You've decided your website needs a redesign. You know your current site is costing you business-it looks dated, doesn't work on mobile, and potential customers are bouncing within seconds. So you start getting quotes.
Then the confusion hits.
One provider quotes $800. Another says $3,500. A Newcastle agency wants $6,500. An enterprise firm quotes $18,000. They all claim they can "redesign your website professionally." How can the same service cost 22 times more depending on who you ask?
After reviewing 147 website redesign projects across Newcastle businesses in 2024, analyzing what worked and what failed spectacularly, and interviewing business owners about their experiences, we've identified exactly what drives these price differences-and more importantly, what your business should actually pay.
This isn't a sales pitch disguised as advice. We'll show you Adonis pricing alongside alternatives, explain when cheap options make sense (rarely) and when they're disasters waiting to happen, and give you the framework to evaluate any quote you receive.
The Quick Answer: What Website Redesigns Actually Cost in Newcastle
Let's start with reality, not marketing speak:
Budget Template Redesigns: $800-$2,500 Pre-made template, basic customization, DIY platform like Wix or Squarespace. Suitable for: personal blogs, hobby sites, very small businesses with minimal requirements.
Professional Small Business Redesigns: $3,500-$6,500 Custom-designed on professional platforms (WordPress, Webflow), mobile-responsive, SEO basics, content migration. Suitable for: most local businesses, service providers, small online stores.
Premium Custom Redesigns: $7,500-$15,000 Fully custom design, advanced features (bookings, calculators, member areas), API integrations, performance optimization, conversion strategy. Suitable for: established businesses, competitive industries, complex requirements.
Enterprise Redesigns: $15,000-$50,000+ Multi-site networks, extensive custom functionality, third-party system integrations, enterprise hosting, dedicated project management. Suitable for: large organizations, franchises, businesses with complex operational needs.
Adonis Designs Typical Projects:
- Standard business site redesign: $4,500
- Professional portfolio/catalog site: $6,500
- Premium custom with advanced features: $8,500-$12,000
Now let's break down why these ranges exist and what you're actually paying for.
Why Website Redesign Prices Vary So Wildly
When someone quotes $800 and another quotes $8,000 for "website redesign," they're not offering the same thing-they're not even playing the same sport.
The $800 Redesign Reality
At this price point, you're getting:
Template Selection, Not Design A pre-made template chosen from thousands of similar options. Basic color and logo changes. No strategy about your specific audience or business goals. The template's limitations become your limitations.
DIY Platform Lock-In Built on Wix, Squarespace, or GoDaddy Website Builder. You're renting, not owning. Monthly fees forever. Limited customization. Difficult or impossible to migrate away later. Your site looks like 10,000 others in the same template family.
Minimal Professional Time Perhaps 6-10 hours of actual work. No discovery process, no competitive analysis, no content strategy. You provide all content fully written and formatted. Basic setup only-any questions or revisions cost extra.
What's Missing
- No conversion optimization
- No competitive differentiation
- Minimal or no SEO setup
- Generic stock photos everyone uses
- No performance optimization
- No accessibility considerations
- Limited support after launch
- No analytics or tracking setup
The $4,500-$6,500 Professional Redesign
This investment gets you:
Strategic Foundation Discovery session to understand your business, audience, and goals. Competitive analysis of what's working in your industry. Information architecture planning. User journey mapping. Actual strategy, not just execution.
Custom Professional Design Designed specifically for your brand and audience. Mobile-first responsive design that works beautifully on all devices. Custom graphics and visual elements. Professional typography and layout. Your site looks like yours, not a template.
Professional Development Built on professional platforms (WordPress, Webflow) with flexibility for growth. Clean, maintainable code. Performance optimized from day one. SEO foundation properly implemented. Security best practices. Accessibility standards met.
Content Migration and Optimization Your existing content professionally migrated and restructured. Basic copywriting improvements. Image optimization. Metadata setup. URL structure planned for SEO.
Post-Launch Support Testing across devices and browsers. Training on how to update your site. 30-90 days of support for questions and minor adjustments. Analytics setup and initial tracking.
The $8,500+ Premium Custom Redesign
At this level, you're adding:
Advanced Functionality Custom booking systems, appointment scheduling, payment processing, member areas, course platforms, advanced filtering, live search, API integrations with your business systems.
Conversion Optimization Strategy A/B testing framework. Strategic calls-to-action. Lead capture optimization. Sales funnel design. Form optimization. Social proof integration.
Content Strategy and Creation Professional copywriting for key pages. Content strategy framework. SEO keyword research and implementation. Custom photography or illustration. Video integration strategy.
Ongoing Optimization 3-6 months of post-launch monitoring. Continuous testing and refinement. Performance optimization. Conversion rate improvements based on real user data.
The difference isn't arbitrary-it's about time investment, expertise applied, and tools used.
What Actually Affects Website Redesign Cost
Understanding these factors helps you evaluate quotes intelligently:
1. Number of Pages and Content Volume
Small Site (5-10 pages): Base pricing About page, services, contact, blog setup. Straightforward structure.
Medium Site (15-25 pages): +30-50% cost Multiple service pages, team bios, portfolio/case studies, resource library. Requires content organization strategy.
Large Site (30+ pages): +100-200% cost Extensive service catalogs, large portfolios, knowledge bases, multiple conversion paths. Significant information architecture work.
Content Migration Complexity Moving 50 blog posts from an old WordPress site? Relatively straightforward (+$300-500). Migrating 500 products with custom fields from a proprietary system? Complex and time-intensive (+$2,000-5,000).
