How Much Should a Tradie Website Cost?

Ask 10 web designers what a tradie website costs and you'll get 10 different answers. We know because we asked.

We reached out to 47 agencies that build websites for tradies. The quotes ranged from $500 to $15,000. Same type of website. Same number of pages. Wildly different prices.

So what gives? And more importantly, how do you know if you're overpaying?

Let's break it down.

The four pricing tiers

In the Australian market, tradie websites fall into four rough categories:

None of these is inherently wrong. They solve different problems for different people. Let's look at what you're actually getting at each level.

DIY builders: $0 to build, $20-50/month

Wix. Squarespace. GoDaddy. You pick a template, drag some boxes around, and publish.

What you get:

• Full control over design and content
• Low monthly cost
• No one to wait on for changes

What you don't get:

• Help with SEO (it won't rank itself)
• Mobile optimisation (many templates look broken on phones)
• A site that looks different from the 50,000 others using the same template
• Your time back (expect 20-40 hours to build something decent)

Best for: Tradies who genuinely enjoy tinkering with tech and have time to learn the tools.

Template agencies: $500 to $3,000

These agencies use the same templates for every client. They swap in your logo, your photos, your text, and hand it over.

What you get:

• A professional looking site without doing it yourself
• Fast turnaround (usually 1-2 weeks)
• Lower upfront cost than custom

What you don't get:

• A unique design (you'll look like 20 other tradies)
• Ongoing support (they hand it over and move on)
• SEO help (usually not included)
• Updates after launch (that's extra)

Best for: Tradies who need something basic and don't plan to update it often.

Custom agencies: $5,000 to $15,000+

These are the big agencies. They design from scratch, build custom features, and charge accordingly.

What you get:

• A completely unique design
• Custom functionality if you need it
• Professional project management
• A team of designers and developers

What you don't get:

• A fast turnaround (expect 6-12 weeks)
• Ongoing help without extra fees
• Someone who answers when you call
• Updates included (changes are billed separately)

Most tradies don't need a $10,000 custom website. They need a $300/month website that actually works.

Best for: Established businesses with complex needs, large teams, or specific functionality requirements. Also: tradies with $10k+ they don't mind spending upfront.

The subscription model: $0-990 setup + $199-399/month

This is newer. Instead of paying $5k upfront for a site you own, you pay monthly for a site that's managed for you.

What you get:

• Professional site built for your trade
• Hosting, updates, and security included
• Changes whenever you need them
• Someone who actually answers
• SEO and Google Business Profile managed

What you don't get:

• Ownership of the design (you're renting, not buying)
• The ability to take it with you if you leave
• Custom functionality (it's built for tradies, not everyone)

Best for: Tradies who want a site that works without thinking about it. Who value their time over owning HTML files.

The real cost breakdown

Here's what most people miss: the upfront price is only part of the story.

A website isn't a one-time purchase. It's an ongoing thing. You need:

• Hosting: $10-100/month depending on quality
• Domain: $15-50/year
• SSL certificate: Free to $200/year
• Security updates: Someone has to do them
• Content changes: New photos, new services, new areas
• Google Business Profile: Posts, reviews, updates

Let's compare total cost over 2 years:

The numbers are similar. The difference is what you get for them.

Warning signs when getting quotes

After talking to dozens of tradies who've been burned, here's what to watch for:

• "It'll be about $3k, give or take" - No clear scope means surprise invoices
• "We'll handle SEO" (but can't explain how) - Everyone says this, few deliver
• "We just need content from you" - Translation: you're doing half the work
• No timeline - If they can't commit to a date, they're overloaded
• No examples of tradie sites - You're a guinea pig, not a client
• "Changes are billed hourly" - Fair, but ask what the hourly rate is ($150 adds up fast)

Questions to ask before signing

No matter which option you choose, get clear answers to these:

1. What's the total cost for the first year? (Including hosting, domain, updates)
2. What happens if I need a change after launch?
3. Who handles hosting and security?
4. Can I see 3 tradie websites you've built?
5. What do you do for SEO, specifically?
6. What's your response time if something breaks?
7. What happens if I want to leave?

Any good agency should answer these without getting defensive. If they dodge, keep looking.

The bottom line

There's no single right answer. The "best" option depends on your budget, your time, and what you actually need.

But here's what we'd say after talking to hundreds of tradies:

• If you're handy with tech and have time: DIY
• If you just need a basic placeholder: Template agency
• If you have $10k+ and complex needs: Custom agency
• If you want something that works without you managing it: Subscription

Most tradies fall into that last category. You've got a business to run. The website should run itself.

Want to see what we'd build for you? Free mockup, no commitment. We'll show you exactly what you'd get before you decide anything.

Note: Pricing ranges are based on our research of the Australian web design market in late 2025. Individual quotes may vary based on scope, location, and provider.