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In this guide

In this guide

The Best Web Design in Brisbane

Updated 18 July 2023

We explain how much web design costs, must-know facts, SEO queries, DIY website builders and list twenty of Brisbane’s most experienced web design companies.

Summary

  • If you are considering having a website built for your business, it is important to clearly understand the costs involved and what you can expect to receive in return.
  • Unfortunately, many web design agencies are not transparent about pricing and may try to get you to reveal your budget before disclosing their costs. Don’t fall for this trap – our guide is designed to cover what you need to know upfront.
  • To help you choose a web designer with confidence, our guide includes information on what to expect in terms of pricing, must-know concepts and questions to ask, DIY options, mistakes to avoid and frequently asked questions.
  • We also list twenty trusted and reliable web designers with a proven track record helping Brisbane businesses succeed online.
  • Important: The prices provided in the guide are intended as a general reference and that actual quotes may vary based on the specific requirements of your project and the work involved

Web Design Brisbane Costs

How Much Does Website Development Cost?

Our guide focuses on web design for small businesses in and around Brisbane. It’s likely you’re looking for a standard website that represents your business (e.g. a website for a law firm, plumber or health care provider), or an eCommerce website (e.g. a website that sells products online and is aimed at consumers). 

Building a website is sometimes costed by page count and sometimes by time. Some web design companies will charge per hour, while others are will offer packages for different pages and inclusions. In general, the cost of web design services in Brisbane can vary significantly, depending on what your business needs. Our focus is on the needs of small businesses in all industries; general price ranges for such small business needs include the following:

  • Single-page websites: Around $500 (this would be a simple page with a business profile, map, contact details etc.).
  • 3-page packages (home page, about page, services page): $500-$1,000
  • 5-9 page packages: $1,000-$2,500+ (5-7 pages is recommended for small and medium businesses who want to profile their business services in greater detail)
  • Basic eCommerce websites: At least $3,000 with some products available for consumers to buy online
  • Premium eCommerce websites: At least $10,000, but the resources required to design an eCommerce website can be significant, so it can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars for a basic website.
  • Custom websites for specialised needs (government, financial services, etc.): Custom websites can cost from very little to hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). As the focus of this guide is on small businesses, we have not included any further guidance on custom or non-standard websites.

Important: Make sure to check that your website will be mobile-friendly. In general, small or medium businesses should not pay more than $2,000 for a standard website with 5-6 pages. It’s a good idea to shop around and find trusted web designers with reasonable quotes and good reviews who have experience with websites/clients in your industry.

MoneyHub’s Head of Research, Christopher Walsh, explains costs, pricing models and must-know considerations in the video below:

Understanding Ongoing Costs

Beyond the upfront cost, there may also be ongoing costs for editing and updates. Web design companies throughout Brisbane usually charge hourly rates for helping you tweak or change a website as your business develops. These charges vary from agency to agency:

  • $60 to $100 an hour is reasonable for complex requirements
  • Digital agencies with qualified developers may often charge $150 or even $200+ an hour; most of their skills and capabilities won’t be needed for a typical small business website.
  • By going to freelance websites such as Fiverr or Upwork, you can pay around $30 to $40 an hour for most small business website assistance. Therefore, working directly with a freelancer can be a cost-effective alternative to going with a local web design company.

It’s important to ask about ongoing charges to make sure you can compare accurately. Some web design companies offer free self-editing access so that hourly costs will be avoided altogether. 

Web Design Brisbane Process

What is the Process for Getting a Website Built?

The success of your website will depend on the experience of your designer and your responsiveness to questions. To start, you’ll need to provide information about your business, the number of pages you need, and any design preferences or images you have. The web design agency will build your website based on this information, and you’ll have the opportunity to review and request changes before it goes live.

The standard process for getting a website made in Brisbane usually involves the following:

  1. Knowing what you want and your budget
  2. Getting quotes from web design agencies
  3. Making a decision based on price, terms, and reviews
  4. Paying a deposit and sending details and images
  5. Reviewing the draft website and requesting changes
  6. Paying the final bill and going live
  7. Keeping your domain and hosting bills up to date to avoid going offline

Know This: Web Designer vs Web Developer – What’s the Difference?

