Web design · south-east Melbourne

Real answers from a real person.

I design and build clear, fast websites for tradies, cafes and small businesses. You deal with me the whole way, and you own everything I build.

5 years building websites for an agency, now working directly with you Based in south-east Melbourne, working with clients Australia-wide Call 0478 780 076
See a real site for:

These are real concept sites I've built, running live. Tap a business type to switch, or tap the preview to open the full site. Concepts for fictional businesses.

01 About

Hi, I'm Stuart

I spent five years building websites as part of a remote agency team, and I started Human Web Co to work directly with the people the websites are for.

I'm based in south-east Melbourne and happy to meet in person. I especially enjoy working with tradies, cafes and other local businesses, the kind of people who need a site that just works so they can get on with the job.

You'll always be talking to me, and I'll explain things in plain English. And I don't disappear once your site is live. If something needs changing, you know who to call.

02 How I work

What working with me looks like

A website that does its job

Your services, your area, and a clear way to contact you. It loads quickly and works properly on a phone.

One person from start to finish

You deal with me directly, from the first chat through to launch and after. No ticket numbers, no handoffs.

You own what I build

Your domain is registered in your name, and the terms are written in plain English so you know where you stand.

03 Before and after

Same business. Better website.

Drag the slider to compare, using my Kestrel Electrical concept as the example. A lot of small business sites still look like the right. Mine look like the left.

  • Your phone number and main button up top, where people look first
  • Readable on a phone without pinching and zooming
  • Clean, fast pages that show off your work

04 Work

Three businesses, three very different sites

Concept sites I designed to show what's possible for different trades. Each one has a working feature you can try.

Loom Hair Studio concept homepage shown in a browser and on a phone
ConceptHair salon

Loom Hair Studio

An editorial, centred design with online booking.

Why it's useful: clients book any time without phoning mid-appointment, so there are fewer interrupted cuts. The colour try-on gets people excited about a colour service before they book it.

Try it: recolour the hair artwork with a tap.

View live demo
Wren and Rye cafe concept homepage shown in a browser and on a phone
ConceptCafe

Wren & Rye

An app-style layout with a live menu and order-ahead.

Why it's useful: ordering ahead shortens the morning queue, so regulars get in and out faster. A clear online menu answers "what do you have?" before anyone picks up the phone.

Try it: build a coffee and watch it pour.

View live demo
Kestrel Electrical concept homepage shown in a browser and on a phone
ConceptElectrician

Kestrel Electrical

A tool-first site with instant price estimates.

Why it's useful: the estimator answers "roughly how much?" up front, which cuts down the repeat quote enquiries. The people who do call already know the ballpark and are ready to book.

Try it: flip the switchboard and test the safety switch.

View live demo

Concepts are for fictional businesses and are labelled that way. Real client sites are in progress and will be added here as they launch.

Like what you see? Let's talk about yours.

Tell me what your business does and I'll send you a fixed quote. No obligation, no jargon.

05 Pricing

Simple pricing

Every job gets a fixed quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises.

  • Fixed quotes
  • No confusing agency jargon

One-page site

From $500

Best for: sole traders and new businesses who mainly need to be found and get a call. Think mobile mechanic, cleaner or dog groomer.

  • One page, up to 6 sections: intro, services, work, reviews, areas and contact
  • Built on my proven layout, styled with your logo, colours and photos
  • Tap-to-call and a contact form
  • Domain set up in your name
  • Two rounds of changes

Small website

From $1,500

Best for: established businesses with a few services or suburbs to explain, who want to show up in local Google searches.

  • Up to 5 pages, like home, services, about, work and contact
  • Designed around your business, not a template
  • Google basics: page titles, descriptions and your service area
  • A photo gallery or reviews section
  • Everything in the one-page site

Not sure which fits? If people mostly just need your number, start with the one-page site. If you have several services or areas to explain, go small. If you want the site to give prices or take bookings, go custom. I'll tell you honestly if you need less than you think.

Monthly care Optional

Essentials

$49/month

  • Hosting and security updates
  • Backups, and I fix it if something breaks
  • Up to 30 minutes of edits a month

Plus

$99/month

  • Everything in Essentials
  • Up to 1 hour of edits a month
  • Quarterly check-in: visits, enquiries and one idea to improve
  • Help keeping your Google Business Profile up to date

No lock-in: cancel with 30 days' notice. Edits are things like new photos, prices, hours or text. Unused time doesn't roll over, and bigger jobs are quoted first. You don't need care at all. Here's exactly what happens without it.

Extras, when you need them

Add any of these to a package. I'll include them in your fixed quote.

