Search for a web designer in Brisbane and you'll get hundreds of results. Quotes range from a few hundred dollars to well over twenty thousand, and most proposals promise more or less the same thing. So the hard part isn't finding someone. It's working out which quotes are for the kind of site you actually need.
This guide is for small business owners: trades, clinics, cafés, salons, shops and consultants. It covers what to decide before you talk to anyone, what to check in a quote, and the questions that sort the good operators from the rest.
Start with what the site needs to do
Most small business websites have one job: get someone who found you on Google to call, book or send an enquiry. For that, you usually need a handful of pages. A homepage, a page for each main service, an about page with real photos, and a clear way to get in touch.
Some businesses need more. You might sell products online, publish articles every month, or want to change prices and menus yourself without asking anyone. Those needs push you towards a bigger, custom build on a platform you can log into.
Write down which group you're in before you ask for quotes. It stops you paying for a twenty-page build when three pages would do, and it stops a cheap template being sold to you as a store.
The three kinds of option
Do it yourself. Wix, Squarespace and similar builders are cheap and fast to start. The catch is your time. Writing the copy, choosing photos and getting the SEO basics right usually takes longer than people expect, and the result often looks like what it is.
A done-for-you small site. A designer builds a small site quickly from a proven layout, writes the copy and looks after hosting. AI now does a lot of the drafting in this kind of work, which is why it's become much cheaper. The thing to check is how much a person reviews and edits. Our AI websites work this way: AI drafts, we rewrite, and nothing goes live until it sounds like you.
A custom build. A designer or agency plans, designs and builds the site around your brand, usually on WordPress, Shopify or Webflow. It takes weeks rather than days and costs several times more. It's worth it when you need a store, lots of pages, or full control. We compare the platforms in WordPress, Webflow or Shopify.
None of these is the right answer for everyone. A plumber with three services doesn't need a custom build, and a store with two hundred products shouldn't be on a one-page site.
Six things to check in any quote
1. Who owns the domain and the site
Your domain name should be registered in your name or your business's name, with your email on the account. If a designer registers it in theirs, moving away later can get messy. Ask who owns the hosting account too, and whether you can take the site with you if you leave.
2. Who writes the words
Many quotes assume you'll supply all the text. That's often where projects stall for months. Check whether copywriting is included, how many pages it covers, and whether someone will edit it to sound like you rather than a brochure.
3. What "SEO included" actually means
At a minimum, every page should have its own title and description, the site should load quickly on a phone, and your business details should be marked up so Google can read them. For local businesses, setting up or tidying your Google Business Profile matters more than anything on the website itself. Our local SEO checklist covers this in detail. If the quote just says "SEO-friendly", ask what that means in practice.
4. What happens after launch
Ask what it costs to change a phone number, add a photo or update prices six months from now. Some designers include small edits in a monthly fee. Others charge by the hour. Some hand over the login and leave you to it. Any of these can work, as long as you know which one you're getting.
5. Ongoing costs
Add up hosting, domain renewal, plugin or app licences, and any maintenance plan. A cheap build with expensive monthly fees can cost more over three years than a dearer build with low running costs.
6. Real work you can click
Screenshots are easy to fake or polish. Ask for links to live sites, ideally for businesses like yours, and check them on your phone. Do they load quickly? Can you find the phone number or contact form in a few seconds?
Red flags
- No questions about your business. A quote that arrives before anyone asks about your customers is a template with your logo on it.
- Vague scope. "Website design: $3,000" with no page count, no mention of copy and no timeline.
- Pressure to sign today. A real discount will still be there next week.
- Everything locked in. If you can't get a copy of your content or move the domain, you're renting, not buying.
- Guaranteed rankings. Nobody can guarantee first place on Google. Anyone who does is guessing or bending the rules.
Questions to ask on the first call
- Who will actually do the design and build?
- Is the copy included, and who writes it?
- How long until the site is live, and what do you need from me?
- Who owns the domain, the hosting account and the content?
- What does it cost to make changes after launch?
- What will I pay each year once the site is live?
- Can you show me two or three live sites for businesses like mine?
Good designers like these questions. If someone gets defensive, that tells you something too.
Where Workshown fits
We do both kinds of work. If you need a small site that goes live this week, our AI websites go live in three to seven business days, with the copy written for you and a fixed price. If you need an online store or a site you edit yourself, we do custom websites on WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify and Webflow, quoted per project. You can see the sites we've built on our work page.
Common questions
How much does a small business website cost in Brisbane?
It depends mostly on how many pages you need and who writes the content. Small done-for-you sites start at a few hundred dollars. Custom builds usually run into the thousands, and online stores cost more again. Compare what's included rather than the headline price.
Should I use a freelancer or an agency?
For a small business site, the person matters more than the label. A good freelancer can be faster and cheaper than an agency. Just make sure there's a plan for edits and support if they're away or busy.
How long does a website take?
A small site built from a proven layout can be live in under a week. A custom build usually takes four to eight weeks, and most delays come from waiting on content, so ask early what you'll need to supply.