  • A web designer is responsible for the visual design of a website, including layout, colour scheme, and overall aesthetic. 
  • On the other hand, a web developer is responsible for the technical side of building a website, including writing code in languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They may also be responsible for maintaining and updating the website once it is live.
  • A web design company will use web designers for simple website builds, such as a typical small business website, because they typically use tools such as website builders. 
  • However, for bigger projects, a web designer normally does visual work (as outlined above), and the developer builds the website and writes the code. 
  • Web design companies have one person as a client contact, so you won’t need to provide different information to different people (e.g. designers and developers).

Web Design Brisbane Costs and Offerings

Web Design Costs and Offerings You Need to Understand Upfront

Website design isn’t something many businesses have a lot of experience in. For this reason, it’s important to understand key costs and offerings related to the web design process. Here are a few things to consider:

  1. Understand contracts: Choose a web designer who doesn’t lock you into a strict contract. For example, many web designers charge a 50% deposit upfront, which is understandable to protect against losses if a client disappears. However, some web designers may have terms and conditions that don’t allow for refunds or require payment in full, even if you’re unhappy.
  2. Understand content management systems (CMS) and self-management access: A CMS is a software application that allows you to manage the content of your website, such as adding or editing pages and blog posts. Some popular CMS options include WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, Weebly, Joomla, and Drupal. If you want self-management after going live, meaning you can make updates with 24/7 login access, ‘drag-and-drop’ website builders like Wix and Weebly are popular throughout Australia. Whatever CMS your web design company builds in, you’ll need to be comfortable using it or rely on the company to make ongoing edits. If you want to self-manage the website once it goes live, having a user-friendly CMS is essential, so make sure you ask about their CMS support resources (videos, guides) for editing once your website is live.
  3. Understand hosting fees: Every website must be hosted on a server to exist on the internet. Hosting fees vary, but for most small businesses the hosting required doesn’t need to be premium. What’s important is that your website is online 100% of the time. For this, you should pay anyway from around $10 to $30 a month. The prices range largely because of the service offers – cheaper hosting may be email/chat only, whereas more expensive hosting may offer 24/7 toll-free support. We suggest choosing a hosting company suggested by your web design company, as long as the pricing is reasonable. By doing so you can be assured your website’s infrastructure (files and content management system) is compatible and supported by the hosting provider. However, if you’re quoted more than $30 a month, be sure to ask what is included in the hosting service if you’re quoted a higher price. Don’t pay more for the convenience of using your web design company as $10 or $20 extra per month adds up to a lot of extra costs over time.
  4. Understand domain registration and renewal: A domain name is the name of your website (e.g. MoneyHub.com.au or Qantas.com.au). You’ll need to pay for it to be renewed annually. A reasonable cost for a .com.au domain registration and annual renewal is around $50.
  5. Understand ongoing hourly rates for technical work: Hourly rates for making edits, updates, or design changes can vary from agency to agency. Therefore, getting an upfront quote is important before agreeing to any work.
  6. Understand customer support offerings: It’s normal to have questions or need support with your website after it’s been built. Look for a web designer with a robust support desk that offers free support with a 1-2 day response time. Email-based ticketing is the most common support form, but some web design agencies may offer phone support.Web Design Brisbane Quote Questions

Questions to Ask During a Quote

A company with a clear process, fixed price, and trusted reviews is, arguably, the best way to proceed for any small business looking for a new website (or redesign). We include a list of questions you may want to ask (and why they’re important) to help you shortlist with confidence. MoneyHub’s Head of Research, Christopher Walsh, explains what to ask and what the answers mean in the video below:

1. What does the website design package include? When will additional costs be charged?

It’s important to understand exactly what the web designer will be responsible for, such as designing the layout, writing the content, integrating any necessary features or functionalities, and optimising the site for Google and other search engines. Ideally, you’ll be quoted for a ‘go live’ web design, which covers everything to get the website online. However, web design companies will, in most cases, charge additional costs when you need additional services (such as logo design, additional pages beyond what you originally agreed to and any special features) as well as change-of-mind revisions (for example, if you decide you want the website design altered after originally approving it).

