What should a small business website cost in NZ?

Small business website costs in New Zealand typically range from under $1,000 to well over $10,000.

The difference is rarely about the software used. It comes down to how much thinking, structure, and responsibility is included in the design and build, and how much of that work is pushed back onto the business owner.

This page explains what actually drives small business website costs in NZ, what ongoing expenses to expect, and where a fixed-scope service like Just Websites fits.

Typical small business website cost ranges in NZ

These ranges reflect what small businesses typically pay for different levels of website complexity in New Zealand.

• DIY website builders:
  ~$500–$1,500
  Low upfront cost, high owner involvement, limited structure.

• Low-cost freelancers:
  ~$1,500–$3,000
  Scope and content responsibility vary widely.

• Fixed-scope, productised services:
  ~$2,000–$3,000
  Clear inclusions, predictable pricing, structured delivery.

• Agency projects:
  ~$5,000–$15,000+
  Broader scope, custom work, longer timelines, ongoing involvement often expected.

Two websites with the same number of pages can fall into very different ranges depending on how much structure, guidance, and responsibility is included.

Just Websites sits in the fixed-scope, small business range, offering professional websites at a predictable cost without agency overhead.

What affects the cost of a small business website?

Several factors influence where a project falls within those ranges:

• Number of pages and overall structure

• Design complexity and layout requirements

• Content readiness (fully supplied vs guided)

• Functionality (forms, bookings, e-commerce)

• Platform choice

• Level of ongoing involvement required

These factors tend to compound rather than exist in isolation.

What you are actually paying for when a website is built

For most small business websites, the bulk of the work sits in the design and build process itself. That work typically includes the following.

Discovery and structure

Before anything is designed, decisions need to be made about:

• What the site is for

• Who it is speaking to

• What pages are needed

• How information should be grouped

• What each page is expected to do

This structural thinking shapes the entire site. When it is skipped or rushed, sites become bloated, unclear, and expensive to fix later.

Design and layout

Design is not just visual styling.

It includes:

• Page hierarchy and spacing

• Readability and scanning

• Visual consistency across pages

• Mobile and tablet layouts

• How content flows from section to section

Good design reduces friction and makes decisions easier for visitors.

Content responsibility and how it affects cost

Content is one of the biggest variables in website pricing.

Lower-cost website providers generally assume that all content is fully supplied and ready to publish. This usually means:

• Page copy written in advance

• Content already structured

• Minimal or no editing

• Little guidance on what should go where

This reduces build time and cost, but shifts a significant amount of work — and risk — to the business owner.

Services with a higher build cost typically include some level of content structuring, editorial guidance, and light editing to ensure content fits the layout and purpose of each page.

Build, setup, and quality control

Turning design and content into a working website involves:

• Implementing layouts across devices

• Setting up navigation and page relationships

• Configuring forms and basic functionality

• Ensuring reliability and performance

• Testing across screen sizes

Most professional builds also include a defined revision process and final checks before launch, reducing rework after the site goes live.

Fixed-price websites vs open-ended projects

Some websites are delivered with a fixed scope and fixed price. Others are priced as open-ended projects.

Fixed-price builds

• Defined inclusions

• Clear boundaries

• Predictable cost

• Faster delivery

Open-ended projects

• Scope evolves over time

• Costs increase as requirements change

• Better suited to complex or highly customised work

Just Websites operates intentionally within a fixed scope to provide clarity and certainty for small businesses.

Ongoing website costs (beyond the build)

The build cost is only part of the total cost of owning a website. Most websites have some ongoing expenses.

These may include:

• Hosting or platform fees

• Domain registration

• Optional third-party tools

• Ongoing support, where required

The size and complexity of these costs depends heavily on the platform used.

WordPress: ownership and ongoing effort to be aware of

WordPress is the most commonly used content management system in the industry and a frequent point of comparison for small business websites. It can be a good fit in some situations, but it often involves more ongoing responsibility than many small businesses expect.

Common considerations include:

• Third-party plugins: many features rely on plugins that are licensed annually, adding recurring costs over time.

• Hosting and updates: hosting is managed separately, and core, theme, and plugin updates must be handled on an ongoing basis to maintain security and stability.

• Day-to-day updates: editing and layout changes are not always straightforward, and many owners continue to rely on technical help for routine updates.

This doesn’t make WordPress a poor choice — it simply suits businesses willing to manage more moving parts.

Lock-in: what it actually means

Lock-in is usually about dependency, not ownership.

It commonly appears in three forms:

• Technical lock-in: custom themes or systems requiring a specific developer

• Commercial lock-in: ongoing contracts, hosting mark-ups, or retainers

• Operational lock-in: a site that cannot be updated without help

Lock-in is not always bad, but it should be a deliberate choice rather than an accidental outcome.

DIY builders vs professional websites

DIY builders cost less upfront but require more time and compromise.

Professional websites cost more upfront but reduce rework, friction, and ongoing dependency.

The right choice depends on time, confidence, and expectations.

How Just Websites approaches cost, ownership, and lock-in

Just Websites is designed to keep ownership and ongoing responsibility simple.

• You own your Squarespace account

• Hosting is billed directly by Squarespace

• No ongoing contracts for the website build

• No plugin licences to manage for core functionality

• Content updates can be handled by you

• You are free to move on at any time

Squarespace includes hosting, security, and updates in a single platform. This does not make it better in every situation — it makes it simpler to own and maintain.

When a more complex setup may be appropriate

More complex platforms and ongoing arrangements can make sense for:

• Highly customised functionality

• Large integrations

• Businesses that want full delegation and ongoing technical management

That level of complexity is intentionally outside the scope of Just Websites.

Where Just Websites fits

Just Websites sits between DIY builders and full agency projects.

It is designed for small businesses that want:

• A professional website

• Clear scope and pricing

• Guidance without over-engineering

• Minimal ongoing management

• No unnecessary lock-in