When you’re comparing website quotes, it’s easy to focus on the build price. But a website isn’t a one-off purchase like a business card. It’s more like a shopfront. It needs a lease, a bit of upkeep and someone to keep it looking sharp.
Here’s a straight-talking rundown of every cost involved in owning a professional website, so there are no surprises down the track.
1. The build (one-off)
This is the big upfront cost. In Melbourne, a professionally built small business website typically runs $3,400 to $4,900. A lead generation site runs $5,000 to $12,000, and e-commerce $8,000 to $30,000+. We cover this in detail in How Much Does a Professional Website Design Cost in Melbourne?
2. Domain name (yearly)
Your web address, such as yourbusiness.com.au. It’s a small yearly fee. Make sure the domain is registered in your name, not your web designer’s. If they own it, they own your address.
3. Hosting (monthly or yearly)
Hosting is the server your website lives on. Cheap shared hosting can be slow and is often less secure. Good hosting costs a little more but means a faster site, better security and better Google rankings. Ask your agency what’s included: backups, SSL certificate (the padlock), and support if the site goes down.
4. Maintenance and security (monthly or as needed)
WordPress, its theme and plugins all need regular updates. Skipping updates is one of the most common ways small business websites get hacked. A maintenance plan typically covers:
- Software and plugin updates
- Security monitoring and firewall
- Regular backups
- Uptime monitoring
- Small content changes
You can do this yourself if you’re confident. Most business owners would rather spend that time running their business.
5. Content updates (as needed)
New services, new staff, new photos. Because we build on WordPress, you can make most of these changes yourself at no cost. For bigger changes, such as new pages or layouts, budget for some design time.
6. SEO (ongoing, optional but recommended)
“Build it and they will come” doesn’t really apply anymore. A new website starts with no rankings. Ongoing SEO, including content, local SEO and technical improvements, is how you climb Google and bring in new customers without paying per click.
7. Advertising (optional)
Google Ads and Meta ads can bring traffic from day one while your SEO builds. You set the budget. Management fees are on top of the ad spend itself.
8. Extras to ask about
- Premium plugins or software licences (booking systems, forms)
- Payment gateway fees for online shops
- Stock photography
- Professional email (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365)
Our advice: ask for the total cost of ownership
When comparing quotes, don’t just compare build prices. Ask each agency:
- What will I pay in the first year, all up?
- What will I pay each year after that?
- Who owns the domain, hosting account and website files?
- What happens if I want to move my website elsewhere?
A cheap build with expensive or locked-in hosting can cost far more over three years than a fairly priced build with transparent running costs.
No hidden costs at Cultivate Digital
We give you a clear quote for the build and spell out any ongoing costs before you commit. No surprises, no lock-in. And if you just want us to look after everything, we can.
Get a Free Quote or call 0489 262 100.