2. How long will the web design take? How involved will I need to be?

You should ask about the expected timeline, including how long it will take to complete the initial design, any revisions, and the launch date. You’re ideally looking for a provider with a standard fixed time (e.g. 10-20 business days) to develop the first draft – it’s then on you, the business owner, to review the website, submit edits and suggest changes. The project will take longer if you delay responding to your web designer’s emails about reviewing your draft website.   

3. What is the process for revisions and updates?

It is important to know how the web designer will handle any necessary revisions or updates to the website after the draft has been sent for you to review. For example, will they charge additional fees for these changes, or are they included in the original quote? If someone needs significant revisions, it’s normally because the business owner wants something changed, not because things haven’t been completed properly by the designer. This is why it’s essential to be as descriptive upfront about what you want and communicate this.

Know This: Revisions can get expensive if you are suggesting new ideas and want previously-agreed design aspects changed. This is because you’ll be paying for the designer’s time. If you’re unsure of exactly what you want and think having some revisions is a good idea, look for someone who offers some revision rounds as part of a web design package. Then understand what is included in a revision round and what isn’t. 

4. What is the ongoing website hosting, maintenance and support process?

You should ask about the web designer’s website hosting suggestion to ensure your website is online 24/7. Some web designers will also offer hosting alongside their support services. The best approach for any business owner is to have a fixed monthly or annual website hosting which locks in certainty around ongoing costs. Support (via email or phone) should be offered free of charge for all website-related questions.

Know This: We are aware of situations where web designers charge per hour for support tasks, and costs can quickly add up, much to the frustration of the website’s owner, who has no alternative to pay them. Unfortunately, this situation also has a power imbalance unlikely to be resolved. For this reason, looking for a web designer who offers fixed-price (or free) ongoing support is essential.

5. Will the website be responsive and mobile-friendly?

It’s important to ensure that your website will be optimised for viewing on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. This is because mobile search traffic is around 60% of all searches and growing year on year. A responsive design means that the website will automatically adjust its layout and design to fit the screen size of the device it is being viewed on. Of course, most websites are built to be viewed on all devices, but it’s important to ask just to be sure you’re website will meet the needs of the majority of internet users.

6. How will you ensure that the website is fast and always live?

Website speed is an important factor that can affect user experience and search engine rankings. You can check the speed and how Google-friendly it is any website is by using the Google Page Speed Insights tool. Ideally, you’ll want a website as close to 100% on each section as possible. We suggest the following:

  • What is your Google Page speed target? Using the Google Page Speed Insights tool, the best websites are 100% across the board. If you look at a web designer’s portfolio and they all rank less than 50%, then that’s a red flag. You want a web designer who cares about Google’s assessment and builds their clients a website that has high scores. 
  • What hosting company do you use? Is it reliable, and how can I contact them? What you want to hear is that the hosting company has 100% uptime (meaning it’s always live). A web designer shouldn’t work with an unreliable hosting company, so the risk is low, but there is a chance that they might, so it always pays to research the hosting provider to make sure they’re a good choice

7. How will you handle project management and communication during the design process?

It’s important to clearly understand how project management and communication will be handled during the design process. You should ask the web designer about their process for keeping you informed about progress, addressing any concerns or questions, and ensuring that the project stays on track. Web design clients often complain about silence from a designer during the build. Make sure you’re comfortable upfront about what happens during the build.

For larger projects you may want to set up a weekly meeting to get progress updates. You may be invited to use messaging services like Slack or to the designer’s Trello/Asana boards so you can see progress.

8. How do I update the website? Will I be provided with training on how to use and update the website?

The best situation for any business owner is to have a website you can edit at any time. This puts you in control and means updates can be instant. The worst situation is when you don’t have editing access and depend on the original web designer to make on-demand edits. You’ll lose time and also face bills every time going forward.

The best web designers will use an easy-to-use updating tool, provide useful guidance for website self-management and set you up with uninterrupted access. This will let you edit content, add pages and grow confident in managing your website.

9. Can you provide a relevant portfolio of previous web design projects?

Asking for testimonials and a portfolio of previous web design projects can give you a better understanding of the web designer’s experience and the quality of their work. The closer the websites in scope and complexity, the better.  

