How Much Should a Tradie Website Cost? What's Fair and What's a Rip-off
The four ways tradie websites get sold, what each really costs over three years, and the traps to avoid.
Two tradies can pay wildly different amounts for the same website. The number matters less than the structure — what's included, what you own, and what happens the first time you need a change. Here's how the four common models actually compare.
1. DIY builders
Cheapest in dollars, expensive in hours. You'll spend weekends on it, and the parts that actually win work — page structure, service pages, speed, local SEO — are the parts DIY templates handle worst. Fine if your time is free and expectations are modest.
2. Upfront build, then you're on your own
The traditional model. You pay once for the build, then pay hosting elsewhere and pay again for every text change. Common problem: two years later the site is out of date because every small edit felt like it wasn't worth the invoice.
3. Managed monthly (what I do)
A smaller setup fee plus a weekly or monthly amount that covers hosting, security, updates and changes. Predictable, and the site stays current because asking for changes costs nothing. The thing to check is lock-in: a fair version lets you cancel with reasonable notice.
4. Agency retainer
Larger monthly fees covering website plus ads and reporting. Genuinely useful at a certain size, overkill for a two-van business.
Warning signs
- You can't get a straight answer about what happens if you leave.
- Hosting is "included" but the domain is registered in their name.
- Every content change is quoted separately, at an hourly rate.
- SEO is promised with guaranteed rankings.
- A long fixed-term contract with an exit fee.
What you should get for the money
- A page per service and per area you cover, not a one-page brochure.
- Fast loading on mobile, your own photos used properly.
- Titles, descriptions and a sitemap set up for Google.
- Hosting, SSL, backups and updates handled.
- Changes made when your business changes.
For real dollar figures across the market, see how much a tradie website costs in Australia, or the broader website cost guide for Australian businesses.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What exactly is included each month?
- Who owns the domain and the content?
- What does it cost to make a change?
- How much notice do I need to give to cancel?
- How many pages am I getting, and which ones?
- Is hosting, SSL and backup included?
My own answer to all of that is on the tradie websites page — a set setup fee, then a weekly managed fee with everything included and no lock-in.
Want to Improve Your Google Visibility?
SEO varies enormously depending on your website, your market and who you're competing against, so there's no fixed package. Tell me what you do and where you work, and I'll tell you honestly what's realistic.
Talk to Mike About SEOCommon questions
- Is a monthly website plan cheaper than paying upfront?
- Over three years the totals often land close together. The difference is that a managed plan keeps hosting, updates and changes included, so the site doesn't quietly go stale.
- Should I own my website?
- You should always own your domain name and your content. Whether you host the site yourself matters less than being able to leave without losing either.
Written by Mike — Web Guy Mike
I build and look after websites for Australian tradies and small service businesses. Every site is built by me — no outsourcing, no account managers. More about Mike.