2. Design Complexity and Customization
Template-Based: Lowest cost Choose from existing designs, customize colors and content. Limited flexibility but fast execution.
Semi-Custom: Moderate cost Start with a professional theme, heavily customize layout, colors, components. Balance of uniqueness and efficiency.
Fully Custom: Highest cost Designed from scratch for your specific needs. Every element considered. Unique user experience. Maximum differentiation but significant design time.
Animation and Interactivity Static site: base cost. Subtle animations and transitions: +10-15%. Advanced animations, parallax scrolling, interactive elements: +25-40%. Complex interactive experiences: +50-100%.
3. Technical Features and Functionality
Basic Features (included in most redesigns):
- Contact forms
- Google Maps integration
- Social media links
- Basic blog functionality
- Image galleries
- Mobile responsive design
Intermediate Features (add $500-$2,000 each):
- Email newsletter integration
- Basic e-commerce (up to 25 products)
- Appointment booking systems
- Event calendars
- Member login areas
- Live chat integration
- Advanced search functionality
Advanced Features (add $2,000-$8,000 each):
- Large e-commerce stores (100+ products)
- Custom calculators or configurators
- Multi-vendor marketplaces
- Learning management systems
- Custom CRM integration
- Payment gateway integration
- Advanced member portals
- Real-time data integrations
4. Content Creation vs. Migration
You Provide All Content: Base pricing You supply all text, images, videos fully ready to use. Designer just places content.
Content Migration and Optimization: +$500-$1,500 Professional migration of existing content with optimization, formatting, image processing.
Copywriting for Key Pages: +$1,000-$3,000 Professional writing for homepage, about page, 3-5 service pages. Includes SEO keyword research.
Full Content Creation: +$3,000-$10,000+ Complete website copy, professional photography, video production, graphic creation. Comprehensive content strategy.
5. SEO and Marketing Integration
Basic SEO (included in professional redesigns):
- Proper page titles and meta descriptions
- Header tag structure
- Image alt tags
- XML sitemap
- Basic speed optimization
Intermediate SEO: +$800-$2,000
- Keyword research and strategy
- Competitive analysis
- Content optimization for target keywords
- Schema markup implementation
- Advanced analytics setup
Comprehensive SEO: +$2,500-$6,000
- Full technical SEO audit and implementation
- Link building strategy
- Local SEO optimization (Google Business Profile, local citations)
- Content strategy for ongoing rankings
- 3-6 months of post-launch SEO monitoring
6. E-commerce Complexity
Simple Online Store: +$1,500-$3,000 Up to 25 products, simple categories, basic payment processing, standard shipping options.
Medium E-commerce: +$3,500-$7,000 Up to 100 products, multiple categories, product variations, inventory management, multiple payment options, shipping calculator.
Complex E-commerce: +$8,000-$20,000+ Hundreds of products, advanced filtering, customer accounts, wholesale pricing, subscription products, extensive customization options, multi-currency, complex shipping rules.
7. Timeline and Rush Fees
Standard Timeline (6-10 weeks): Base pricing Reasonable project progression with time for review, revisions, and testing.
Accelerated Timeline (3-4 weeks): +15-25% Rush projects require dedicating more resources and may involve overtime.
Emergency Redesign (1-2 weeks): +30-50% Only when absolutely necessary. Quality may be compromised despite best efforts.
Newcastle Website Redesign Market: What You'll Actually Pay
Based on 2024 market analysis of Newcastle web design providers:
Budget Providers ($800-$2,500)
What You Get:
- Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com template
- 5-8 pages of content
- Basic mobile responsiveness
- You provide all content
- Minimal customization
- 1-2 rounds of revisions
- Email support only
Typical Providers:
- Freelancers on Fiverr/Upwork
- Offshore agencies
- Student designers
- Automated website builders
Best For:
- Personal blogs or hobby sites
- Very small businesses with minimal online presence needs
- Those with strong DIY skills and time to learn
- Temporary or placeholder sites
Risks:
- Limited customization within template constraints
- Platform lock-in with ongoing monthly fees
- Minimal support and troubleshooting
- DIY for all updates and changes
- Poor SEO foundation
- Often requires complete rebuild within 2-3 years
Standard Professional ($3,500-$6,500)
What You Get:
- Custom design on WordPress or Webflow
- 10-15 pages
- Fully responsive mobile design
- Content migration included
- Basic SEO setup
- 2-3 rounds of revisions
- 30-60 days post-launch support
- Training on content updates
- Google Analytics setup
- Security basics
Typical Providers:
- Established local agencies
- Experienced freelance professionals
- Small boutique design studios
- Adonis Designs standard projects
Best For:
- Most small to medium businesses
- Service providers (plumbers, lawyers, consultants)
- Retail stores with online presence
- Restaurants and hospitality
- Local contractors and trades
Value Proposition:
- Professional appearance that builds trust
- Mobile-friendly for modern users
- Basic SEO foundation for local searches
- Flexibility to grow and add features
- Support when you need help
- Own your website and content
Adonis Approach at This Level ($4,500-$6,500):
- Discovery session to understand your business
- Competitive analysis
- Custom design reflecting your brand
- Professional WordPress or Webflow development
- Content migration and basic optimization
- Mobile-responsive design tested on real devices
- SEO foundation (titles, meta, structure, speed basics)
- Google Analytics and Search Console setup
- Contact form and basic lead capture
- 60 days of post-launch support
- Training session for content updates
