A tradie website in Australia typically costs $1,200–$5,000+ from an agency or freelancer, or a flat $500–$1,190 done-for-you with Scalesites — most tradies pick the $750 5-page site, live in 2 weeks. DIY builders start around $25/month but cost your time instead of cash. No GST, no lock-in, and you own it outright.
What you're actually paying for
A website price covers design, build, copywriting, mobile setup and getting you found on Google. The big gap between quotes usually comes down to how much time goes in, who does it, and whether local SEO setup is bundled in or billed as an extra. A small brochure site for a trade business doesn't need to be expensive — it needs to load fast, look credible, and show up when locals search.
Typical price ranges in Australia (2026)
| Option | Typical price | Time to live | You own it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $0–$40/mo | Weeks of your time | While you keep paying |
| Freelancer | $1,500–$3,000 | 4–8 weeks | Usually |
| Melbourne agency | $2,500–$8,000+ | 6 weeks+ | Check the contract |
| Scalesites — 3-page | $500 | 2 weeks | Yes — outright |
| Scalesites — 5-page (most popular) | $750 | 2 weeks | Yes — outright |
| Scalesites — 10-page | $1,190 | 2 weeks | Yes — outright |
Indicative ranges for a small trade business website. Competitor prices checked live 17 Aug 2026.
Two Melbourne competitors show how wide that freelancer/agency range really is. CoreWebHub prices tradie sites from $1,200, with most falling $1,500–$2,500 and advanced AI-feature builds up to $4,000. Same Day Studio's fast-turnaround single-page tradie site starts at $590 — cheaper than a week of newspaper ads, but a single page with no local SEO setup built in. Scalesites' 5-page site is $750, all-in, with local SEO already included from the start.
What actually moves the price
Three things move the number more than anything else: how many pages you need, how much of the copy still needs writing, and whether local SEO and Google Business Profile setup are bundled in or billed separately. A single-page site can look cheap on the sign-up price — but it usually means writing your own copy and setting up local search yourself later, at your own cost in time.
Which Scalesites package fits?
- 3-page ($500) — one trade, one service area, just getting started
- 5-page ($750, most popular) — multiple services or suburbs, the package most tradies pick
- 10-page ($1,190) — several trades or services and wider suburb coverage, more pages to rank for more searches
- See the full pricing breakdown for what's on each page.
Why the gap is so wide
Agencies build in discovery phases, project management and retainers — that's what pushes Melbourne agency quotes toward $8,000. Freelancers vary by experience and how booked they are. DIY looks cheap until you count the hours — and the SEO and local Google setup that most tradies don't have time to learn. A productised, fixed-scope build removes that overhead, which is how the price comes down without cutting quality.
What's included in a Scalesites site
- A mobile-first website — 3, 5 (most popular) or 10 pages
- On-page local SEO setup targeting your trade and suburbs
- Google Business Profile connection so you show up in local search
- A contact form that sends enquiries straight to you
- Copywriting and layout done for you — no blank-page stress
- Optional hosting & management for $99/month — cancel anytime. See the full pricing breakdown.
Ongoing costs to budget for
A domain name runs about $20–$30 a year (illustrative). Hosting and management is an optional $99/month with Scalesites and you can cancel any time — there's no lock-in. Because you own the site and domain, you're never held hostage if you decide to move on.
The price you see is the price you pay
No GST is added and there are no surprise extras. Want it built for your trade? See websites for plumbers, electricians and more, compare it against other Melbourne services in the best website design service for tradies, or get a free preview before you pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is $500 too cheap for a website?
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No. The price is low because the scope is fixed and the process is productised — there's no discovery phase, retainer or project-management overhead. You still get a mobile-first, Google-ready site with local SEO setup, and you own it outright.
Are there ongoing fees?
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Only if you want them. Hosting and management is an optional $99/month and you can cancel any time. A domain costs about $20–$30 a year (illustrative). There are no lock-in contracts.
Do I own the website?
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Yes — completely. The domain, the site and the content are yours from day one. Nothing is held hostage if you ever decide to move on.
How long until my site is live?
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Two weeks from payment. You'll see a free preview within 48 hours of enquiring, before you pay anything.
Does the price change depending on my trade?
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No. Scalesites prices by page count, not by trade — $500 for 3 pages, $750 for 5 pages, $1,190 for 10 pages. Electricians, plumbers, builders and every other trade pay the same flat price for the same scope.
Is GST added to the price?
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No. Scalesites is not GST-registered, so the price you see is the price you pay — no extras added at checkout.
What's the difference between the $500, $750 and $1,190 sites?
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Page count and coverage. The $500 3-page site suits one trade in one area; the $750 5-page site (most popular) covers multiple services or suburbs; the $1,190 10-page site suits several trades or wider suburb coverage. All three include the same local SEO setup and Google Business Profile connection.
Is the free preview really free?
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Yes. You'll see a real preview of your site, built with your business name and content, within 48 hours of enquiring — before you pay anything at all.