Adelaide small business owners ask us all the time: "Should I use Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, or just hire someone?" The answer depends on your time, budget, and how seriously you want to rank on Google. Here is our honest comparison — including when to use us instead.
The 4 Main Options for Adelaide Small Businesses
1. Wix ($17-159/month)
Wix is the most popular DIY builder. Drag-and-drop, hundreds of templates, decent mobile editor. But Wix sites are slow — Google penalises them in search rankings. You also do all the design, copywriting, and SEO yourself. For a tradie who bills $80/hour, 20 hours on Wix costs $1,600 in lost time.
Best for: Someone who enjoys tinkering and has more time than money.
2. Squarespace ($25-139/month)
Squarespace has the best-looking templates of any builder. Clean, modern, professional. But the same problem: you do everything yourself, and SEO control is limited. Squarespace sites look nice but often do not rank well for competitive local keywords like "plumber Adelaide" or "cafe Glenelg."
Best for: Creative businesses, portfolios, and people who care about design above all else.
3. WordPress ($0 + hosting, but your time)
WordPress is free, but you pay for hosting ($10-50/month), a premium theme ($50-200), plugins ($0-300/year), and your time. WordPress is powerful but requires maintenance — plugin updates, security patches, backups. Most Adelaide small businesses that try WordPress end up with a half-finished site and a plugin conflict they cannot fix.
Best for: Businesses with a tech-savvy owner or an in-house person to manage it.
4. AI Adelaide ($699-2,499 one-off + $15-30/mo hosting)
That is us. We build your site on Next.js — the same framework used by major companies. It is fast (loads in under 2 seconds), Google loves it, and we handle all the design, copywriting, and SEO setup. You do not touch a builder. See our pricing and process.
Best for: Adelaide small businesses that want a professional website without spending 20 hours learning a builder.
Speed Comparison
- Wix: 3-5 second load times (slow, Google penalises)
- Squarespace: 2-4 seconds (acceptable)
- WordPress: 2-6 seconds (depends on plugins and hosting)
- AI Adelaide (Next.js): Under 2 seconds (fast, Google rewards)
SEO Comparison
For local Adelaide businesses, SEO is how customers find you. Wix and Squarespace have limited SEO control. WordPress is good for SEO but requires plugins (Yoast, RankMath) that need configuring. Our sites come with full SEO built in — schema markup, clean URLs, sitemap, meta tags, and local suburb targeting.
The Hidden Cost of DIY
The cheapest option is not always the cheapest. If you spend 20 hours building a Wix site, that is 20 hours you could have spent billing clients. For a plumber at $80/hour, that is $1,600 in lost revenue — more than our $699 Starter website costs.
Our Recommendation
If you have zero budget and lots of free time, use Wix or Squarespace. If you want a professional site that ranks on Google and you do not want to spend 20 hours learning a builder, use us. The $699 Starter tier pays for itself with one new customer.
Read our full website cost guide, check pricing, or book a free chat to see what we would build for you. Browse all services for more.
The Real Cost of "Free" Website Builders
Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress.com all offer "free" plans or low-cost options that look attractive until you start adding up the hidden costs. Here is what "free" actually costs an Adelaide small business:
First, there is your time. Building a website on Wix or Squarespace takes 20-40 hours if you have never done it before. If you are a tradie billing $80-100/hour, that is $1,600-4,000 in lost billable time. If you are a cafe owner, salon manager, or clinic operator, that is 20-40 hours you are not spending on your business, your customers, or your family.
Second, there is the opportunity cost of a website that does not rank. A DIY Wix site typically ranks on page 3-5 of Google for local searches. Page 3 gets roughly 2% of clicks. Page 1 gets 90%+. So your "free" website is invisible to the vast majority of potential customers who are searching for your services. A professionally built, SEO-optimised website from $699 pays for itself with 2-3 new customers — and then generates leads for years.
Third, there are the ongoing subscription costs. Wix Business plans start at $35/month ($420/year). Squarespace Business is $36/month ($432/year). WordPress hosting is $15-30/month. Over 2 years, that is $840-864 for Wix/Squarespace or $360-720 for WordPress hosting — and you still have to maintain the site yourself.
Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress: Adelaide Business Guide
Let us compare the three most popular website builders for Adelaide small businesses:
Wix: Drag-and-drop builder, easy to use, decent templates. Good for absolute beginners who want a basic website fast. The downsides: slow page load times (which hurts your Google ranking), limited SEO control, and you cannot migrate your site to another platform if you outgrow Wix. You are locked in. Monthly costs add up to $420+/year for a business site with a custom domain.
Squarespace: Beautiful templates, good for visual businesses like cafes, salons, and galleries. Better design quality than Wix but similar limitations — you are locked into their platform, SEO is limited, and you cannot add custom functionality. Monthly cost is $36/month for business features.
WordPress (self-hosted): The most flexible and SEO-friendly option. Powers 40%+ of all websites globally. Full control over design, functionality, and SEO. The downside: it requires more technical knowledge to set up and maintain. Hosting costs $15-30/month, but you own the site and can customise it however you want. This is what we build on because it gives our clients the best long-term results.