  • Extra page from $150
  • Photo gallery from $150
  • Online booking, connected from $200
  • Service area checker from $250
  • Menu or services with filters from $300
  • Edit your own text, photos and prices from $400
  • Price estimator or quote calculator from $600
  • Order ahead for pick-up quoted
  • Help writing your content from $120 a page
  • Something custom for your business quoted

Don't want monthly care? That's fine. Here's what happens.

  • Your domain It's registered in your name from day one. You pay the renewal directly to the registrar, usually around $20–30 a year.
  • Your hosting I set up hosting in your name and show you how it works. For a small site this is often free or a few dollars a month, paid directly to the host.
  • The handover You get all the site files and every login. Nothing stays locked in with me.
  • After that Your site keeps running as it is. If you need changes later, I'll quote them up front at $95 an hour, or any other web developer can pick it up.

You can switch to monthly care at any time.

  1. Quick chat about your business and what you need.
  2. Fixed quote in writing, listing every page and feature, so you know the cost up front.
  3. 50% deposit and your content to book your start date. I'll send a simple checklist of what I need.
  4. Build and launch, usually within two weeks of receiving your content (custom sites 3–4 weeks). The other 50% is due before the site goes live.

Prices in AUD, including GST if it applies, and a guide only. Extras, larger sites, complex features and online shops are quoted per job. What's included is always listed in your written quote, and every job runs on my plain-English terms.

06 Questions

What local businesses ask me

Straight answers to the questions I hear most. If yours isn't here, just ask.

How much does a website cost for a small business?

With me, a one-page site starts at $500, a small website of up to 5 pages starts at $1,500, and a custom site of up to 8 pages with a standout feature starts at $2,800. The final price depends on how many pages you need and whether you want extras like booking or a price estimator.

You get a fixed quote in writing before any work starts, and that's the price you pay. If you ask for something new partway through, I'll quote it separately before doing it.

Are there any ongoing costs?

Every website has two small running costs: the domain (your web address, usually around $20–30 a year) and hosting (where the site lives, often free or a few dollars a month for a small site).

You can pay those directly yourself, or choose monthly care from $49 a month. That covers hosting, security updates, backups, fixes and up to 30 minutes of edits a month ($99 a month for up to an hour of edits plus a quarterly check-in). It's optional, and you can cancel with 30 days' notice.

Who owns the website and the domain?

You do. Your domain is registered in your name from day one, not mine. Once the site is paid for, the design, the files and the content are yours.

If we ever stop working together, I'll hand over everything you need so you can take it elsewhere. No hostage situations, no transfer fees.

What happens if I don't want monthly care?

I set up hosting in your name, show you how it works, and hand over all the files and logins. You pay for your domain and hosting directly. Your site keeps running as it is.

If you want changes later, I'll quote them up front at $95 an hour. You can also move to monthly care whenever you like.

Who keeps the website updated and working?

On monthly care, I do. I handle security updates, keep an eye on things, make small edits like new photos, prices or opening hours, and fix it if something breaks.

Without monthly care, the site keeps running on its own. The sites I build are simple and fast, so there's very little that can go wrong. When you need a change, you call me and I'll quote it.

How long does it take?

Usually within two weeks of receiving your content for one-page and small websites, and 3–4 weeks for custom sites. The clock starts once your content and deposit are in, and I'll give you a timeframe with your quote.

How does payment work?

A 50% deposit books your start date, and the other 50% is due once you've approved the finished site, before it goes live. Invoices are due within 7 days, and you can pay by bank transfer or card.

Your quote includes two rounds of changes. If you'd like more, or something new that wasn't in the quote, I'll tell you the cost before doing it.

What do I need to give you?

Your logo if you have one, some photos of your work, your list of services, and the areas you cover. I'll send you a simple checklist so you know exactly what's needed. No design or tech knowledge required.

Will my website show up on Google?

From the small website package up, I set up the Google basics: page titles, descriptions and your service area, so Google understands what you do and where. That gives you a solid starting point.

No one can honestly promise you the top spot on Google. Setting up and keeping your Google Business Profile up to date, and collecting reviews, usually makes the biggest difference for local businesses. I'm happy to point you in the right direction.

I already have a website. Can you redesign it?

Yes. You can keep your existing domain, and I'll move things over so customers can still find you at the same address.

07 Contact

Let's talk about your website.

Tell me a bit about your business and what you need. I'll reply personally.

Prefer to talk? Call 0478 780 076
Or email sales@humanwebco.com

I'll only use your details to reply to your enquiry. See my privacy policy. Spam protection by Cloudflare.