Nobody likes asking “how much?” and hearing “it depends”. It does depend, but on a short list of things you can understand in five minutes. Here is that list.
The five things that move the price
- How many pages, and how different they are. Five pages that share one layout cost far less than five pages that each need their own design. A brochure site costs less than a site with a booking engine, even at the same page count.
- Who writes the words. Copywriting is the job most owners underestimate. If the agency writes every page, expect it in the price. If they do not, expect to spend your evenings on it, and expect the launch to slip while you do.
- Photos. Real photos of your work, your team and your place beat stock every time. Budget for a half-day shoot if you have nothing usable; it is often the best money in the project.
- Selling online. Products, payments, shipping rates and GST make an online store a different build. So do integrations with your booking tool, CRM or email platform.
- What happens after launch. Hosting, backups, updates and support are either in a care plan or they are your problem. Ask which.
What “from” prices actually mean
A “from” price is the floor for a package, not a bait number. The honest version works like this: the package fixes what is included, one call establishes how much of it you need, and you get an exact figure before anything starts. If the number can move after that without you approving a change in scope, walk away.
For reference, Burvic’s three website packages have indicative starting prices of $4,500, $9,500 and $20,000+ plus GST, and the quote you sign is the number you pay. The pricing page shows what sits in each.
The costs nobody mentions
- Your domain name: usually $15 to $40 a year, and it should be registered in your name, not the agency’s.
- Paid plugins, apps or themes you choose: some are one-off, most are yearly.
- Hosting: from a few dollars a month to a few hundred, depending on what the site does.
- Ad spend, if you run ads. A website does not include the traffic.
- Your own time: reviewing designs, gathering content, answering questions. Plan for it and the project runs on time.
Questions to ask any agency before you sign
- Is the price fixed, and what would change it?
- Who writes the copy, and is it included?
- Who owns the site, the code, the content and the accounts when it is paid for?
- What is the launch date, and what happens if you miss it?
- Who do I talk to after launch, and how quickly do they answer?
If the answers are clear and in writing, you are in good hands, whoever you choose.