“How much does a new website cost?” This is the first question every business owner in Perth asks, and they should. The truth is that it’s like asking, “How much does a house cost?” A one-bedroom apartment in the city could cost more than a five-bedroom house in the eastern suburbs. The same goes for websites. It can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to more than six figures. The worst thing a company can do is only think about the cost. Instead of asking, “How much does it cost?” you should ask, “How much do I need to invest to reach my business goals?”
Changing the words “Cost” to “Investment” and “ROI”
Stop thinking of a website as a business expense and start thinking of it as a strategic investment if you want to make a smart choice. A $5,000 “cheap” website that doesn’t bring in any leads costs a lot more than a $50,000 website that brings in $250,000 in new business. In Perth’s competitive market, a website’s success isn’t based on how cheap it is to set up; it’s based on how much money it makes for its owner. It needs to be more than just an online brochure that sits there; it needs to be a useful tool that helps your business grow.
What does “Under the Hood” mean? Figuring out how much a website is really worth
Remember the house analogy we used a moment ago? it still applies here. Like a house when your website is done, you’ll be able to see the pretty decorations and awesome functionality. But the parts you can’t see, like the foundation, the framework, and the electricals, are what really matter. They will determine whether the building lasts for decades or falls apart in a year. The same is true for your website, what’s under the surface is what really creates value.
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The Foundation: Strategy & Discovery
This is the most important step, but it’s also the one that people forget about the most. It’s the blueprint for your house and the tests on the ground stability. Before they even start designing a single pixel, a professional agency will spend time doing competitor analysis, keyword research, defining your target audience, mapping the customer journey, and setting your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This strategic foundation makes sure that every choice you make after this one is only meant to help you reach your business goals.
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The Framework: UX/UI Design & Custom Development
This is the building and the engineering. The “look and feel” of a user interface (UI) includes the colours, fonts, and other design elements. User Experience (UX) design, on the other hand, is about how well the structure works—how easy and natural it is for a visitor to get what they want. Wireframes and prototypes are made at this point to make the user’s experience better. Then, custom development makes this plan a reality that is unique to you, instead of forcing your business into a template that doesn’t fit everyone.
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The Plumbing & Electricals: Technical SEO, Security, and Performance
This is the important, hidden infrastructure. Technical SEO means that a site needs to be built on clean, efficient code so that search engines like Google can easily find and rank it. It needs to load quickly; if it takes too long, people will go to your competitors. And it has to be safe, so that both your business and your customers’ information is safe. Just like bad plumbing, a poorly built technical foundation will always cause problems that cost a lot of money and are bad for business. Getting this right is the main goal of our Perth Website Design service.
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The Fit-Out: Content & Integrations
This is the last 10% that turns the house into a home. It includes hiring a professional copywriter who can write for your audience, finding high-quality images, and making sure the site works well with your other business tools, such as CRMs, payment gateways, or booking systems. A professional launch isn’t as easy as flipping a switch; it takes a lot of testing, moving things around, and keeping an eye on things.
The Unseen Costs of a “Cheap” Website
Choosing the lowest quote is often the costliest choice. Here’s why:
- The Price of Doing It All Over Again: As you grow, a cheap website built on a weak foundation or a restrictive template will never be able to meet your needs. Most companies in this situation have to completely rebuild their business within 18 to 24 months, which costs a lot of money. You pay two times.
- The Price of Bad Performance: A website that is slow, unsafe, or hard to use actively drives customers away. Every lost lead and abandoned shopping cart hurts your bottom line and costs you money every day.
- The Price of Being Invisible: Your site will be almost impossible to find on Google if it doesn’t have Technical SEO built into it. Your competitors will get the clicks, leads, and sales while you stay hidden on page five.
So, What Should The Price Of Your Website Be?
Your website should cost a small part of what it is expected to bring in for your business. The best investment is one that fits perfectly with your specific, measurable goals and the return on investment (ROI) you expect. It’s not a race to the bottom on price; it’s a strategic choice. That number could be $15,000 or $150,000, depending on how big your goals are. You aren’t buying a product; you’re hiring someone to build a custom engine for your business to grow.
If you’re ready to figure out the best investment for your business goals, set up a free consultation with one of our strategists in Perth today.
