One of the most common questions we hear from New Zealand small business owners is: "How much does a website cost?" The answer, like many things in business, is that it depends. In 2026, there are more options than ever for getting your business online, each with different price points, trade-offs, and hidden costs.
In this guide, we break down every option available to NZ businesses so you can make an informed decision that fits your budget and goals.
Option 1: DIY Website Builders ($15 - $45/month)
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify have made it possible for anyone to build a website without writing a single line of code. These tools offer drag-and-drop editors, pre-built templates, and bundled hosting.
Typical costs:
- Wix: From $23/month (NZD) for a basic business plan
- Squarespace: From $27/month (NZD) for a personal site
- Shopify: From $55/month (NZD) for eCommerce
Pros:
- Low upfront cost
- No technical skills required
- Quick to set up (a few hours to a few days)
Cons:
- Limited customisation and design flexibility
- Cookie-cutter templates that look like thousands of other sites
- Poor SEO compared to custom-built websites
- Your time is a hidden cost — building and maintaining it yourself takes hours each month
- No support for advanced features like AI chatbots or voice agents
DIY builders work well for hobby projects or very simple one-page sites, but most NZ businesses quickly outgrow them.
Option 2: Freelance Web Designers ($1,500 - $5,000)
Hiring a freelance web designer is a popular middle-ground option. You get a custom design without the overhead costs of an agency. In New Zealand, freelance web designers typically charge between $1,500 and $5,000 for a small business website.
What you typically get:
- A custom design (3-7 pages)
- Basic on-page SEO setup
- Mobile-responsive layout
- Contact form integration
Pros:
- Custom design tailored to your brand
- More affordable than agencies
- Direct communication with the designer
Cons:
- Quality varies hugely — you might get a brilliant designer or a beginner
- Large upfront cost that is difficult for new businesses
- Ongoing maintenance is often extra (and expensive)
- If the freelancer disappears, you might be stuck with a site you cannot update
- Rarely includes ongoing SEO, analytics, or AI features
Option 3: Web Design Agencies ($5,000 - $20,000+)
Traditional web design agencies in Auckland and across New Zealand charge anywhere from $5,000 to well over $20,000 for a business website. Enterprise and eCommerce projects can easily exceed $50,000.
What you typically get:
- Full discovery and strategy phase
- Custom UI/UX design
- Content creation and copywriting
- Full SEO setup
- Ongoing support (usually at additional cost)
Pros:
- Professional, high-quality result
- Full project management and support team
- Comprehensive features and integrations
Cons:
- Very expensive upfront — a huge barrier for small businesses
- Projects often take 2-6 months to complete
- Ongoing maintenance contracts can cost $100-$500/month extra
- Many agencies still use outdated approaches and do not offer AI features
Option 4: Subscription Web Design — The Go Digital Model ($89 - $269/month)
This is the model we pioneered at Go Digital, and we believe it is the best option for NZ small businesses in 2026. Instead of paying thousands upfront, you get a professionally designed, AI-powered website for a fixed monthly fee.
What you get with Go Digital:
- $0 upfront — no large lump sum payment
- Custom AI-powered website design
- Hosting, SSL, and domain included
- AI chatbot integration for 24/7 lead capture
- Ongoing SEO and monthly performance reports
- Monthly edits and updates included
- No lock-in contracts — cancel anytime
Pros:
- No financial risk — start for $0 upfront
- Always up to date with the latest design trends and technology
- AI features included (chatbots, voice agents, GEO optimisation)
- Ongoing support and updates — your site never becomes outdated
- Predictable monthly cost that is easy to budget for
Cons:
- Ongoing monthly commitment (though there are no lock-in contracts)
- Less suitable for very large enterprise projects
Hidden Costs Most People Forget
No matter which option you choose, there are additional costs that many business owners overlook:
- Domain name: $15-$40/year for a .co.nz or .nz domain
- Hosting: $10-$50/month for reliable NZ or AU-based hosting
- SSL certificate: Free with most hosts, but some charge $50-$200/year
- Maintenance and updates: $50-$200/month for security patches, plugin updates, and content changes
- Email accounts: $8-$18/user/month for professional email (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365)
- Stock photography: $20-$500 depending on your needs
- Copywriting: $500-$3,000 if you need professional content written
With subscription services like Go Digital, most of these costs are bundled into your monthly fee, making budgeting much simpler.
Cost Comparison Table
Here is a quick summary to help you compare:
- DIY Builder: $15-$45/mo ongoing, low quality, limited features
- Freelancer: $1,500-$5,000 upfront + $50-$200/mo maintenance
- Agency: $5,000-$20,000+ upfront + $100-$500/mo maintenance
- Go Digital (Subscription): $0 upfront, $89-$269/mo all-inclusive
Our Recommendation for NZ Small Businesses
If you are a small business owner in New Zealand, a subscription web design service like Go Digital offers the best balance of quality, features, and affordability. You get a professionally designed website with cutting-edge AI features, ongoing support, and zero upfront cost.
The days of paying $10,000 upfront for a website that becomes outdated in two years are over. The subscription model ensures your website is always evolving, always optimised, and always working to generate leads for your business.
Ready to get started? Check out our pricing plans or explore our AI website design service to see what Go Digital can do for your business.