The short answer
It depends on what the price includes. A DIY builder is cheap until you count your own time; a custom agency build costs more but should include copywriting, SEO, forms wired to your inbox or CRM, and fixes after launch. Our six-page build is $3,500 + GST, copy included, live in 10 to 15 business days.
Last updated 1 October 2026
Ask five web companies what a website costs and you will get five very different numbers. That is not because anyone is hiding something. It is because "a website" can mean a template you fill in yourself, or a site that is written, designed, built for search and wired into how you sell.
This guide explains what actually drives the price of a small business website in New Zealand, what our own build includes, and what to check before you pay anyone.
What actually drives the price
- Number of pages. A five or six page site (home, services, about, proof, contact) covers most service businesses. Every extra page adds design, copy and testing.
- Who writes the copy. Copy is the part most quotes leave out, and the part that decides whether visitors enquire. If you have to write it yourself, the site usually takes months, not weeks.
- Template or custom design. A template is faster and cheaper; a custom design fits your brand and your buyers.
- Functionality. Forms, bookings, calculators, e-commerce and member logins each add build and testing time.
- Search and AI readiness. Clean structure, schema markup, speed and answer-shaped content decide whether Google ranks you and whether AI assistants like ChatGPT can quote you.
- Ownership and ongoing costs. Who owns the domain, hosting and site, and what you pay each month after launch.
The three ways NZ businesses usually buy a website
A DIY website builder. A monthly subscription and a template. Low cash cost, but you write, design and maintain everything, and you rarely own the site outright.
A template site from a freelancer. Faster than doing it yourself. Check whether copywriting, SEO setup and fixes after launch are included, because they often are not.
A custom build from an agency. The most complete option when it includes copy, search setup and integration with your forms and CRM. Compare quotes on what is included, not just the headline price.
What our $3,500 + GST website includes
Our website design service is one published price: $3,500 + GST in New Zealand, $2,997 + GST in Australia and US$2,097 in the United States, as a one-off build with no retainer.
- Six pages, with the copy written for your buyers.
- Built to rank on Google: clean structure, schema markup and fast loading.
- Built to be quoted by AI search: an llms.txt file and answer-shaped content.
- Enquiry forms and click-to-call wired into your inbox or CRM.
- Live in 10 to 15 business days from content in hand. You approve the sitemap on day one.
- Two revision rounds, then 30 days of post-launch fixes and a handover walkthrough.
- You own it: domain and hosting are set up in your name.
What it does not include
Photography or video, a logo or full brand identity, e-commerce and payments, member logins, and maintenance after the first 30 days. Ongoing care is available as an optional monthly care plan. Full details are on our pricing page.
What to ask before you pay anyone
Before you sign, ask who writes the copy, who owns the domain and hosting, what happens after launch, and how the site will be found on Google and in AI answers. Our free guide, Nine Questions to Ask a Web Designer, walks through each one.
Not sure whether you need a full website or a single page for your ads? Read website vs landing page.
Website cost in NZ: common questions
How much does a website cost in NZ?
It depends on what is included. Our six-page website costs $3,500 + GST in New Zealand as a one-off build, with the copywriting, search setup, forms and 30 days of fixes included. In Australia it is $2,997 + GST, and US$2,097 in the United States.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
Our builds go live in 10 to 15 business days from content in hand. You approve the sitemap on day one, before anything is designed, and there are two rounds of revisions during the build.
Do I own my website?
With us, yes: the domain, hosting and site are set up in your name. Ask every provider this before you sign, because some keep ownership and rent the site back to you.
Is SEO included in a website build?
The foundations are: clean structure, schema markup, fast loading, an llms.txt file and answer-shaped content, so Google can rank the site and AI assistants can quote it. Ongoing SEO and content work is a separate service.
Are there ongoing costs after the website is built?
Domain and hosting renew each year, and after the first 30 days of fixes you can add an optional monthly care plan for hosting, updates, fixes and small content changes.