From a "2/10" to a "8/10": What Should a Business Website Redesign Really Cost?
Right, let's get stuck in. Your business is growing, you're kicking goals, but your old DIY website, probably a Wix or Squarespace you knocked together a few years back, is starting to feel less like an asset and more like an anchor. You know you need to go from a "2 out of 10" to something more professional—a solid "7 or 8"—that actually gets found on Google.
Then you start asking for quotes. One bloke says $1,000 a month. Another says $4,000 a month. Someone else might throw out a one-off figure that seems plucked from thin air. It’s enough to make you want to stick with what you’ve got.
No dramas. This confusion is normal, but it’s crucial to understand what you’re actually paying for. Let’s break down the nuts and bolts of website pricing in Australia so you can make a fair dinkum decision.
The Two Main Pricing Models: Project vs. Retainer
The wild difference in the quotes you've received comes down to two different ways of working.
1. The One-Off Project Fee
This is what most business owners expect and what you were leaning towards.
- What it is: A fixed price to complete a specific project—in this case, designing and building your new website. You pay for the build, and once it's live and you're happy, the project is complete.
- What you get: A fully functional, professionally built website handed over to you. You then take over the hosting and basic maintenance.
- What influences the cost:
- Complexity: A simple 5-page brochure site is cheaper than a 50-page site with a blog and multiple service pages.
- Custom Design: A unique design built from scratch costs more than a customised premium template.
- Custom Functionality: Do you need a booking system, a client portal, or a members-only area? This often requires a custom WordPress plugin developer to build bespoke features that work exactly how you need them to.
- Integrations: Connecting your website to other business systems, like a CRM or email marketing platform, requires API integration expertise. This is a common request that adds significant value by automating your workflows.
- Content & SEO Setup: The migration of old content and the initial setup of on-page SEO.
A one-off project fee is the right fit if your primary need is a high-quality, professional website that you can manage yourself moving forward.
2. The Monthly Retainer Fee
This model is less about a one-time build and more about an ongoing partnership.
- What it is: A recurring monthly fee for a bundle of services.
- What you get: The website build is often part of the package, but the monthly fee also covers things like hosting, security monitoring, software updates, ongoing SEO work, content creation, and digital marketing management.
- Why the high price tag? That $4,000/month quote likely includes a lot more than just the website. It's probably a full-service digital marketing package. The $1,000/month quote might be a "website-as-a-service" model, where you're essentially leasing the site.
A retainer is for businesses that want to completely outsource their entire digital presence, from the tech to the marketing.
What a Fair Dinkum Website Redesign Process Looks Like
Moving from a DIY platform to a professional Senior WordPress Developer build isn't just about making things look pretty. It's about building a strategic business asset. Here’s a high-level look at the proper process, so you know what to expect from a genuine expert.
- Discovery and Strategy: We don't just talk about colours and fonts. We discuss your business goals. Who are your customers? What do you want them to do on the site? This initial planning prevents costly changes down the track.
- Design and User Experience (UX): This phase is about mapping out a user journey that guides visitors towards your goals.1 We'll design a clean, modern interface that's easy to navigate and works beautifully on mobile devices. This might include subtle, professional touches from a Web Animation Designer to make the experience more engaging.
- Development and Build: This is where the designs are turned into a functional website. For a flexible and powerful site, I build on WordPress, using tools like Elementor and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF). This combination gives you a professional, custom-designed front end with a back end that’s surprisingly easy for you to update yourself—no code required.
- Launch and Handover: Before going live, we test everything meticulously. After launch, I provide training so you feel confident managing your new site. You own the final product, with no ongoing strings attached.
Mini Case Study: A Real-World Example
A professional services firm in Brisbane was stuck with an outdated Wix site that generated zero leads. They needed to showcase their expertise and integrate a booking calendar. We built them a new WordPress website with a clean, authoritative design. The key was creating a custom-built back-end with ACF and Elementor, allowing their team to easily add new case studies and articles without any technical help. The new site saw a 300% increase in qualified enquiries within three months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why move from Wix to WordPress anyway?
Wix is great for getting started, but it has limitations in terms of customisation, performance, and advanced SEO. A professionally built WordPress site gives you complete ownership and control, superior performance, and the flexibility to add any feature you can imagine, including advanced AI integrations like intelligent chatbots or data automation.
What is a realistic budget for a one-off small business website redesign?
For a professional, well-built site in Australia that moves you from a "2/10" to an "8/10", you should generally budget somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000 for a one-off project fee. Simple brochure sites are at the lower end, while sites requiring complex custom features or API integrations are at the upper end. Anything significantly cheaper is likely cutting corners on strategy, performance, or security.
What ongoing costs should I expect after a one-off build?
Even with a one-off payment, you'll have minimal ongoing costs.
- Domain Name: Around $20-$30 per year.
- Website Hosting: Good quality Australian hosting is about $30-$50 per month.
- Maintenance (Optional but Recommended): You can hire a developer for occasional updates or sign up for a small monthly care plan (typically $80-$150/month) to handle security, backups, and software updates for you.
What's the Next Step?
Deciding between a one-off project and a monthly retainer depends entirely on your business needs and resources. If you want a powerful, professional website that you own and control, without being locked into high monthly fees, the one-off project model is almost certainly the right path for you.
The key is to get a detailed proposal from an experienced developer who can explain exactly what you're getting for your investment. A proper quote shouldn't be a single number; it should be a strategic plan.
If you're ready to get a clear, no-nonsense quote for turning your website into a genuine asset for your business, let's have a chat.
