Compared
Twin Lakes vs a traditional agency
A good agency does good work. The model, though, was built for businesses with a marketing budget, not for a two-chair salon or a one-ute plumber.
When a local agency is the right call
If you need brand strategy, a large site with many sections, custom software, or a team across design, development and marketing, an agency is the right shape. You'll pay for that depth and you should expect it.
When Twin Lakes is the right call
If you need a well-designed site that does the three or four things your business needs, you'd rather see it before paying, and you want one person who answers the phone afterwards, that's precisely what we built Twin Lakes to be. The monthly price includes the things agencies bill separately.
What they charge
A local agency, priced as at 11 October 2026.
There's no price list for agencies, so these are the ranges Australian industry guides published in 2026 for a small business website.
Ranges, not quotes. Several of the guides are published by agencies, so they describe their own market. Ask any quote whether it includes GST, hosting, the domain and ongoing changes.
- Freelancer or independent developer: A$1,000 to A$3,000.
- Small studio: A$2,500 to A$6,000. A 5 to 8 page brochure site is commonly A$2,000 to A$5,000.
- Larger agency: A$8,000 to A$25,000 and up, with a 10 to 15 page business site often A$5,000 to A$15,000.
- Hourly rates: A$80 to A$150 for a freelancer, A$100 to A$250 for an agency.
- Ongoing: maintenance packages A$50 to A$300 a month, hosting A$10 to A$50 a month, a .com.au domain A$15 to A$25 a year.
- Payment is usually 30 to 50 percent upfront with the balance on launch.
Sources: How much does a website cost in Australia, Grove Foundry (2026), Website cost pricing guide, WP Creative (2026), Website design cost in Australia, Nirmal. Twin Lakes is $79 a month including GST, checked the same day because we set it.
Side by side
What you get, and what it costs you over time.
Prices quoted are as published on 11 October 2026. They change, so check the other side's page before you decide.
| What | A local agency | Twin Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | A team: account manager, designer, developer. You rarely talk to the builder. | We do it, by hand, from what you tell us. |
| Upfront | A deposit, then the balance on launch. Australian guides put a small business site at A$2,000 to A$6,000 from a small studio, A$1,000 to A$3,000 from a freelancer, and A$8,000 and up from a larger agency. | Nothing. Your first $79 is paid when you approve the draft. |
| Ongoing | Hosting and a maintenance retainer, commonly A$50 to A$300 a month, or an hourly rate of A$80 to A$250 for changes. | $79 a month including GST. Domain, hosting, changes, bookings, forms, ordering and apps are all in it. |
| Time to a site | Weeks to months, with rounds of revisions. | A working draft in 24 hours. Live in days. |
| Changes | A ticket, a quote, an invoice. | Email them through. Done, usually the same day, no hourly rate. |
| Bookings, forms, ordering | Scoped and quoted as extras. | Included. Bookings, quote forms, online ordering, a members' app if it genuinely helps. |
| Your domain | Should be yours. Sometimes ends up in the agency's account. | Registered in your name from day one. We pay the renewals while you're with us. |
| Hosting | Varies. Ask where, and who holds the login. | Australia. Fast for your customers, and their details stay in the country. |
| Leaving | Depends on the contract. Ask who owns the code and the design files before you sign. | Month to month. Your domain, content and data go with you. After 12 months, the code too. |
| Support | Account manager in business hours, within the retainer. | Nick, by email or phone. The person who built it. |
Switching
Moving from a local agency
If an agency built your current site, we rebuild it from what's there, bring your domain into your own name, redirect the old addresses, and take over the hosting. If the agency holds your domain or your login, we help you get them back first.
Straight answers
Why is this so much cheaper than the quotes I've had?
Because we don't bill for the build. We've built the tooling to do small-business sites in days, and we charge for running them instead. You pay monthly, we're paid only while you stay.
What's the catch?
We don't do everything. Large custom projects, brand strategy and marketing campaigns aren't us, and we'll tell you if your job needs an agency.
Do I own the site?
Your domain, content and brand from day one. We run the code while we host it, and after 12 months you can take a copy.
See your draft tomorrow.
A few details is all it takes. You'll hear back from hello@twinlakes.au within 24 hours with a link to your draft.
- Draft in 24 hours
- Nothing to pay until you say yes
- Cancel any time
Rather talk first? Book a 30-minute call