10. Do you offer additional services, such as branding or marketing?

Depending on your needs, you may be interested in additional services, such as branding or marketing. You should ask the web designer if they offer these services and how they can be incorporated into the project. For example, logo design is a popular additional service. If you’re interested in a logo, the best approach is to organise this upfront (either with a web designer or with a graphic designer) so that the colours and branding can be incorporated into the website design from day one.

11. What is your process for handling changes or modifications to the project’s scope?

Changes or modifications to the project scope can impact the project’s timeline and budget. Therefore, you should ask the web designer about their process for handling changes or modifications and whether they will be included in the original quote or billed separately.

Important: It’s important to ask detailed and specific questions when getting a quote for any web design project to ensure that you clearly understand the scope, the timeline, and the process for revisions and updates. The web design company should be able to provide clear and concise answers to your questions and a detailed plan for completing the project and delivering the final product.Web Design Brisbane Mistakes to Avoid

Must-Know Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

Before engaging any web designer, learning from mistakes and shortcomings other business owners have made when getting their website built is helpful. We list the problems associated with making each mistake. MoneyHub’s Head of Research, Christopher Walsh, provides further insights into common mistakes in the video below:

Common mistakes:

  1. Not clearly defining the project scope and objectives: It’s important to understand what you want the website to do (e.g. showcase your company and have all the necessary contact information) and what you expect from the designer (a timely and cost-effective design process). Without a clear scope, it’s difficult for the designer to deliver a product that meets your needs.
  2. Not considering the designer’s skills and experience: Make sure the designer you hire has the necessary skills and experience to complete the project. If you want to sell goods online, you’ll need a web designer specialising in eCommerce rather than standard small business web designs. Whoever you hire, it’s also important to consider their design style and whether it aligns with your company’s brand. You can see their style by looking at their website’s portfolio page(s).
  3. Not discussing budget and payment terms upfront: Be upfront about your budget and any payment terms you have in mind. This will help you avoid any misunderstandings or surprises later in the project. You’ll most likely be asked for a deposit that must be promptly paid to continue the build. If the project has a fixed price, look up the terms and ensure you stick within the scope.
  4. Not setting clear deadlines: It’s important to set clear deadlines for the project and ensure the designer understands them. This will help ensure that the project stays on track and is completed on time. Many clients delay their web designer by failing to submit what’s needed to start the website (logos, colour preferences, content or answers to questions), or during the editing process by failing to supply what the designer needs.
  5. Not considering maintenance and updates: Websites require ongoing maintenance and updates to keep them functioning properly. Many business owners don’t have the time to learn a complicated website editing tool. The simpler it is to access and make edits, the better and cheaper it is for any business. Make sure you discuss maintenance and updates with the designer and understand how these will be handled once your website goes live.
  6. Not understanding the scope of the search engine optimisation (SEO) service: SEO is important for the visibility and success of a website. However, just because you build a website doesn’t mean it rank #1 in Google for everything you want and need. Every web designer offers a unique approach to SEO, so be sure to understand this upfront. Our SEO section below explains more.
  7. Not considering the website’s performance: A website’s performance, including its loading speed and responsiveness, can have a big impact on user experience. Make sure the designer is familiar with techniques for optimising website performance – you can see how Google assesses every website’s performance using this tool here.
  8. Dealing with a sole operator: While there are some excellent sole trader web designers, having a team is a safer option that avoids putting all ‘eggs in one basket’. Our research team spoke to several Australian businesses who were caught out when their owner/operator web designer disappeared or closed down their agency without having a succession plan for their clients. This has led to domain names (e.g. businessname.com.au) expiring, websites going offline and website files going missing. In addition, no ongoing support could be provided. For these reasons alone we suggest considering an agency over a lone operator.
  9. Not doing a proper handover: As soon as your website is live, ensure you have access to hosting, CMS, editing self-help support and all the passwords you need. This way, you have full control and ownership of your website. We suggest self-editing as soon as possible to familiarise yourself with the site. Many business owners have found themselves locked out or missing important information due to a failure to keep records once the website is live.How to Pay for Web Design Brisbane

How Do I Pay a Web Designer?