Why We Build on WordPress (And Why It Matters for Your Adelaide Business)
We build all our websites on WordPress because it is the best platform for local SEO and long-term growth. Here is why:
- SEO performance: WordPress sites consistently rank higher on Google than Wix or Squarespace sites. This is not opinion — it is because WordPress gives you full control over meta tags, headings, image alt text, URL structure, page speed, and every other factor that affects search ranking. Our SEO services leverage this control to get Adelaide businesses ranking on page 1.
- Page speed: With proper hosting and optimisation, WordPress sites load in under 2 seconds. Wix sites typically load in 4-6 seconds. Google uses page speed as a ranking factor, and customers abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Faster site equals better ranking equals more customers.
- Ownership: With WordPress, you own your site. If you ever want to move to a different developer, you can. With Wix or Squarespace, your site lives on their platform and cannot be moved. You are renting, not owning.
- Flexibility: Need to add a booking system? An online store? A blog? A suburb page for Norwood, Glenelg, or Prospect? WordPress handles all of this. Wix and Squarespace are limited to what their platform supports.
- Content management: WordPress is designed for content. Adding blog posts, service pages, and suburb pages is straightforward. This matters because content is how you rank for more keywords and bring in more organic traffic.
The Starter Website: What $699 Actually Gets You
Our Starter website package at $699 is designed for Adelaide small businesses that need a professional online presence without the agency price tag. Here is exactly what you get:
- Custom design: Not a template. We design your site based on your brand, your services, and your target customers. Every site we build looks different because every business is different.
- Mobile-first layout: 60%+ of local searches happen on mobile. Your site is designed to look and work perfectly on phones first, then tablets and desktops.
- SEO foundation: Meta tags, heading structure, image optimisation, XML sitemap, Google Search Console setup. This is not "we will SEO your site later" — it is built in from day one.
- 3 pages: Home, About, and Contact/Services. Enough to establish a professional presence and start ranking for local searches.
- Adelaide-local copywriting: Written by humans who know Adelaide, not generic text from a content mill or AI. Your site will read like it was written by someone who understands your customers and your market.
- Fast hosting: On our managed WordPress hosting, optimised for speed and security. $20/month, includes SSL certificate and basic maintenance.
The $699 price point works because we have built hundreds of websites for Adelaide businesses. We know what works, we start with proven structures, and we customise them for each client. We skip the expensive agency process — no project managers, no strategy workshops, no multiple revision rounds — and pass the savings directly to you. See our full pricing for details.
When to Upgrade: Business and Growth Tiers
The Starter tier is perfect for getting online, but most Adelaide businesses eventually need more. Here is when to upgrade:
Upgrade to Business ($1,299) when: You want to rank on Google for competitive local searches. The Business tier adds a blog (essential for content marketing and SEO), SEO foundation (keyword research, on-page optimisation, and a content strategy), and one suburb page (to rank for searches like "plumber Norwood" or "cafe Glenelg"). If your competitors have blogs and suburb pages and you do not, they will outrank you.
Upgrade to Growth ($2,499) when: You serve multiple suburbs and want to dominate local search across your entire service area. The Growth tier adds 3 suburb pages, 3 blog articles, and full SEO setup. This is for businesses that want to be the top result for every relevant local search in their area.
The key difference between tiers is not just the number of pages — it is the SEO investment. A Starter site will rank for your business name and a few basic keywords. A Business site will rank for competitive local searches like "plumber Norwood" or "hairdresser Prospect." A Growth site will rank across your entire service area. The more competitive your market, the more SEO investment you need.
Building Your Website: What to Expect
When you hire us to build your website, here is what the process looks like:
- Day 1: We have a 30-minute chat about your business — what you do, who your customers are, what suburbs you serve, and what you want your website to achieve. No jargon, no sales pitch, just a conversation about your goals.
- Days 2-3: We design your site. You get a preview link to review the layout, colours, and content. We make revisions until you are happy — typically 1-2 rounds.
- Day 4: Your site goes live. We set up Google Search Console, submit your site to Google, and claim your Google Business Profile (if you have not already). Your site is now discoverable on Google.
- Week 2+: If you have added SEO, we start the optimisation process — keyword research, on-page SEO, content strategy. Results start appearing in 2-4 weeks for low-competition keywords and 2-4 months for competitive ones.
The entire process takes 3-5 business days for a Starter site, 7-10 days for Business, and 2-3 weeks for Growth. Compare this to agency timelines of 4-8 weeks for a similar (or less comprehensive) product at 5-10x the price. Book a free chat to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build my own website instead of hiring someone?
You can, but you should consider the real cost. A DIY Wix or Squarespace site takes 20-40 hours to build and typically does not rank well on Google because the platforms limit your SEO control. If you bill $80-100/hour, that is $1,600-4,000 in lost time — more than our Starter website at $699. Plus, a professionally built site ranks better, converts better, and looks better than most DIY sites. The question is not whether you can build a website — it is whether your time is better spent building websites or running your business.
What happens if I want to make changes after my site is live?
