Small Business Websites

The core difference is scope and customization, not quality. Our $2,999 Starter Website includes everything essential—professional design, mobile responsiveness, contact forms, SEO basics, and Google Business integration—but with 5-7 pages and streamlined development. It's perfect for service businesses or startups needing professional online presence without extensive content. A $6,999-$10,000 website includes more pages allowing detailed service descriptions, advanced features like online booking or e-commerce, professional copywriting and photography, more sophisticated SEO, and longer support periods. Both are professionally designed and built—the difference is features and complexity, not quality or professionalism. Most small businesses start with Starter or Professional packages, then upgrade as they grow.

You can absolutely update content yourself. We build websites on user-friendly content management systems (usually WordPress or similar) with training on making common updates including editing text on existing pages, adding or removing photos, publishing blog posts or news, updating business hours or contact information, and adding customer testimonials. No coding knowledge required—if you can use Microsoft Word, you can update your website. We provide video tutorials and documentation for common tasks. For businesses preferring hands-off approach, we offer monthly maintenance packages ($149-$299/month) where we handle updates, security, backups, and minor content changes. Most small businesses update content themselves but call us for design changes or new features.

Typical timeline is 4-6 weeks from kickoff to launch for Starter and Professional packages. Week 1: discovery, planning, and content gathering. Week 2-3: design and revisions. Week 3-4: development and content population. Week 4-5: testing, client review, and launch preparation. Week 5-6: launch, training, and final adjustments. Timeline depends on content readiness—if you provide photos, text, and feedback promptly, we can launch faster. If we're writing content or coordinating photography, it takes longer. Rush projects can launch in 2-3 weeks with focused availability and premium pricing. We provide timeline estimates during initial consultation based on your specific requirements and urgency.

We offer content writing as part of Professional and Growth packages, or as an add-on for Starter packages. Many small business owners struggle to write compelling website copy—they know their business but not how to communicate it effectively online. Our copywriters interview you to understand your services, customers, and value proposition, then write benefit-focused content that engages customers and encourages contact. If you prefer to write content yourself, we provide detailed templates and feedback on your drafts. Hybrid approaches work too—you provide rough content about your services, we polish and optimize for web and SEO. Professional website copy typically improves conversion 15-30% compared to owner-written content, so it's often worth the investment.

We implement SEO fundamentals—optimized page titles, headings, content, and Google Business Profile—that help you rank for local searches like "your service + your suburb". For low-competition searches in specific suburbs, you might rank within 4-8 weeks. For competitive terms in major cities, SEO is ongoing work requiring content creation, backlinks, and optimization over months. We focus on local SEO where small businesses can compete effectively—ranking for "plumber Doveton" rather than "plumber Melbourne". Google Business Profile optimization is crucial and often delivers visibility in Google Maps within weeks. For businesses wanting aggressive SEO targeting competitive keywords, we offer ongoing SEO packages ($499-$999/month) including content creation, link building, and continuous optimization. Basic SEO is included; advanced competitive ranking requires ongoing investment.

Yes, we can add e-commerce functionality for small product catalogs (typically up to 20-50 products for small businesses). This includes product pages with photos, descriptions, and pricing, shopping cart and checkout process, secure payment processing (Stripe, PayPal), shipping calculation, inventory management, and order notifications. E-commerce adds complexity and cost—Growth Package or custom pricing depending on requirements. For businesses with extensive catalogs or complex products, we recommend dedicated e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. For service businesses, we can implement online booking systems allowing customers to book appointments, choose services, and pay deposits online. E-commerce and booking systems improve customer convenience and can significantly increase sales, but require more investment than basic informational websites.

All packages include post-launch support periods (1-6 months depending on package) covering bug fixes, technical issues, questions about updating content, and minor adjustments. If something isn't working correctly, we fix it at no charge during the support period. After support expires, we offer monthly maintenance packages ($149-$299/month) including security updates, backups, technical support, and minor content updates, or hourly rates ($120-$180/hour) for ad-hoc changes and new features. Most small business clients either purchase monthly maintenance for peace of mind, or contact us occasionally when they need help with major updates or new features. Websites are yours—you're not locked into ongoing payments unless you want ongoing support and maintenance.

Absolutely. We integrate your social media profiles with social media icons linking to your profiles, embedded Instagram or Facebook feeds showing your latest posts on your website, social sharing buttons allowing visitors to share your content, and Open Graph tags ensuring your website displays correctly when shared on social platforms. Social integration keeps your website fresh with current content from your social media, provides social proof showing your active online presence, and encourages visitors to follow you on social platforms. Many small businesses use Instagram to showcase work or products—displaying that feed on your website leverages existing content while keeping your site visually updated. We can also integrate Facebook reviews, Google reviews, or industry-specific review platforms building trust and credibility.

We offer flexible payment plans to ease cashflow pressure for small businesses. Typical payment structure: 50% deposit to commence work, 50% balance on launch. For Professional and Growth packages, we can split into thirds: deposit, design approval, and launch. We also offer payment plans spreading cost over 6-12 months for established businesses (subject to approval). Our goal is making professional websites accessible to small businesses operating on tight budgets. We understand $2,999-$6,999 is significant investment for startups—payment plans allow you to get online now and pay over time as your website generates business. Inquire during consultation about payment options tailored to your situation.

Your website grows with your business. Most clients start with Starter packages, then add features or pages over time—additional service pages, blog sections, booking systems, or e-commerce as needed. We provide upgrade pricing from Starter to Professional or Professional to Growth levels if you want comprehensive redesign. More commonly, clients add features incrementally: "can we add an online booking system?" or "can we add e-commerce for our new product line?" We quote individual features and implement them, building on your existing site. This phased approach spreads investment over time while adding capabilities as your business needs evolve. Your website is an asset that should evolve—not a one-time expense that becomes outdated. We design with growth in mind, ensuring your foundation supports future expansion without requiring complete rebuilds.