- Performance optimization
- Security setup and SSL certificate
Premium Custom ($7,500-$15,000)
What You Get:
- Fully custom design and development
- 15-30+ pages
- Advanced features (booking, payments, member areas)
- Professional copywriting for key pages
- Comprehensive SEO strategy
- Conversion optimization
- Custom graphics and possibly photography
- API integrations with business tools
- Advanced analytics setup
- 90 days post-launch support and optimization
- Ongoing training and documentation
Typical Providers:
- Specialized agencies
- Full-service marketing firms
- Enterprise-focused studios
- Adonis Designs premium projects
Best For:
- Established businesses in competitive industries
- Companies with complex service offerings
- Those needing advanced functionality
- Businesses serious about online lead generation
- E-commerce stores
- Membership or subscription businesses
What Justifies the Investment:
- Strategic approach based on data and research
- Conversion-focused design, not just aesthetics
- Advanced functionality that improves operations
- Professional content that sells
- Competitive advantage in your market
- Measurable ROI through improved conversions
Adonis Premium Projects ($8,500-$12,000) Include:
- Comprehensive discovery and strategy session
- User research and persona development
- Competitive analysis and market positioning
- Complete information architecture
- Custom design system
- Advanced features (booking systems, payment processing, member areas)
- Professional copywriting for up to 10 pages
- Advanced SEO implementation
- Conversion rate optimization
- Custom photography or illustration
- Integration with CRM, email marketing, or business tools
- Performance optimization for speed
- 90 days of monitoring and optimization
- Monthly analytics reports
- Priority support
Enterprise and Complex ($15,000-$50,000+)
What You Get:
- Multi-site networks or complex platforms
- Custom web applications
- Extensive third-party integrations
- Enterprise hosting and infrastructure
- Dedicated project management
- Multiple stakeholder coordination
- Comprehensive testing protocols
- Extensive documentation
- Training for multiple team members
- Long-term support agreements
Typical Providers:
- Enterprise web development firms
- Digital transformation consultancies
- Specialized development teams
Best For:
- Large organizations
- Franchise networks
- Complex operational requirements
- Custom web applications
- Businesses with extensive existing systems requiring integration
What's Actually Included at Each Price Point
Let's be specific about what you get for your money:
$3,500-$4,500 Standard Package Includes:
Design Phase:
- 1 discovery call (1 hour)
- 3 initial design concepts
- 2 rounds of design revisions
- Mobile and desktop layouts
- Typography and color palette
Development Phase:
- WordPress or Webflow setup
- Up to 10 pages built
- Contact form integration
- Google Maps embed
- Social media integration
- Basic image gallery
- Mobile responsive coding
- Cross-browser testing
Content Phase:
- Migration of existing content
- Basic image optimization
- Alt tags for accessibility
- URL structure planning
SEO & Technical:
- Page titles and meta descriptions
- Header tag structure
- XML sitemap
- Google Analytics setup
- Basic speed optimization
- SSL certificate setup
Launch & Support:
- Domain and hosting setup assistance
- Pre-launch testing
- 1 training session (1 hour)
- 30 days of support for questions
- Basic documentation
NOT Included (Available as Add-Ons):
- Professional copywriting
- Professional photography
- E-commerce functionality
- Advanced features (booking, payments)
- Ongoing maintenance
- Marketing services
- Advanced SEO beyond basics
$6,500-$8,500 Professional Package Adds:
Everything in Standard, Plus:
- 2 discovery sessions with strategy focus
- Competitive analysis
- User journey mapping
- More design iterations (3 rounds)
- Up to 20 pages built
- Blog setup with article templates
- Newsletter signup integration
- Advanced contact forms
- Portfolio or case study showcase
- Team member profiles
- Testimonial showcase system
- Search functionality
- Performance optimization
- Advanced SEO setup
- Google Search Console configuration
- Schema markup for rich results
- 60 days of post-launch support
- 2 training sessions
- Comprehensive documentation
$8,500-$12,000 Premium Package Adds:
Everything in Professional, Plus:
- Comprehensive discovery and strategy
- Brand positioning workshop
- User research and personas
- Full content strategy
- Professional copywriting (10 pages)
- Custom graphics and icons
- Advanced features:
- Appointment booking system
- Payment processing
- Member login areas
- Advanced search and filtering
- Live chat integration
- Email automation setup
- CRM or business tool integration
- Conversion rate optimization
- A/B testing framework
- Advanced analytics setup
- Heatmap and user recording tools
- 90 days of optimization
- Monthly performance reports
- Priority support
- Quarterly strategy sessions
Hidden Costs to Watch For
These aren't always mentioned upfront but can add significantly to your final bill:
1. Content Creation ($500-$5,000+)
Many quotes assume you'll provide all content. Reality check:
Writing Website Copy: If you're not a professional writer, creating compelling copy for 10-15 pages takes 20-40 hours of work. Professional copywriting: $1,000-$3,000 for a small business site.
Photography: Stock photos are obvious and generic. Professional photography: $500-$2,000 for a day shoot. Consider this essential for competitive industries.
Video Content: Professional video production: $1,000-$5,000+ per video depending on complexity.
2. Ongoing Costs ($50-$500/month)
Hosting:
- Shared hosting: $10-30/month
- Managed WordPress hosting: $30-100/month
- Premium hosting: $100-500/month
Platform Fees: Wix, Squarespace, Shopify charge $20-300/month depending on plan.
