Other costs to be aware of

Beyond what you pay me, a few third-party tools keep your marketing running. Here is an honest guide to the main ones, with a free place to start and my recommendation for each, so you can choose what suits your budget.

A typical lean setup runs to roughly $35 to $70 a month. That is a simple site plus a newsletter, leaning on free tiers where you can. This might include a domain, a Squarespace site and a business email, with your design and email tools starting on their free plans. It grows only as you do.

A note on prices

These figures are approximate, in Australian dollars and exclude GST, and they change often. Several tools bill in US dollars, so your final cost can vary with the exchange rate and the size of your list or usage. Always check current pricing when you sign up, and start on free tiers wherever you can. I am happy to help you choose and set these up as part of your project.

Website hosting and domain

Ongoing, and essential for a site.

  • Squarespace (my pick): Where I build. A simple brochure site sits on a lower plan, and selling a shop or course needs a higher one, which I will advise on. Around $25 to $60 a month.

  • Your domain: Your web address, usually your business name, billed yearly through Squarespace or a registrar. Around $20 to $30 a year.

Tip: paying annually is usually around 25 to 30 percent cheaper than monthly.

Business email

Ongoing, and recommended.

  • Google Workspace (my pick): Email on your own domain, like hello@yourbusiness.com, which looks far more professional than a personal Gmail. From around $8.40 per user a month.

  • Microsoft 365 Business (alternative): Much the same, if you already live in Word and Outlook. From around $8 per user a month.

Email marketing platform

Ongoing, and essential for newsletters.

  • MailerLite or Brevo (free to start): Generous free tiers to begin. MailerLite is free up to around 1,000 subscribers, and Brevo charges by emails sent. Free to start.

  • Mailchimp (my pick): Where I build your templates, and the most complete all-rounder as you grow. From around $20 a month.

  • MailerLite (budget): Great value, and it bills only your active subscribers, not old unsubscribes. From around $16 a month.

If you’re already on Squarespace, its built-in email campaigns may be enough to start, and I am happy to help you weigh it up.

Graphic design

Ongoing, and optional.

  • Canva Free (free to start): Plenty to edit the templates I build you and make your own assets. Free.

  • Canva Pro (my pick): Brand kit, premium assets and one-click resizing. Worth it if design is a regular need. Around $18 a month, or $165 a year.

  • Adobe Express (alternative): Similar, if you are in the Adobe world. Free, or paid from around $16 a month.

Social scheduling

Ongoing, if you run your own social.

  • Meta Business Suite (free to start): Schedule Facebook and Instagram posts for free. All most people need. Free.

  • Buffer or Later (alternative): Add other platforms and a tidier planning view. From around $10 to $25 a month.

Online booking

Ongoing, for appointment-based work.

  • Calendly: Simple, popular scheduling with a free tier, so clients can book you online. Free to start, with paid plans from around $15 a month.

  • Acuity Scheduling: More powerful, with intake forms and payments built in, and it integrates neatly with Squarespace. From around $20 a month.

Both have a free or low-cost starting point, so you can pick the one that fits how you work.

Legal policies

One-off, and recommended.

  • A policy generator, such as Termly (budget): A solid privacy policy and website terms for a small business. Free to low cost.

  • A lawyer (higher-stakes): Tailored policies, worth it for regulated fields like health or finance, or anything sensitive. One-off fee.

If your site collects any data, whether through contact forms, signups or analytics, a privacy policy is required.

Free, but worth setting up

Ongoing, and free.

  • Google Analytics (GA4): See how your site is performing. I set this up as part of every build. Free.

  • Unsplash and Pexels: High-quality free stock imagery, if you do not have your own photos. Free.