How Much Should You Really Budget for a Website in NZ?
Let’s just say you’ve decided it’s time for a new website. Maybe the old one’s gone ‘wobbly’ on mobile, or maybe it’s just… a bit embarrassing.
You start asking around for quotes — and suddenly discover prices that range from a few hundred dollars to a small car. So how much should a New Zealand small business really budget for a website? Let’s strip away the jargon and talk about what you’re actually paying for.
1. What you’re really buying
A website isn’t just “a few pages online.” It’s a mix of brand, storytelling, technology and trust-building.
|
Component |
What it covers |
Typical NZ cost range |
|---|---|---|
|
Planning and strategy |
Understanding your goals, audience, and site structure |
$300 – $1,000 |
|
Design and layout |
Branding, look-and-feel, usability |
$800 – $3,000 |
|
Build and development |
Coding or CMS setup, responsiveness, integrations |
$1,000 – $4,000 |
|
Content and imagery |
Copywriting, photography, graphics, video |
$500 – $2,500 |
|
SEO and analytics setup |
Keyword basics, Google Analytics |
$300 – $1,000 |
|
Hosting and maintenance |
Keeping it secure, backed-up and running fast |
$20 – $100 / month |
(Ballpark figures for small NZ businesses with 3–10 pages. Excludes GST.)
2. Why quotes vary so wildly
- Scope: A café site isn’t the same as an online shop with 100 products.
- Who builds it: Freelancers, agencies and DIY tools all price differently.
- Quality and Care: Some sites are built to exist; others are built to perform.
If a quote is under $1,000, expect to supply your own content and handle updates yourself. Around $4 – 6k should buy you strategy, design, build and post-launch support.
3. Think lifetime, not launch
The day you “go live” isn’t the finish line — it’s the start of the upkeep. Your investment so far will be wasted without ongoing maintenance. Plan for regular updates, new content, plugin checks and security patches (the last two are particularly important if you’re using a popular Content Management System (CMS) like Wordpress). A few hours a quarter (or a modest monthly retainer) will save you far bigger costs and headaches later.
4. How to make your dollars work harder
- Set clear goals first. (More enquiries? Online bookings?)
- Invest in good photos and words. They build trust faster than flashy effects.
- Keep it simple. Clean design and clear navigation always win.
- Choose people who speak human. You want straight talk, not technical jargon and TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms).
5. The bottom line
Your website is often your first serious impression, and people decide in seconds whether they trust you. Spend enough to make it professional and fast, but not so much that you resent the invoice. Treat it like any other good business asset: one that should earn its keep over time.
Need help scoping your next site?
At mhdesign we have years of experience designing and building small business (and not-so-small business) websites. Let’s talk about what’s right for your business.