“How much does a website cost?” is usually the first question a South Australian small business, not-for-profit or council asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on what the site has to do. Two quotes for “a website” can describe very different projects: one a template with your logo on it, the other a planned, written, tested and accessible site that keeps working after launch. This guide explains the factors that move the price up or down, so you can scope the project clearly and compare quotes on the same basis.
1. The number and type of pages
A short brochure site with a home page, services, about and contact pages is a smaller job than a site with dozens of service pages, location information, team profiles, a news section or a resource library. Unique page layouts take more design and build time than pages that reuse a template. List the pages you need, and mark which are similar to each other.
2. Who writes the content
Words are the part of a website project that most often runs late. If you supply finished, approved copy, the job is smaller. If the supplier interviews you, plans the page structure around what people search for and writes or edits the copy, that is real work and should appear in the quote. Good content is also what helps a page rank, so it is rarely the right place to cut.
3. Design: template, adapted theme or custom
Using a theme with minor changes is quicker than a custom design built around your brand, audience and content. Custom design usually includes wireframes, a visual design for key pages and a set of reusable components. Ask how many rounds of design changes are included.
4. Platform and content management
The platform affects build effort and ongoing costs. A WordPress site, a headless CMS with a static front end, a hand-built static site and a hosted platform such as Shopify each have different set-up work, licences, hosting needs and maintenance. Our comparison of WordPress, custom and Next.js websites explains the trade-offs.
5. Features and integrations
- Enquiry, booking, application or donation forms, and where their data goes.
- Online payments, an online store, product catalogues, shipping and GST settings.
- Connections to a CRM, accounting, booking or membership system.
- Member logins, gated content, search, maps or multilingual pages.
Each integration needs building, securing and testing. Our guide to online forms and payments covers what is involved.
6. Accessibility and testing
Building to WCAG 2.2 Level AA from the start costs far less than fixing a finished site. Testing with a keyboard and a screen reader, checking colour contrast and making forms and documents accessible all take time, and for councils, agencies and many not-for-profits they are not optional. See our WCAG 2.2 guide.
7. Moving from an existing website
A redesign that replaces an existing site needs a list of current pages, a redirect from every old address to the right new one, content moved or rewritten, and checks in Google Search Console after launch. Skipping this step can cost rankings that took years to earn. Our website migration checklist sets out the steps.
8. Photography, video and branding
Original photos of your team, premises and work help a site feel trustworthy, but they need a photographer or time from your staff. A new logo or brand refresh is a separate piece of work that should be scoped on its own.
9. SEO set-up and local search
Page titles, descriptions, headings, structured data, a sitemap, fast images and internal links should be part of any professional build. Extra work such as keyword research, location content, Google Business Profile clean-up or ongoing content is often quoted separately. Nobody can honestly guarantee rankings, so look for a clear list of what will be done rather than promises.
10. Ongoing costs after launch
- Domain renewal and any premium theme or plugin licences.
- Hosting, which varies by platform and traffic.
- Security updates, backups, uptime monitoring and form tests.
- Content changes and improvements.
Our website care and maintenance guide explains what a care plan should cover.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Send every supplier the same brief, with the pages, features and actions you need.
- Ask for a written scope listing pages, content, integrations, accessibility testing, redirects, training and support.
- Ask for every recurring cost, in writing.
- Check that your organisation will own the domain, hosting, code and accounts.
- Look at recent work on your own phone, and ask the questions in our guide to choosing a web designer in Adelaide.
The cheapest quote is often the one that leaves something out. A clear scope makes the differences visible before you commit.
How EITSAA can help
EITSAA quotes every website to your scope rather than selling fixed packages, so you pay for what your site needs. Tell us your goals, pages and timing and we will come back with a written scope and a quote, with options where there is a sensible choice to make. Get a website quote or call 0402 401 584, and see our website design and development service.
Not sure where your current site stands? Request a complimentary website check: a no-obligation review of mobile layout, speed, accessibility basics and Google setup for South Australian businesses, not-for-profits and councils. Already have a written quote for a new site? See our price beat and its conditions.