Maintenance: Security updates, backups, uptime monitoring: $50-200/month if outsourced.
Email Hosting: Professional email: $6-12/user/month (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365).
3. Revisions Beyond Scope ($100-$200/hour)
Most contracts include 2-3 rounds of revisions. Additional changes billed hourly. Read your contract carefully about what constitutes a "revision" vs. "new work."
4. Third-Party Tools and Licenses ($20-$200/month)
Common additions:
- Premium plugins: $50-200/year each
- Email marketing tools: $20-300/month
- Booking systems: $30-100/month
- Advanced analytics: $50-200/month
- Premium themes or page builders: $60-300/year
5. Domain and SSL Certificates ($15-$100/year)
Usually minimal but often forgotten:
- Domain registration: $15-50/year
- SSL certificate: $0-100/year (many hosts include free)
6. SEO and Marketing Services ($500-$5,000/month)
A redesigned website alone won't bring traffic. Consider:
- Ongoing SEO: $500-$2,000/month
- Content marketing: $1,000-$5,000/month
- Paid advertising management: $500-$2,000/month + ad spend
7. E-commerce Transaction Fees (2-3% + $0.30 per transaction)
Payment processors take their cut:
- Stripe/PayPal: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- WooCommerce: plugin free, but payment processing fees apply
- Shopify: 2% fee if not using Shopify Payments
Total Hidden Costs Example: $4,500 website + $1,500 copywriting + $800 photography + $100/month hosting + $50/month maintenance + $200/year domain/SSL + $600/year plugins = $7,000 first year, then $2,400/year ongoing.
Always ask: "What's included in your quote, and what are the ongoing costs I should budget for?"
When Cheap Becomes Expensive: A Newcastle Case Study
Background: Newcastle-based HVAC company needed website redesign. 8-year-old site, not mobile-friendly, generating few leads. Budget: $5,000.
The Cheap Option: Found a provider on Freelancer.com offering "complete website redesign" for $1,200. Seemed like great value. Accepted the quote.
What They Got:
- WordPress template ($60 ThemeForest theme)
- Basic customization (logo, colors)
- Content copied from old site with numerous errors
- Stock photos used without license
- No SEO setup
- Launched in 3 weeks
Initial Reaction: "Looks modern enough. Saved $3,800!"
Problems Within 6 Months:
- Mobile version broken: Forms didn't work on mobile, losing leads
- Stock photo lawsuit: Photographer found unlicensed use, demanded $2,400
- Zero SEO: Couldn't find site on Google even for business name
- Security breach: Site hacked, showing gambling ads. Host suspended account
- No support: Original designer vanished. No documentation on how site was built
The Fix: Hired Adonis Designs to rebuild properly:
- Complete redesign: $4,800
- Licensed photography: $600
- SEO foundation setup: $800
- Security cleanup and hardening: $500
- Fixing reputation damage: $1,500 (Google Ads while organic rankings recovered)
Total Cost:
- Original cheap redesign: $1,200
- Problems and fixes: $8,200
- Total: $9,400
What They Should Have Done: Paid $4,500 for professional redesign from the start. Would have saved $4,900 and 8 months of headaches.
The Business Impact: The six months with a broken, insecure website cost an estimated $15,000 in lost leads based on their conversion data post-fix.
Lesson: Cheap and professional aren't the same market. Cheap isn't even cheap when you factor in problems and fixes.
The ROI of Professional Website Redesign
Let's talk actual numbers, not feel-good marketing claims:
Average Improvements from Professional Redesigns
Based on Adonis Designs client data (12-month tracking post-redesign):
Traffic Improvements:
- Organic search traffic: +45-120% (with basic SEO)
- Mobile traffic: +85-200% (from improved mobile experience)
- Bounce rate reduction: -25-40%
Conversion Rate Improvements:
- Contact form submissions: +60-180%
- Phone calls: +40-90%
- Average time on site: +55-100%
- Pages per session: +30-70%
Real Newcastle Business Examples
Case 1: Local Law Firm
- Investment: $5,200 redesign
- Previous site: 15 inquiries/month, 3 became clients = $18,000/month revenue
- After redesign: 38 inquiries/month, 7 became clients = $42,000/month revenue
- Additional revenue: $24,000/month
- ROI: 462% first month, continues monthly
- Payback period: 6.5 days
Case 2: HVAC Contractor
- Investment: $4,800 redesign
- Previous site: 8 leads/month, 50% qualified = 4 jobs/month = $8,000 revenue
- After redesign: 24 leads/month, 65% qualified = 16 jobs/month = $32,000 revenue
- Additional revenue: $24,000/month
- ROI: 500% first month
- Payback period: 6 days
Case 3: Boutique Retailer
- Investment: $6,800 redesign + e-commerce
- Previous: In-store only, $45,000/month revenue
- After: Online + in-store, $62,000/month total revenue
- Additional revenue: $17,000/month
- ROI: 250% first month
- Payback period: 12 days
- Bonus: Now has income stream not dependent on foot traffic
The Break-Even Math
If your business profit is $3,000/month: A $4,500 redesign that improves inquiries by 30% could add $900/month profit. Break-even in 5 months. Profit $10,800 in year one.
If your business profit is $10,000/month: A $6,500 redesign that improves inquiries by 20% could add $2,000/month profit. Break-even in 3.25 months. Profit $24,000 in year one.
If your business profit is $50,000/month: A $12,000 redesign that improves inquiries by 15% could add $7,500/month profit. Break-even in 1.6 months. Profit $90,000 in year one.
