Four ways to get your business online, compared
A managed plan is not the right answer for every renovation business. Here is how it compares with building it yourself, hiring an agency, or using social media alone.
How to use this page
The options are described in general terms. We don’t name other providers or quote their prices, because prices change and vary widely. Get written prices from any provider you are considering, including us, and compare them over three years rather than month to month.
More Australian businesses now use social media for their online presence, 51% 1 in 2024-25 according to the ABS. That makes a social page common, not a way to stand out. The question is what a buyer finds when they look for more.
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A managed website plan
Someone builds, hosts and updates the site for a monthly fee. This plan is one example: A$249 a month, A$499 setup, 12-month minimum term, GST may apply.
Good
- Low upfront cost compared with a custom build
- Changes are made for you, so the site stays current
- Hosting, security and renewals are someone else’s job
- Built for how renovation work is bought, if the provider knows the trade
Watch for
- You pay every month for as long as you keep the plan
- Most plans, including this one, have a minimum term
- Design choices sit within what the provider offers
- You rely on the provider to make changes promptly
Suits: Renovators who want a proper site without managing it, and who expect to keep adding projects and updates.
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A DIY website builder
You sign up to a website builder, pick a template and build the pages yourself, then pay the builder’s subscription.
Good
- Usually the lowest cash cost
- You can change anything, any time
- No one else to wait on
Watch for
- It costs your time, often evenings and weekends
- Templates are generic, not built around project pages or licence details
- Easy to end up with a half-finished site that never gets updated
- Technical parts, such as structured data and image descriptions, are left to you
Suits: Owners who enjoy the work, have the time, and will keep adding finished projects themselves.
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A one-off agency build
A web agency or freelancer designs and builds a site to your brief for a project fee. Hosting and later changes are arranged separately.
Good
- A design made for your brand, if the budget allows
- You can own the finished site outright, depending on the contract
- Good for larger businesses with specific requirements
Watch for
- The largest upfront cost of the four options, in most cases
- Changes after launch are often billed separately, so sites go stale
- Quality varies widely, and the trade knowledge depends on who you hire
- Hosting and security become your job or another bill
Suits: Established businesses with a budget for design and a plan for keeping the site updated after launch.
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No website: Facebook or Instagram only
The business runs on a Facebook page or Instagram account, with work photos posted as jobs finish.
Good
- Free to set up and quick to post to
- Good for showing work in progress and staying in front of past clients
- Easy for customers to share
Watch for
- You don’t control the platform, its rules or who sees your posts
- Hard for a buyer to find a specific kind of job in a long feed
- Limited room for licence details, process pages and service areas
- Some buyers expect a real website before they call
Suits: Businesses that are fully booked from referrals and don’t need new enquiries yet. Many renovators use social media alongside a website.
Side by side
| Compared on | Managed plan | DIY builder | Agency build | Social only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cash cost | Setup fee | Low | Highest, usually | None |
| Your time each month | Sending edits | Building and updating | Briefing and approving changes | Posting |
| Project pages by room type | Included | If you build them | If briefed and paid for | Not really possible |
| Licence details on every page | Included | If you add them | If briefed | In the profile only |
| Changes after launch | Up to 5 a month included | You make them | Often billed separately | You post them |
| Who controls the platform | Your domain, our hosting | You, on the builder’s platform | You, depending on contract | The social platform |
Questions to ask any provider
- Who owns the domain, and is it registered in my business name?
- What does it cost in total over three years, including setup, hosting and changes?
- Is there a minimum term, and what happens if I leave early?
- How many changes a month are included, and how fast are they made?
- Can I get a copy of my content if I leave?
- Will my licence details appear on every page?
- Do you promise rankings or a number of leads? (If yes, ask how, and be careful.)
Our answers are on the pricing page and in the plan terms. The website cost guide for renovators goes through each question in more detail, and website or Facebook page covers the social-only option.
Not sure which option fits?
Book a call and tell us how you win work now. If a DIY builder or social media is a better fit for your business today, we will say so.
A$249 a month, A$499 one-off setup, GST may apply, 12-month minimum term.
After you book: a call, then a content checklist if you go ahead. See pricing