What Does a Website Really Cost?

Let’s be honest, websites can feel like a bit of a mystery.

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You’ll hear someone say they can build one for $500, another quote you five grand or even twenty grand and someone else swear it’ll “only take a weekend.”
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So who’s right? Well, none of them, not without context.
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Because a website isn’t a single product you buy off the shelf. It’s more like building a house. You’ve got your land, your builder, your structure, your finishes, and all the behind-the-scenes bits that keep it standing strong. Go cheap or skip a step, and you’ll be fixing cracks before you know it.
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Let’s break it down in plain English.
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BUY THE LAND
(DOMAIN NAME)

Before you build anything, you need somewhere to put it. Your domain name is your digital address the “.com” or “.com.au” where people find you.

Think of it like buying a small block of land online. It’s not expensive (usually around $20–$40 a year), but it’s essential. Without it, you’ve got nowhere to build your brand. Like a land title, your domain’s yours for as long as you keep renewing it,  so don’t forget to pay the bill or someone else might grab your address.
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POUR THE SLAB
(HOSTING)

Your hosting is the ground your website stands on, the service that keeps it live and accessible online. You don’t actually need to buy it until you’re ready to go live, but it’s worth planning for early. Cheap hosting is like building on sand: unstable, slow, and unreliable.

But when you work with The Tradie Studio, you don’t need to stress about any of that as all our sites are built on Webflow, which means hosting is included in your package. It’s fast, secure, backed up automatically, and built to handle growth without you ever touching a server. Think of it as moving into a home that already has the power, plumbing, and security system sorted - no extra setup, no hidden surprises.

Good hosting keeps your site solid, is fast to load, secure, and backed up in case something goes wrong.Think of it like your council rates, an ongoing cost that keeps your property maintained and connected.
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CHOOSE THE RIGHT BUILDER
(DESIGNER/DEVELOPER)

Now comes the big decision - who’s going to build it?

You could go with the apprentice who’s still learning or the mate-of-a-mate who “knows a bit about websites.” But like any build, you get what you pay for. A rushed or cheap job might look okay at first, but cracks soon appear - broken links, poor SEO, bad mobile experience, and no one around to help when something breaks.

A good designer builds your site like a quality home: strong structure, clean design, and modern standards. They think about security, SEO, and how your visitors actually use the site, so it performs as good as it looks.

If your brand’s meant to last, invest in someone who knows what they’re doing.
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THE FIT-OUT
(DESIGN, COPY & CONTENT)

This is where your website starts to feel like you. Your logo, colours, words, and photos are the tiles, paint, and finishes that give it personality.

A cookie-cutter template is like beige rental carpet - it does the job, but no one’s stopping to admire it.

Custom design, on the other hand, shows pride in your work. It helps you stand out from competitors and tells clients you care about quality and detail.

Good copywriting plays a huge role too - it’s how you speak to customers, build trust, and turn browsers into bookings.
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COUNCIL APPROVAL
(SEO & COMPLIANCE)

Even the best house needs to meet the code. On the web, that means SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) building your site so Google can actually find and trust it.

A beautiful website that no one sees is like a dream home built in the middle of nowhere. SEO gives you that digital street frontage, helping customers find you when they’re ready to buy.

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YEARLY MAINTENANCE

Once your site’s built, it’s not set-and-forget. Just like a home, it needs a bit of care to stay in top shape.

• Hosting (Council rates)  Keeps your digital space live, secure, and connected.

• Domain renewal (Land title) Keeps ownership of your address.

• Software updates (Servicing your home)  Stops things breaking or becoming unsafe.

• Backups & security (Home insurance)  Protects you if things go sideways.

• Support & tweaks (General maintenance)  Keeps it fresh and running smoothly.

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TIME FOR A RENO

Even the best homes date over time and websites are no different. A site that looked sharp five years ago might now feel tired, slow, or out of step with how people browse today.

That doesn’t mean it was built badly, it just needs a refresh. Technology changes, design trends evolve, and customer expectations move fast. A modern update tells the world you care about your business, take pride in what you do, and stay current.

Sometimes it’s a simple coat of paint - new images, copy updates, mobile tweaks. Other times it’s a full renovation - new platform, layout, and SEO foundations. Either way, staying up to date keeps your brand looking professional and your website working its best.
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AVOID THE HIDDEN COSTS
(AND SHORTCUTS)

Here’s where people get caught out:

• DIY builders chew up hours and rarely perform well on Google.
• Cheap hosting equals constant outages.
• Ignoring SEO is like hiding your shop down a dirt road.
• No security invites hackers - the digital version of termites.

You wouldn’t cut corners on a client’s job, don’t do it on your own brand.
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THE PAYOFF

When it’s built properly, your website becomes one of your hardest-working tools. It builds trust before you even answer the phone, helps clients find you, and keeps jobs rolling in while you’re on the tools.

It’s not about having the cheapest setup, it’s about having one that works. Because just like a quality build, a well-built website pays you back for years to come.
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Need a website that works as hard as you do?

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‍That’s exactly what we build at The Tradie Studio - no gimmicks, no jargon, just solid design that helps you win better clients and get your time back.

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