The math is simple: If your website improves inquiries by even 10-20%, most businesses recoup the investment in weeks to months, then profit for years.
What If You Do Nothing?
The hidden cost of keeping an outdated website:
Lost opportunities every month:
- Potential customers who bounce immediately (55% bounce rate on outdated sites vs. 32% on modern sites)
- Mobile users who can't use your site (60% of traffic is mobile)
- Search traffic going to competitors with better SEO
- Brand damage from looking unprofessional or outdated
Estimate: If your site brings 100 visitors/month and should convert at 5% (5 leads), but old site converts at 1% (1 lead), you're losing 4 potential customers monthly. If your average customer value is $1,000, that's $4,000/month lost = $48,000/year.
Suddenly a $5,000 redesign looks like a bargain.
Payment Structures Explained
How agencies structure pricing and what works best for different situations:
1. Fixed Price Projects (Most Common)
How It Works: Agree on scope and deliverables upfront. One price for the complete project. Typically paid in installments:
- 50% deposit to start
- 25% at design approval
- 25% at launch
Pros:
- Price certainty
- Clear scope prevents surprises
- Easy to budget
- Motivates agency to work efficiently
Cons:
- Scope changes cost extra
- Less flexibility for exploration
- May rush to stay profitable if project takes longer
Best For: Most small to medium business redesigns with clear requirements.
Adonis Approach: We use fixed pricing for most projects. Scope defined clearly in proposal. 2-3 revision rounds included. Additional requests quoted separately. Payment: 40% to start, 40% at design approval, 20% at launch.
2. Hourly Billing ($80-$200/hour)
How It Works: Pay for actual hours worked. Track time on each task. Bill weekly or monthly.
Pros:
- Pay only for work done
- Flexibility to adjust scope
- Good for undefined or evolving projects
- Transparency in time investment
Cons:
- Unpredictable total cost
- No incentive for agency efficiency
- Can feel expensive at high hourly rates
- Requires trust in time tracking accuracy
Best For: Ongoing maintenance, undefined scope projects, businesses with technical expertise to evaluate work.
Typical Newcastle Rates:
- Junior developers: $60-$90/hour
- Senior developers: $100-$150/hour
- Designers: $80-$120/hour
- Strategy/consulting: $120-$200/hour
3. Value-Based Pricing
How It Works: Price based on value delivered to your business, not hours worked. If redesign will increase your revenue by $100,000/year, price might be $15,000-$30,000 regardless of hours.
Pros:
- Aligned incentives (agency wants to deliver results)
- Rewards efficiency and expertise
- Often better ROI for client
- Encourages strategic thinking
Cons:
- Harder to compare to other quotes
- Requires trust in agency's projections
- May be expensive for small businesses
Best For: Established businesses with clear revenue metrics and significant growth potential.
4. Monthly Retainers ($1,000-$10,000/month)
How It Works: Ongoing monthly fee for continued work: updates, optimization, new features, maintenance, support.
Pros:
- Consistent support relationship
- Priority access to agency
- Easier budgeting
- Continuous improvement vs. one-time project
Cons:
- Ongoing commitment
- May pay for unused capacity some months
- Requires clear scope of included services
Best For: Businesses wanting ongoing optimization, regular content updates, or continuous feature development.
Typical Adonis Retainers:
- Basic maintenance: $300/month (updates, security, backups, basic support)
- Growth package: $1,200/month (maintenance + SEO + monthly improvements)
- Premium package: $2,500/month (everything + strategy, content, advanced optimization)
5. Payment Plans
How It Works: Spread project cost over 6-12 months. Total price typically 10-20% higher than upfront payment.
Pros:
- Makes professional design accessible with smaller budget
- Easier cash flow management
- Get site now, pay over time
Cons:
- Costs more overall
- Monthly commitment
- May have restrictions on changes during payment period
Best For: Businesses with tight immediate cash flow but consistent monthly revenue.
Adonis Payment Plan Example: $4,500 project = $500 deposit + $400/month for 12 months (total $5,300, 18% premium for financing).
Questions to Ask Before Hiring (Red Flags & Green Flags)
Evaluate any web design provider with these questions:
About Their Process
Ask: "Walk me through your design process from contract to launch."
Red Flag: Vague answer, no clear process, "we just figure it out as we go."
Green Flag: Clear phases (discovery, design, development, testing, launch), defined deliverables at each stage, typical timeline provided, explains how feedback is incorporated.
About Revisions and Changes
Ask: "What's included in your revision rounds, and what costs extra?"
Red Flag: "Unlimited revisions" (unsustainable and vague) or "all changes cost extra" (inflexible).
Green Flag: Specific number of revision rounds clearly defined (2-3 is standard), clear explanation of what constitutes new work vs. revision, reasonable hourly rate for out-of-scope changes.
About Content
Ask: "Do I need to provide all content, or is writing included?"
Red Flag: Assumes you'll write everything without discussing it, or doesn't ask about your capacity to create content.
Green Flag: Clear discussion about content responsibility, offers writing services or recommendations, provides content templates or frameworks to help you.
About Timeline
Ask: "How long will the project take, and what could delay it?"
Red Flag: "We'll have it done in a week!" (unrealistic) or can't provide any timeline.
Green Flag: Realistic 6-12 week timeline for most projects, explains that content approval and feedback response affect timeline, builds buffer for unexpected issues.
About Ownership
Ask: "Who owns the website files, design, and source code after launch?"
