"How much does a website cost?" is one of the most common questions we hear from Perth business owners. The answer? It's complicated. The price depends on the platform, features, ongoing maintenance, and so much more.
But here's what really matters: Most business owners only think about the upfront design and development cost. They miss the hidden costs that stack up over time—hosting, maintenance, plugins, security, and SEO tools. This guide breaks down the real, total cost of ownership for different website approaches.
The Cost Breakdown: Line Item by Line Item
1. Initial Design & Development
This is the most visible cost, but it varies widely depending on the approach:
| Approach | Cost |
|---|---|
| DIY (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) | $0 (if you do it yourself) |
| WordPress (self-hosted) | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Custom Build (Small Business) | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Custom Build (Mid-Size Business) | $5,000–$15,000 |
| Enterprise / Complex Project | $15,000+ |
2. Hosting Costs
Where your website lives. This is an ongoing monthly or annual cost:
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | $27–$99 | $324–$1,188 |
| Squarespace | $15–$99 | $180–$1,188 |
| WordPress Shared Hosting | $5–$15 | $60–$180 |
| WordPress Managed Hosting | $30–$100+ | $360–$1,200+ |
| Modern Static Site (Netlify, Vercel) | $0–$50 | $0–$600 |
3. Domain Name
Your website address (yourbusiness.com.au):
- ✓ Standard domain (.com.au): $12–$15/year
- ✓ Premium domains: $20–$100+/year
- ✓ Note: Wix and Squarespace include this in their plans
4. SSL Certificate (Security)
The little lock icon that shows your site is secure:
- ✓ DIY platforms (Wix, Squarespace): Included
- ✓ Let's Encrypt (WordPress): Free
- ✓ Premium SSL: $50–$200/year (usually unnecessary)
5. Website Maintenance & Updates
The ongoing upkeep of your website:
| Platform | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Wix / Squarespace | $0 (automatic) |
| WordPress (DIY) | $0 (your time) |
| WordPress (Managed Support) | $100–$500 |
| Custom Site (Updates included) | Included with host |
6. SEO Tools & Plugins
To help your site rank on Google:
| Tool / Plugin | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Yoast SEO (WordPress) | $100–$600 |
| Rank Math (WordPress) | $120–$480 |
| Google Search Console | Free |
| Semrush / Ahrefs (research) | $99–$500+ |
| Custom Sites (built-in) | $0 |
7. Security & Backup Tools
Protect your website from hacks and data loss:
- ✓ Wordfence Security (WordPress): $120–$500/year
- ✓ UpdraftPlus Backups (WordPress): $80–$200/year
- ✓ DIY & Custom Sites: Usually included
8. Content Updates & Copywriting
Keeping your content fresh and effective:
- ✓ One blog post: $200–$500
- ✓ Monthly blog program (4 posts): $800–$2,000
- ✓ Website copy updates: $500–$1,500
Total Cost of Ownership: 5-Year Comparison
Let's add it all up for a typical Perth small business. We'll assume: basic content needs, no major updates, standard security, and minimal additional features.
| Cost Category | Wix / DIY | WordPress | Custom Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Build | $0 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Hosting (5 years) | $1,620–$5,940 | $1,800–$6,000 | $150–$3,000 |
| Domain (5 years) | Included | $60–$75 | $60–$75 |
| SEO/Security Plugins (5 years) | $0 | $1,000–$2,500 | $0 |
| Maintenance (5 years) | $0 | $500–$2,500 | Included |
| TOTAL | $1,620–$5,940 | $5,360–$13,075 | $3,210–$6,075 |
Key Insight: While Wix seems cheapest upfront, custom-built websites are more affordable over 5 years and offer significantly better returns on investment through improved SEO performance and conversion rates.
Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
1. Time to Market
DIY platforms launch fast, but custom builds generate leads faster. A faster launch means revenue starts sooner.
2. Conversion Loss from Slow Sites
WordPress sites load slower. That costs you 7-15% in lost conversions. For a business doing $100k/month, that's $7,000–$15,000 in lost revenue per month.
3. SEO Rankings
Faster sites rank higher. If your competitor has a faster site, they'll rank higher for your target keywords and capture your customers.
4. Technology Debt
WordPress accumulates plugin conflicts and outdated code. Over time, you'll need more maintenance, patches, and eventually a rebuild.
5. Lock-In Risk
Wix and Squarespace can change pricing or features. You're trapped. With custom builds, you own your site and can switch providers anytime.
The ROI Perspective
Here's the right way to think about website cost:
It's not "How cheap can I build it?"
It's "How much revenue will this website generate?"
If your website generates just 5 additional leads per month at $500 profit each, that's $30,000/year. A $3,000 website investment becomes a 10x return in year one.
Investing in quality (a custom-built site) typically outperforms saving money (DIY or WordPress) because quality sites rank better, convert better, and cost less to maintain.
Our Recommendation for Perth Businesses
If your business relies on organic search traffic or lead generation, invest in a custom-built website. Yes, it's more upfront, but the long-term ROI is significantly better.
Our custom website builds start at just $2,000, which is competitive with WordPress and significantly cheaper than you might expect. Plus, you get included professional website hosting, security, and SEO optimisation—making it the most affordable long-term option. For more details on hosting costs specifically, see our guide on how much website hosting should cost.
Want to understand the real cost for your specific business? Schedule a free consultation and we'll break down the numbers for you.
Related Articles & Further Reading
Website Builder Comparison: Wix vs Squarespace vs Custom
Detailed comparison of DIY builders vs custom-built websites for Perth businesses.
Read the article →WordPress vs Modern Website Builders
Complete comparison of WordPress vs modern static website builders for Australian businesses.
Read the article →