? Rush jobs cost more.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
- Hosting and maintenance: expect $50 – $300 a month for proper managed hosting, backups, security and updates.
- Domain and email: small, but ongoing.
- Photography and video: stock photos make you look like everyone else.
- Traffic: a website with no traffic is a billboard in the desert. Budget for Google Ads or SEO.
- A site that doesn't convert: the biggest cost of all, and it never shows up on an invoice.
Don't Ask What It Costs. Ask What It Returns.
Say your average job is worth $2,000. If a better website wins you just one extra job a month, that's $24,000 a year. A $10,000 website pays for itself in five months, then keeps paying.
Look for a site that:
- is designed mobile-first (most of your customers are on their phones)
- loads in under three seconds
- has a clear call to action on every screen
- shows reviews, results and proof
- tracks every enquiry
- is fully owned by you
Red Flags When Getting Quotes
- They don't ask about your business, customers or goals.
- You won't own the website or can't move it later.
- No mention of speed, SEO or tracking.
- No portfolio or proof of results.
- The quote is far below market. Something's being cut, and it's usually what you can't see.
The 2026 Shift: Your Website Should Work While You Sleep
A website on its own isn't the answer anymore. The businesses winning in 2026 connect their site to systems: AI that answers enquiries instantly, automatic follow-ups, and a CRM that never forgets a lead.
That's what our AI implementation work does. If you want your team set up in a single day, look at Basecamp.
So, How Much Should You Spend?
- Just starting out: $3,000 – $6,000
- Established service business wanting leads: $8,000 – $15,000
- Selling online: $5,000 – $25,000+
- Running bookings, members or a platform: $12,000+
Spend what the website needs to earn its keep. Not less, and not more.
Get a Fixed Quote
No vague ranges, no surprise invoices. Tell us what you need and we'll give you a clear, fixed price.
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Frequently asked questions
- How much does a small business website cost in Melbourne?
- Most small business websites in Melbourne cost between $3,000 and $10,000. A lead-focused agency build for a service business typically sits between $8,000 and $15,000 ex GST.
- Is WordPress cheaper than a custom-built website?
- Usually, yes. WordPress is faster to build on and easy for you to update. Custom builds suit businesses that need bookings, portals or features WordPress can't handle cleanly.
- How long does it take to build a website?
- Most agency websites take 4 – 8 weeks from kickoff to launch. eCommerce and custom platforms usually take 8 – 12 weeks or more.
- Do I have to pay monthly for a website?
- You'll need hosting, a domain and ideally maintenance. Expect roughly $50 – $300 a month for a properly looked-after business website.
- Are these website prices GST inclusive?
- All prices in this guide are ex GST. Add 10% for the GST-inclusive price.
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