  1. Bank transfer: You can also pay your web designer by making a bank transfer directly to their bank account.
  2. Credit card: Some web design companies accept credit cards, usually transacted via apps like PayPal or Stripe.
  3. Cash: You can also pay your web designer in cash, although this is not a common payment method for web design services.

Know This: It is important to discuss payment terms with your web designer before starting the project. This will help you understand the terms of the agreement and ensure no misunderstandings about payment.

Do web designers ask for a deposit?

Yes, it is common for web designers to ask for a deposit before starting work on a project. A deposit is a payment made upfront to cover the designer’s time, purchasing a domain name (if needed), hosting services, and other expenses associated with building a website.

The amount of the deposit will vary depending on the scope of the project and the terms of the agreement between you and the web designer. It’s not unusual to be charged 50% of the build fee upfront. 

Understanding SEO and What it Means for Your Website

SEO involves optimising the content and structure of your website to make it more visible to search engines, which can help improve your website’s ranking in search results. For example, if you are a Brisbane-based plumber and want to rank for Brisbane-related searches for plumbers, you’ll want to appear in Google search for keywords like ‘Plumber Brisbane’ and ‘Best Plumbers in Brisbane’. How much SEO you will have depends on what the website designer offers.

Our View: Many web design companies tell clients they ‘do’ SEO, but what is ‘done’ varies significantly. You can easily find yourself with a website with very little SEO and not understand why. SEO is like marketing – if you focus efforts on the wrong things, it won’t be effective, so you won’t get as many visitors to your website as you expect. For this reason, you need to understand why SEO is important and what needs to be done.

Know This: most business owners don’t understand SEO. Everyone wants to be #1 in Google for their industry’s search terms, but it takes a lot of effort and skill to make a website and authority appear at the top of Google. A web design company may have a separate SEO service with an additional ongoing cost. Whatever your needs, it’s important to ask how the website will appear on Google to understand what you can expect once it goes live. We suggest asking the following questions: 

1. What SEO will you do for my new website?

There is no right answer, but listen to what is said. For example, if they answer, ‘we don’t do SEO’ then that’s perfectly acceptable – you’re hiring them to design a website, not do SEO (unless they have agreed to do that).  A website that is “SEO friendly” or has “keywords” doesn’t mean it will do well on Google. Anyone who is offering SEO needs to do the following first steps:

  • Keyword research – what is the most important keyword for your business? Every website needs to include the keyword(s) prominently throughout its contents.
  • Custom meta titles and descriptions – every page needs to have important keywords written in the page title and the description text that shows up on Google.
  • Optimise for fast loading – images and graphics need to be compressed and re-sized for faster load speed; no one wants to wait 4 seconds for a page to load a big image – fast is best. You can check the speed of their website (and client websites) using this tool from Google. If they’re slow (measured under ‘performance’), then that’s a red flag.
  • Correctly titling images – your images need to include your keyword and not have a random file name like 1234567.jpg. 
  • Using image alt text – every image needs to have a description inserted, known as ‘alt text’. The user doesn’t see this, but Google does. 
  • Using HTTPS – some web design companies still offer websites with HTTP – 95% of web traffic uses HTTPS websites per this Google report. HTTPS is essential and a non-negotiable.
  • Redirecting old URLs – if you have an existing website, make sure any links are redirected to pages on your new website.

2. What SEO work have you done before?

If a web designer implies their skills will help you rank high in Google, you need to ask them to show evidence to prove it. This can come in a few forms:

  • A screenshot of Google Analytics that shows increased/growing organic search traffic
  • A tracking of ranking improvements from a report that shows a website move up for certain keywords
  • A couple of examples of websites that rank on the first two pages of Google for important keywords (e.g. “plumber Brisbane” or “best lawyers Brisbane”). 

If they can’t produce any evidence that they’re doing SEO that works, don’t just assume a new website will automatically increase your traffic.

Web Design Brisbane DIY Options

Can I DIY Build a Website? What’s the Best Tool or Platform?