Basic text changes are included with every website package. If you want to change your trading hours, update a phone number, or swap a photo, just send us a message and we will update it within 24 hours. No charge. For larger changes like adding pages, redesigning sections, or adding new features, we will give you a quote before starting. Most businesses need 1-2 updates per month, and we handle them as part of our standard support.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We offer payment plans for Business and Growth tier websites. Starter sites are a single payment of $699. Business tier ($1,299) can be split into 2 payments of $650. Growth tier ($2,499) can be split into 3 payments of $833. No interest, no lock-in contracts. We want you to have a professional website regardless of your cash flow situation.
What if I already have a website?
We can redesign your existing website, migrate it to our hosting, or start fresh. If your current website is on Wix or Squarespace, we will migrate the content to WordPress and redesign it for better SEO and performance. If your current website is on WordPress but needs updating, we can refresh the design and optimise it for search. Either way, you will end up with a faster, better-ranking, more professional website. See our website design page for more details.
Adelaide-Specific Considerations for Your Website
Building a website for an Adelaide business is different from building one for a Sydney or Melbourne business. Adelaide is smaller, more local, and more community-oriented. Your customers are not searching for "best plumber Australia" — they are searching for "plumber Norwood" or "emergency plumber eastern suburbs." Your website needs to reflect this local focus.
Here are the Adelaide-specific elements that make a difference:
- Suburb pages: If you serve multiple suburbs, create a page for each one. A plumber based in Norwood who serves the eastern suburbs should have pages for Norwood, Unley, Prospect, and every other suburb they cover. These pages rank for "plumber [suburb]" searches and bring in highly targeted traffic.
- Local references: Mention local landmarks, streets, and areas in your content. "Serving customers on The Parade, around Glenelg beach, and across Adelaide's eastern suburbs" sounds natural and includes local keywords that help you rank for relevant searches.
- Consistent NAP: Your Name, Address, and Phone number must be identical on your website, Google Business Profile, and all directory listings. Even small inconsistencies ("St" vs "Street") can hurt your local ranking.
- Mobile-first local search: Adelaide has a high rate of mobile search usage. When someone in Norwood searches "plumber near me" on their phone, Google shows them businesses with mobile-friendly websites and strong local signals. If your website is not mobile-first, you are losing customers to competitors whose sites are.
Our website design packages include all of these local elements. We know Adelaide, we know the suburbs, and we know what local customers are searching for.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Business Type
Different business types have different website needs. Here is what we recommend for common Adelaide small businesses:
Tradies (plumbers, electricians, builders): A 3-5 page website with strong local SEO. Home, Services, About, Contact, and a suburb page. The priority is showing up in local searches and making it easy for customers to call you. Our Starter tier is usually sufficient, with Business if you want to add SEO and a blog.
Cafes and restaurants: A 5-7 page website with a text-based menu, photo gallery, and Google Maps integration. Mobile-first design is critical since most cafe searches happen on phones. Our Business tier is ideal.
Salons and clinics: A 5-7 page website with online booking integration, service pages with pricing, and a strong focus on reviews and local SEO. Our Business tier with booking integration.
Retail shops: A 5-10 page website with product highlights, opening hours, location map, and enquiry automation. Our Business or Growth tier depending on how many suburbs you serve.
The key is matching the website to your business needs, not over-building or under-building. A 10-page Growth site for a sole trader who serves one suburb is overkill. A 3-page Starter site for a multi-location business is under-equipped. We will recommend the right tier for your business during our initial chat — book a free chat.
Migration: What If You Already Have a Website?
If you already have a website on Wix, Squarespace, or another platform, migrating to WordPress is straightforward. We handle the entire process: we copy your existing content, redesign it for better SEO and conversion, move it to our fast hosting, and redirect your old URLs so you do not lose any search ranking. The migration process typically takes 3-5 business days, and your site is live on the new platform within a week.
The most common concern about migration is losing search ranking. This is a valid concern, and it is why we handle redirects carefully. Every URL from your old site is redirected to the corresponding page on your new site using 301 redirects, which tell Google that the page has moved permanently. This preserves your existing search ranking and ensures a smooth transition.
Another concern is downtime. We build the new site on a staging server first, get your approval, and then switch it over. The actual switch takes less than 30 minutes, and most visitors never notice. Your old site stays live until the new one is ready to go.
Ongoing Support After Your Website Launches
A website is not a set-and-forget tool. It needs ongoing maintenance to stay secure, fast, and up-to-date. Here is what we include with every hosting plan:
- Security updates: WordPress core and plugin updates to keep your site secure from vulnerabilities.
- Performance monitoring: We monitor your site speed and uptime. If something slows down, we fix it before it affects your visitors.
- Basic text changes: Need to update your hours, add a service, or change a phone number? Just send us a message and we will make the change within 24 hours. No charge.
- Daily backups: Your site is backed up daily. If anything goes wrong, we can restore it to the previous day's version within minutes.
- SSL certificate: Included free with every hosting plan. Your site is secure and shows the padlock icon in browsers.
This ongoing support is included in our $20/month hosting fee. There are no lock-in contracts and no hidden fees. If you want additional services like SEO content or automation, those are available separately — see our services page for details.