Plenty of good websites come from freelancers. Some of the people we admire work alone. So this is not a case against hiring one. It is a look at what you get, what can go wrong, and when each option makes sense.
The short version
A freelancer is one person, often flexible, with a price that depends on who you hire. We are a fixed-price service: $500 + GST for up to 5 pages in 7 days, with a clear list of what is included. The main difference is how predictable the result is, and how custom it can be.
What does a freelancer usually cost?
In Australia, a small business site from a freelancer commonly falls between about $800 and $3,500, as we cover in our cost guide. Cheaper jobs exist on marketplaces such as Fiverr and Airtasker, and experienced designers charge more. These are rough ranges, not quotes.
| Question | Typical freelancer | Straight Up Web |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront price | About $800 to $3,500, varies by quote | $500 + GST |
| Scope | Flexible, can be fully custom | Up to 5 pages, words and bookings included |
| Timeline | Varies with their workload | 7 days |
| Ongoing support | Agreed case by case | Care from $49 a month, month to month |
| Ownership | Ask, it varies | You own the site and domain |
What are the pros of hiring a freelancer?
- You talk directly to the person who builds your site.
- They can do things we do not, such as custom features, unusual layouts or a larger site.
- Some are local, and you can meet face to face.
- A great one brings real design taste and local knowledge.
- Scope is negotiable. You can ask for exactly what you want.
What are the cons?
- Quality is hard to judge. A portfolio helps, but you are trusting one person’s skill and reliability.
- Prices and timelines vary, so quotes are harder to compare.
- If they get busy, take a full-time job or go quiet, your site can be left without support.
- Ownership can be unclear. Some freelancers register the domain or hosting in their own name.
- Small later changes may be billed by the hour, and that adds up.
What are the pros of Straight Up Web?
- The price is fixed and public. See the pricing page.
- You know the scope: up to 5 pages, mobile-first, contact form, Google Business Profile and Search Console set up, and on-page SEO basics.
- You own the site and the domain.
- There is no lock-in contract. Plans are month to month with 30 days’ notice.
- The first 3 months of Care hosting are included.
What are the cons of Straight Up Web?
- The scope is limited. If you need a custom design, a big site or unusual features, we are the wrong fit.
- You get one round of changes before launch. More is possible, but not unlimited.
- There are no add-ons, so there are things we do not do: sites over 5 pages, shops with a checkout, logo design and custom booking systems.
- We are a small team, not a person who will sit in your office.
When should you hire a freelancer?
Hire a freelancer if:
- You want something custom, such as a distinct design or a particular feature.
- You prefer to work with one local person and can check their past work.
- Your site is bigger than a handful of pages.
- You have a bit more budget and want more say over every detail.
When should you pick us?
Pick us if:
- You need a clean, simple site and a fixed price.
- You want it live in about a week.
- You want a clear, written list of what is included.
- You want to own everything and keep the option to leave.
What about risk and support?
The biggest difference is what happens after launch. A website is not a one-off. Plugins need updating, forms break, and you will want to change a phone number or add a service. With a freelancer, support is whatever you agree. Some include a few months of help. Others bill by the hour or are hard to reach once they have moved on to the next job.
With us, the Care plan is the answer. It is $49 a month for hosting, SSL, security, backups and 30 minutes of small edits. It is month to month, so you can leave with 30 days’ notice. That is not better than a great freelancer who answers every message. It is simply written down in advance, which is the point.
On risk, the same applies to us. We are a small business, and nobody can promise they will be around forever. That is why ownership matters. Whoever builds your site, make sure you own the domain and can get access to everything.
How to vet a freelancer if you go that way
These questions are worth asking anyone, including us:
- Can I see live sites you have built, and speak to the owners?
- Who will own the domain, the hosting and the site files?
- What is the full price, and what would cost extra? (Ours has no extras.)
- How are payments staged?
- What happens if you are unavailable? Could someone else take over easily?
- What does a small change cost in six months?
More on warning signs in cheap website red flags, and a wider view in builder vs freelancer vs agency.
Not sure which?
Get a quote from a freelancer and compare it against what we list on our websites page. If our scope covers what you need, we are happy to build it. If it does not, we will say so.