How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Australia (2025)?

Ask five Perth agencies what a small business website costs and you will still get five wildly different numbers. The gap exists because people bundle different deliverables under the word “website”. A brochure-style landing page might only need a templated build, while a conversion-ready site includes copywriting, funnels, booking flows, analytics, hosting, accessibility, and post-launch optimisation.

Inflation, higher expectations from savvy buyers, and the rush toward AI-assisted workflows have also shifted both pricing and timelines. In 2025, West Australian businesses expect their website to convert, not just look pretty. That means the real question is not “How cheap can I launch?”, but “What investment produces the fastest payback?”

• DIY and template builds: $0–$1,200 plus your time (often weeks of evenings)
• Freelancer engagements: $2,000–$6,000 depending on scope
• Boutique agency launches: $4,500–$12,000 with strategy, copy, and design
• Conversion-first partners (like Ascension): Transparent packages starting from $1,000 setup with bundled retainers that drive traffic and automations

The reason Ascension leads with a clear package structure is simple: most of the long-term ROI comes from what happens after the site goes live. Still, it helps to understand which line items influence a 2025 build so you can compare suppliers on apples-to-apples terms.

1. Discovery & funnel mapping – ensures messaging and CTAs match your buyers.
2. Copywriting & content sourcing – high-converting pages require research-driven copy plus visuals.
3. Design system & accessibility – responsive, WCAG-aligned interfaces that support lead capture.
4. Development & integrations – fast hosting (Perth-optimised), analytics, CRM or booking tools.
5. QA & optimisation – launch checklists, baseline reporting, and iteration windows.

If you only need a temporary landing page, a template site builder is perfectly valid. Expect to spend evenings configuring layouts, writing copy, sourcing images, and connecting forms yourself. Freelancers lift some of that work, but availability, QA, and long-term support can be hit and miss—especially if they aren't in the same timezone (AWST).

Full-service partners cost more on paper but bundle strategy, production, data, and support. Ascension’s model flips the script: the site launches with a predictable setup fee, and we focus on the recurring outcomes that keep clients paying long after the honeymoon period.

Eligible local businesses receive a conversion-focused, bespoke website with booking or lead capture baked in. Hosting, security, analytics, and schema are preconfigured. In exchange, we move quickly into retention services: monthly content shoots, ads, SEO, and automation retainers that pay for the initial build several times over.

Because our production crews run standardised playbooks, Ascension sites go live in 6-10 days on average. Content, ads, and automation programs are lined up before launch so the new site doesn’t sit idle.

• No-surprise scoping: we present a transparent roadmap before committing.
• Post-launch optimisation window to smooth out any friction points.
• Automation hooks (review capture, nurture emails, booking prompts) already wired in.
• Optional add-ons: eCommerce flows, multi-location SEO pages, CRM dashboards.

A $6,000 invoice for a website might feel expensive until you realise a single extra booked job per week recoups the cost in a month. The real ROI drivers are the ongoing systems that keep leads flowing and nurtured.

• Conversion rate lift from sharpened messaging and social proof.
• Automated lead responses that prevent prospects from going cold.
• Daily content and paid traffic pushing qualified visitors into the funnel.
• Analytics that highlight which campaigns produce the greatest lifetime value.