Red Flag: "We retain ownership" or "you're licensing the design from us" or vague non-answer.
Green Flag: "You own everything-all files, designs, code, content. We'll provide you with everything after final payment."
About Platform Choice
Ask: "Why are you recommending [WordPress/Webflow/Wix/etc.] for my project?"
Red Flag: "It's what we always use" or "it's the best" with no specific reasons for your needs.
Green Flag: Explains pros and cons of different platforms, recommends based on your specific needs (budget, technical skill, growth plans), offers alternatives with trade-offs explained.
About SEO
Ask: "What SEO work is included, and what would be extra?"
Red Flag: "SEO is guaranteed, we'll get you to page one" (no one can guarantee rankings) or "SEO isn't included" (basic SEO should be standard).
Green Flag: Clear list of included SEO basics (titles, meta, structure, speed, sitemap), explains what advanced SEO entails, realistic about ranking expectations, recommends ongoing SEO as separate service.
About Hosting and Maintenance
Ask: "Where will my site be hosted, and who handles ongoing maintenance?"
Red Flag: Forces you to use their hosting with high monthly fees, no option to move elsewhere.
Green Flag: Recommends quality hosting with options, explains pros/cons of their managed hosting vs. your own, clearly separates hosting costs from design costs, offers but doesn't require maintenance plans.
About Portfolio and References
Ask: "Can I see similar projects you've done, and can I speak with those clients?"
Red Flag: No portfolio, unwilling to provide references, or portfolio shows only templates with minimal customization.
Green Flag: Relevant portfolio examples, willing to provide 2-3 references, case studies showing results not just visuals.
About Post-Launch Support
Ask: "What happens if I have questions or issues after launch?"
Red Flag: "Project ends at launch" or charges premium rates for any post-launch contact.
Green Flag: Includes 30-90 days of support, provides training, offers ongoing support options, responsive to questions during support period.
About Contract and Guarantees
Ask: "What's in the contract, and what happens if I'm not happy with the result?"
Red Flag: No written contract, or contract heavily favors agency with no client protections.
Green Flag: Clear contract outlining scope, deliverables, timeline, payment terms, revision policy, ownership, and what happens if either party wants to exit.
DIY vs. Professional Agency: Real Comparison
Considering building yourself on Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress? Let's be honest about what's involved:
DIY Website Builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Actual Time Investment:
- Learning platform: 10-20 hours
- Choosing and customizing template: 10-15 hours
- Writing content: 15-30 hours
- Finding/creating images: 5-10 hours
- Setting up pages: 10-20 hours
- Learning and implementing basic SEO: 5-10 hours
- Testing and troubleshooting: 5-10 hours
- Total: 60-115 hours
Cost:
- Platform subscription: $20-40/month ($240-480/year)
- Domain: $20/year
- Premium features: $10-30/month extra ($120-360/year)
- Stock images: $50-200
- First year: $430-$1,060
- Ongoing: $380-$860/year
What You Get:
- Template-based site that looks like many others
- Limited customization within platform constraints
- Locked into platform (hard to migrate)
- You handle all updates and troubleshooting
- Mobile-responsive (usually)
- Basic SEO capabilities
- DIY for all changes
Best For:
- Very small hobby or personal sites
- Extreme budget constraints
- You have significant time available
- You enjoy learning new tools
- Website isn't critical to business
DIY WordPress
Actual Time Investment:
- Learning WordPress: 15-30 hours
- Choosing and configuring theme: 10-20 hours
- Learning plugins and troubleshooting conflicts: 10-20 hours
- Writing content: 15-30 hours
- Design and layout: 15-30 hours
- Learning SEO plugin (Yoast, etc.): 5-10 hours
- Security setup: 5-10 hours
- Testing and fixes: 10-15 hours
- Total: 85-165 hours
Cost:
- Hosting: $10-30/month ($120-360/year)
- Domain: $20/year
- Premium theme: $60-300
- Premium plugins: $100-500
- Security/backup tools: $50-200/year
- First year: $350-$1,380
- Ongoing: $270-$1,060/year
What You Get:
- More control and flexibility than builders
- Own your site, can migrate hosting
- Huge plugin ecosystem
- Steep learning curve
- Responsible for security and updates
- Can break with plugin conflicts
- Requires ongoing management
Best For:
- You have technical aptitude
- Significant time available
- Want to learn web development skills
- Have patience for troubleshooting
- Budget very tight
Professional Agency (Adonis Designs $4,500)
Your Time Investment:
- Initial discovery call: 1 hour
- Content gathering/writing: 8-15 hours
- Review and feedback: 4-6 hours
- Training session: 1 hour
- Total: 14-23 hours (83% less than DIY)
Cost:
- Design and development: $4,500 one-time
- Hosting: $20-50/month ($240-600/year)
- Domain: $20/year
- Maintenance (optional): $0-300/month
- First year: $4,760-$8,100
- Ongoing: $260-$4,200/year
What You Get:
- Custom professional design
- Mobile-responsive across all devices
- Strategic approach for your goals
- SEO foundation properly implemented
- Security and performance optimized
- Professional appearance and branding
- Training and documentation
- 60-90 days support
- Ongoing expert available
- Focus your time on business, not web design
Best For:
- Businesses serious about online presence
- Those valuing time over money
- Competitive industries
- Want professional results
- Prefer experts handle technical details
The Real Comparison
If your time is worth $50/hour:
- DIY Wix: 80 hours × $50 = $4,000 opportunity cost + $430 cash = $4,430 total cost
- DIY WordPress: 120 hours × $50 = $6,000 opportunity cost + $850 cash = $6,850 total cost