Yes, building a website for your business is possible without hiring a web designer. There are several tools and platforms that you can use to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge. Most platforms will charge a monthly fee to subscribe to the service, which can be priced in AUD or USD.  Some popular options include:

  1. Blogs and Custom builds – WordPress lets you build and manage a website using pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop tools. It is easy to use and has a wide range of customization options.
  2. Small Business websitesSquarespace, Wix and Weebly are arguably less advanced than WordPress in terms of features, but they are popular with Australian businesses. All platforms have a user-friendly interface and various features to add pages and self-edit.
  3. Ecommerce – Shopify is a popular platform for selling goods online and offers a range of templates and design tools to help you create a professional-looking website, with ongoing subscription costs. WordPress offers e-commerce plug-ins and unlike Shopify doesn’t charge subscription fees.

Know This: If you’re going to DIY, it is important to plan out the content and structure of your site. This will help you create a website that is organized and easy to navigate. You should also consider the needs of your target audience and the goals of your business when designing your website. For most Australian businesses, the best approach is to include a home, about us, services, testimonials, gallery (if applicable) and contact page to let potential customers see your business in an easy-to-follow format. 

Saving money: Web designers often mark up hosting and domain costs – what costs $2/month can be sold to you for $20+ etc. If you DIY, the costs will be lower as you can buy directly from domain registrars and web hosting companies. The products are not complicated, but many designers create huge profits here – DIY eliminates these margins. 

Warning: Building a website can be time-consuming, and you may need to invest time and effort into learning how to use the tools and platforms you choose. However, with some planning and perseverance, it is possible to create a professional-looking website for your business.Web Design Brisbane Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve listed frequently asked questions about hiring a web designer, along with answers to help you make an informed decision. MoneyHub’s Head of Research, Christopher Walsh, explains key information about these FAQs in the video below:

How do I find a web designer?

You can find web designers through online searches within Brisbane, referrals from friends or colleagues or by observing the web designer(s) behind websites you like. We suggest shortlisting designers with a track record of creating high-quality websites that meet the needs of their clients – online reviews are the best indication of this. Our list is a helpful starting point.

How do I choose the right web designer for my business?

To choose the right web designer for your business, consider your budget, the project’s scope, and any specific requirements or preferences you have. Look for designers who have experience creating websites for businesses similar to yours – you can find this by looking at their portfolios. Ask for quotes from multiple designers to compare prices and services.

What should I expect from a web designer?

A web designer should be able to understand your business needs and create a website that meets those needs. They should be able to provide you with a timeline for completing the project and keep you informed of their progress. They should also be able to answer any questions you have and be responsive to your feedback.

How do I communicate my vision for my website to a web designer?

Be as specific as possible about your goals and the features you want to include. Consider providing examples of websites you like or dislike, and be open to the designer’s ideas and suggestions. This way the designer has something to work with and can create a website that meets your needs and vision. You can also provide a map of your website pages (a hand-drawing is fine) as this can help website your designer build the architecture.

How long does it take to design a website?

This can vary significantly, depending on the complexity of the project and the designer’s workload. Generally, a simple website can be designed in a few weeks, while a more complex one may take several months or longer.

What happens if I’m not happy with the design of my website?

If you’re not happy with the design of your website, you should discuss your concerns with the web designer and work together to make changes. It’s important to be clear and specific about your concerns and to provide constructive feedback. If the designer cannot address your concerns, you may consider hiring a different designer. You’ll need to consider the refund policy (if offered) or obligations if there is a contract in place. 

Can I make changes to my website after it’s been designed?

Most web designers will allow you to make changes to your website after its design, although there may be additional fees for making extensive changes. Some designers may offer ongoing support or maintenance packages that allow you to make ongoing updates to your website.

How do I maintain my website after it is live?

To maintain your website after going live, you’ll need to keep the content up-to-date and ensure that any links or features are working properly. You may also need to pay for hosting and domain registration fees to keep your website online. Some web designers offer ongoing support or maintenance packages to help with these tasks.

Top Tip: As soon as your website is live, ensure you have access to hosting, CMS, editing self-help support and all the passwords you need. This way, you have full control and ownership of your website. We suggest self-editing as soon as possible to familiarise yourself with the site.

Best Brisbane Web Design Companies

Map of Best Brisbane Web Designers

We’ve put together the top 20 companies for Brisbane Web Design and have collated them into a map for you to help show you where they’re located and if any are close to you!