Website Costs

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?

What Does a Website Cost in NZ?

The main costs involved in running a website can include:

You will not necessarily need all of these. The cost of your website should be based on what your business actually needs rather than simply choosing the cheapest option or paying for features you will never use.

The Main Ways to Build a Website

There are several ways to create a website, and the approach you choose will have a significant effect on the overall cost.

• Build Your Own Website

Using a website builder is often the most straightforward option for a small business that wants to create and manage its own website. You can choose a design, add your content, create pages and make changes yourself without needing to hire a developer every time you want to update your website.

Your costs may include a website builder subscription and domain name, with additional costs depending on the features you need. This approach can be a good fit if you have a relatively straightforward website and are comfortable managing it yourself.

• Hire a Web Designer or Developer

Another option is to pay a professional to design and build your website. This can be useful if you want a highly customised website or need functionality that is not available through a standard website builder.

The cost will depend on the size and complexity of the project, the level of customisation required and the professional you choose. You should also consider who will maintain and update the website once it has been built.

• Build a Website From Scratch

A completely custom website can involve design, development, hosting, integrations and ongoing technical maintenance. This is generally more appropriate for businesses with specific technical requirements rather than a typical small business website. The more functionality and custom development your website requires, the greater the potential cost.

How Much Does a Website Builder Cost?

Website builders usually work on a subscription model. Depending on the provider and plan, the subscription may include some combination of:

Some providers offer free plans, while others require a paid plan to connect your own domain or access important features. When comparing plans, look at what is actually included. A low advertised price may not represent the total cost if you need to pay separately for hosting, security, ecommerce or other essential features.

How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?

Your domain name is the address people use to find your website. For example: yourbusiness.co.nz Domain names are generally registered on a recurring basis, so this is an ongoing website cost rather than a one-off purchase. The price depends on the domain extension and the company you register it through. For New Zealand businesses, .nz domains are a common choice. You should also consider whether your preferred business name is available before committing to your website branding.

What About Website Hosting?

Website hosting is the service that stores your website and makes it available online. If you use a website builder, hosting is often included in your subscription. If you use other website-building options, hosting may need to be purchased separately.

This is an important distinction when comparing website costs. A website that appears inexpensive at first may have additional hosting, security or software costs that need to be added to the overall price.

How Much Does Website Design Cost?

Website design costs vary considerably. You can use an existing template and customise it yourself, or pay a designer to create a more tailored website. The cost can be influenced by:

For many small businesses, starting with a professionally designed template and customising it with your own branding can provide a practical balance between cost and appearance.

Don't Forget the Cost of Website Content

Your website needs content as well as a design. You may need:

• Website copy
• Product descriptions
• Photography
• Videos
• Graphics
• Testimonials
• Case studies

You can create some or all of this yourself, or pay professionals to produce it. Content is worth considering early because it can have a significant effect on both your budget and the time required to build your website. Good content also plays an important role in SEO and converting visitors into customers.

How Much Does an eCommerce Website Cost?

Selling products online introduces additional requirements.

An eCommerce website may need:

• Product pages
• Shopping cart
• Checkout
• Online payments
• Shipping options
• Product management
• Customer accounts
• Order management
• Tax and pricing information
• Stock management

Some website builders include ecommerce functionality within their plans, while others charge additional fees. Online payment providers may also charge transaction or processing fees. If you are planning an online store, compare the total cost of selling online, not just the monthly website price.

What Does SEO Cost?

SEO can range from something you manage yourself to an ongoing professional service.

If you are building your own website, you can handle many basic SEO tasks yourself, including:

• Choosing relevant keywords
• Writing useful page content
• Creating descriptive page titles
• Optimising headings
• Adding internal links
• Optimising images
• Creating useful location information

More competitive industries may benefit from professional SEO work. This can include keyword research, technical SEO, content creation, link building, local SEO and ongoing performance analysis. SEO should be viewed as an ongoing investment rather than simply a one-off website cost.

What Are the Ongoing Costs of a Website?

Getting your website live is not necessarily the end of your expenses. Depending on your setup, ongoing costs may include:

• Domain - your domain needs to be renewed.
• Website Builder or Hosting - you may pay a monthly or annual subscription.
• eCommerce - online stores may have additional software or transaction costs.
• Content - you may want to regularly create new pages, articles, photography or other content.
• SEO - you may invest in ongoing SEO to improve your search visibility.
• Marketing - you may use Google Ads, social media advertising, email marketing or other promotional channels to attract visitors.
• Maintenance - websites need to be reviewed and updated as your business changes.

How Much Should a Small Business Spend on a Website?

There is no single amount that every business should spend. Instead, consider what the website needs to achieve. A simple local service business may only need a small number of well-written pages, clear contact information and strong local SEO. A business selling hundreds of products online will have very different requirements.

Before choosing a website solution, consider:

• What does my business need now?
• What will I need in the future?
• What can I manage myself?
• Where would professional help add value?
• What ongoing costs can I comfortably maintain?

The cheapest website is not necessarily the best value, and the most expensive website is not necessarily the best solution either. The goal is to find the right balance between cost, functionality and business value.

Website Cost Checklist

Before choosing a website solution, make sure you understand whether your quoted or advertised price includes:

Understanding what is included can help you compare different website options more accurately.

Is a Cheap Website Worth It?

A low-cost website can be perfectly suitable for some businesses. The problem is not necessarily paying less. It is choosing a website that does not do what your business needs. A website can become expensive if you later discover that you need to rebuild it, move your content, add functionality or pay for features that were not included in the original price. Look at the overall value of the solution rather than focusing only on the initial price.

The Real Cost of a Website

The cost of a website is more than the price of building it. A website is an ongoing business asset. You need to consider: Build + Run + Maintain + Improve + Promote

The right investment depends on what you want your website to achieve and how important online enquiries, sales and visibility are to your business. For a small New Zealand business, a well-planned website does not necessarily need to be complicated or expensive. It needs to provide a useful experience for your customers and support your business goals.

Ready to Build Your Website?

Once you understand what your website needs to achieve and what it is likely to cost, you can make a much more informed decision about how to build it. Explore our guides to learn more about choosing a website builder, planning your website, designing your pages, improving your SEO and growing your online presence.

Start Building Your Website

Related Guides On Building a Website

• How to Build a Website
• Choosing a Website Builder
• Website Design
• Website SEO
• eCommerce Websites
• Domains and Hosting