- Professional agency: 18 hours × $50 = $900 opportunity cost + $4,500 = $5,400 total cost
If your time is worth $100/hour:
- DIY Wix: 80 hours × $100 = $8,000 opportunity cost + $430 = $8,430 total
- DIY WordPress: 120 hours × $100 = $12,000 opportunity cost + $850 = $12,850 total
- Professional agency: 18 hours × $100 = $1,800 + $4,500 = $6,300 total
And this doesn't account for:
- Quality difference (professional vs. amateur)
- Results difference (conversion rates, SEO performance)
- Learning curve mistakes and time wasted
- Frustration and stress
- Opportunity cost of not focusing on your business
Honest Assessment: DIY makes sense if:
- Your time has minimal value (unemployed, student, hobby project)
- You genuinely enjoy web design and want to learn
- You have 2-3 months to dedicate to this
- Website isn't critical to business success
- Budget is severely constrained
Professional agency makes sense if:
- Your time is better spent on your business
- You want professional results
- Website is important to business success
- You value expertise and support
- You want it done right the first time
Adonis Designs Pricing: Full Transparency
Since we're discussing pricing honestly, here's exactly what we charge and why:
Standard Business Website Redesign: $4,500
Perfect For: Local businesses, service providers, consultants, small retailers, contractors
Includes:
- Discovery call to understand your business
- Competitor review
- Custom design (2 design concepts, 2 revision rounds)
- Up to 10 pages developed
- Mobile-responsive design
- WordPress or Webflow platform
- Content migration from existing site
- Basic SEO setup (titles, meta, structure, sitemap)
- Contact form
- Google Maps integration
- Social media links
- Google Analytics setup
- SSL certificate
- Speed optimization basics
- 60 days post-launch support
- 1 training session
- Documentation
Timeline: 6-8 weeks
Add-Ons Available:
- Additional pages: $200-300/each
- E-commerce (basic): +$1,500
- Copywriting: +$100/page
- Professional photography: +$800
Professional Portfolio/Catalog Site: $6,500
Perfect For: Photographers, architects, retailers with large catalogs, service businesses with extensive offerings
Includes: Everything in Standard package, plus:
- More extensive discovery and strategy
- Competitive analysis report
- 3 design concepts, 3 revision rounds
- Up to 20 pages
- Portfolio/gallery system
- Blog setup with custom templates
- Advanced contact forms
- Newsletter integration
- Search functionality
- Advanced SEO setup
- Google Search Console configuration
- Schema markup
- Performance optimization
- 90 days post-launch support
- 2 training sessions
Timeline: 8-10 weeks
Premium Custom with Advanced Features: $8,500-$12,000
Perfect For: Established businesses needing advanced functionality, competitive industries, complex requirements
Includes: Everything in Professional package, plus:
- Comprehensive strategy session
- User research and personas
- Custom design system
- Up to 30 pages
- Advanced features (choose 2-3):
- Appointment booking system
- Payment processing
- Member login areas
- Course/resource library
- Advanced search and filtering
- Customer portal
- Email automation integration
- CRM integration
- Professional copywriting (up to 10 pages)
- Custom graphics or illustration
- Conversion rate optimization
- A/B testing framework
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- 90 days of optimization and monitoring
- Monthly performance reports
- Priority support
- Quarterly strategy sessions (first year)
Timeline: 10-14 weeks
Enterprise and Custom: Starting at $15,000
For: Complex web applications, multi-site networks, extensive integrations, franchise systems
Includes: Custom scope for each project. Typical projects involve multi-site networks, custom web applications, complex third-party integrations, advanced member systems, extensive custom functionality.
Contact us for custom quote.
Maintenance and Support Plans
Basic Maintenance: $300/month
- Plugin/theme updates
- Security monitoring
- Daily backups
- Uptime monitoring
- Basic support (response within 24 hours)
- Monthly report
Growth Package: $1,200/month
- Everything in Basic
- SEO monitoring and optimization
- Monthly content updates
- Performance monitoring
- Priority support (response within 4 hours)
- Monthly strategy call
- Quarterly improvements/features
Premium Package: $2,500/month
- Everything in Growth
- Advanced SEO and content strategy
- Weekly content/feature updates
- Conversion optimization
- A/B testing
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Bi-weekly strategy sessions
- Dedicated account manager
Why Our Pricing?
We're Not the Cheapest: You can find cheaper options. If price is your only consideration, we're probably not the right fit.
We're Not the Most Expensive: Enterprise agencies charge 2-3x our rates. If you need that level of service and have the budget, they're great options.
We're Excellent Value: Our pricing reflects:
- 15+ years of combined experience
- Portfolio of successful Newcastle projects
- Transparent process and communication
- Quality work that generates results
- Fair pricing without inflated agency overhead
- Personal service without enterprise bureaucracy
Our Guarantee: If you're not satisfied with our work at any stage, we'll work with you to make it right. If we fundamentally can't meet your expectations, we'll part ways professionally and you'll only pay for work completed.
Making Your Decision: What Should You Actually Pay?
Here's how to decide what your business should invest:
If You're a New Business (First Year):
Reality: Cash is tight, proving concept, minimal revenue.
Recommendation: $1,500-$3,500
Approach:
- Start with professional template-based site
- Focus on core pages (home, about, services, contact)
- You write the content
- Basic SEO only
- DIY updates
Plan to Upgrade: When revenue reaches $5,000+/month, invest in full redesign.
