Ask three agencies to quote on a website and you might get three wildly different numbers. That’s not because someone is ripping you off (well, usually). It’s because “a website” can mean anything from a five-page brochure to a full online platform, and every quote is making different assumptions about what’s included.
The trick isn’t finding the lowest number. It’s understanding what each number buys.
The five ingredients in every website price
1. Thinking time. Discovery, planning, sitemaps and wireframes. This is the part cheap quotes skip, and it’s the part that decides whether the site actually brings in work.
2. Design. A template with your colours swapped in costs far less than a custom design built around your customers. Both are valid. Just know which one you’re getting.
3. Development. The more features, the more build time: booking systems, member logins, calculators, product filters and integrations with your CRM or accounting software all add up.
4. Content. Someone has to write the words, source the photos and load it all in. If that’s you, factor in your time. If it’s the agency, it should be itemised.
5. Launch and beyond. Testing, SEO basics, training, hosting and ongoing care. A site with no care plan is a bit like a car with no servicing.
Three common build types
- Template-based: Fast and budget-friendly. Good for simple needs, though you’ll trade away some flexibility and individuality.
- Customised: A proven framework extended with custom design and features. This suits most growing businesses.
- Fully bespoke: Built from scratch for your exact needs. Best when your website is central to how you win and serve customers.
The costs people forget
These are the line items that blow budgets after the fact:
- Copywriting and professional photography
- Moving content from your old site, and setting up redirects so you don’t lose Google rankings
- Accessibility testing
- Premium plugins and software licences
- Domain, hosting and email renewals
- Ongoing updates and security
Six questions to ask before you sign
- What exactly is included, page by page?
- How many rounds of design changes do I get?
- Who writes and loads the content?
- Will I own the site, domain and hosting accounts?
- What happens if I want to add something mid-project?
- What support is there after launch, and what does it cost?
How we price at Tomatocrust
We start with a conversation about your goals, recommend the right type of build and send a written, itemised, fixed-price quote. If the budget is tight, we’ll suggest a phased approach: launch the essentials now and add features as the site starts paying its way. Our packages start from [$599 – confirm] for a simple launch site.
CTA: Want a straight answer on what your website will cost? Tell us what you need and we’ll send a written quote within one business day. → Get your price