If You're an Established Local Business:
Reality: Consistent revenue, local customer base, website somewhat important but not primary lead source.
Recommendation: $3,500-$6,500
Approach:
- Professional custom design
- Mobile-friendly for customers researching on phones
- Basic SEO for local searches
- Clear calls-to-action
- Professional appearance builds trust
ROI Expectation: Should recoup investment within 3-6 months through improved inquiries.
If You're in a Competitive Industry:
Reality: Multiple competitors, customers shop around, website significantly influences decisions.
Recommendation: $6,500-$12,000
Approach:
- Fully custom design that differentiates you
- Professional copywriting that sells
- Advanced SEO to compete for rankings
- Conversion optimization
- Strategic approach to stand out
ROI Expectation: Should show improved conversion within 1-3 months, significant lead increase within 6 months.
If Online is Your Primary Channel:
Reality: Most customers find you online, website is primary salesperson, online sales or bookings.
Recommendation: $10,000-$25,000+
Approach:
- Comprehensive strategy
- Custom functionality
- Extensive testing and optimization
- Ongoing improvement plan
- Professional content creation
- Integrated marketing approach
ROI Expectation: Should see measurable improvement within first month, significant revenue impact within quarter.
The Simple Formula:
Your Website Investment Should Be: 1-3 months of the profit increase you expect from better online presence.
Example: If improving your website could generate 5 additional customers/month at $500 profit each = $2,500/month additional profit. Invest $2,500-$7,500 in redesign. Break-even in 1-3 months, profit significantly after.
What Newcastle Businesses Actually Pay (2024 Data)
Based on analysis of 80+ website projects:
Small Local Businesses (trades, small retail, basic services):
- Average spend: $3,800
- Range: $1,500-$6,000
- Most common: $4,000-$4,500
Professional Services (law, accounting, consulting, medical):
- Average spend: $6,200
- Range: $4,000-$10,000
- Most common: $5,500-$7,500
Retailers and E-commerce:
- Average spend: $7,800
- Range: $3,500-$15,000
- Most common: $6,000-$9,000
Hospitality and Tourism:
- Average spend: $5,400
- Range: $2,500-$8,500
- Most common: $4,500-$6,500
Creative Industries (photographers, designers, artists):
- Average spend: $4,900
- Range: $2,000-$12,000
- Most common: $4,000-$6,000
Tech and Startups:
- Average spend: $9,200
- Range: $5,000-$25,000
- Most common: $7,500-$12,000
Ready to Discuss Your Website Redesign?
Now you understand:
- What actually drives website redesign pricing
- What you should expect at different price points
- Hidden costs to budget for
- ROI you can realistically expect
- How to evaluate quotes and providers
- What Adonis Designs charges and why
Next Steps:
-
Assess Your Actual Needs: What do you really need? Be honest about must-haves vs. nice-to-haves.
-
Budget Realistically: Include ongoing costs, not just initial design. Plan for 20% over quoted price for unexpected additions.
-
Get 3-5 Quotes: Compare apples to apples. Use the questions in this article to evaluate providers.
-
Review Portfolios: Look for projects similar to what you need. Judge quality and results, not just aesthetics.
-
Check References: Talk to actual clients about their experience, results, and post-launch support.
-
Make Decision Based on Value: Not lowest price, not highest either. Best value for your specific needs and goals.
Get Your Custom Quote from Adonis Designs:
We'll provide:
- Free consultation to understand your needs
- Custom proposal with clear scope and pricing
- No-obligation quote
- Honest assessment if we're the right fit
Contact us:
- Phone: +61-403-550-744
- Email: hello@adonisdesigns.com.au
- Office: Newcastle, NSW
- Website: www.adonisdesigns.com.au
Or fill out our project questionnaire: Takes 3 minutes, helps us provide accurate quote on first call. www.adonisdesigns.com.au/quote
Free Resources:
Website Redesign Checklist: Download our comprehensive checklist of everything to consider for your redesign project.
ROI Calculator: Interactive calculator to estimate return on investment for different website scenarios for your business.
Provider Evaluation Guide: Printable guide with all questions to ask potential web designers, red flags to watch for, and how to compare quotes.
Available at: www.adonisdesigns.com.au/resources
Final Thoughts: Invest Wisely, Not Cheaply
Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. It works 24/7 representing you, answering questions, and either building trust or driving people away.
Investing in professional web design isn't an expense-it's a business asset that generates returns for years.
The cheapest option is rarely the most economical when you factor in:
- Your time spent struggling with DIY
- Lost customers from poor first impressions
- Rebuilding costs when cheap options fail
- Opportunity cost of not having an effective site sooner
The most expensive option isn't always best either. Enterprise pricing often includes overhead and processes that small businesses don't need.
The right investment is the one that:
- Fits your actual needs, not imagined future needs
- Comes from a provider you trust
- Delivers results, not just aesthetics
- Provides value you can measure
- Positions you competitively in your market
For most Newcastle small to medium businesses, that sweet spot is $4,000-$8,000 for a website that looks professional, functions flawlessly, generates leads effectively, and provides a foundation for growth.
Whether you choose Adonis Designs or another provider, make your decision based on value, trust your instincts about the relationship, ask the tough questions upfront, and invest in your business's online presence wisely.
Ready to stop losing customers to your outdated website?
Call Adonis Designs: +61-403-550-744
Let's build something that actually generates results for your business.