Four ways to get a removalist business online, compared
A managed plan, a DIY builder, a one-off agency build, or no website at all. Each has a place. This page sets out the trade-offs, including the downsides of our own plan.
At a glance
| Upfront | Ongoing | Your time | Removalist features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managed plan | A$499 | A$249 a month | Content, then messages | Built in |
| DIY builder | Low | Subscription and apps | High | You build them |
| Agency build | High | Hosting and paid changes | Briefing and reviews | Depends on the brief |
| Social only | None | None, or ads | Posting and replying | None |
Builder and agency prices vary too much to quote fairly, so they are described in general terms. No provider is named.
Managed website plan
A site built for removalists, hosted and updated for a monthly fee. A$249 a month, A$499 setup, GST may apply.
For
- The quote form, area pages and insurance page are part of the build, not extras
- Up to 5 edits a month, so prices and suburbs stay current without your time
- Hosting, SSL and security updates are handled
- Predictable cost: one monthly fee after setup
Against
- A 12-month minimum term, so it is a commitment of A$3,487 in the first year
- You supply the content: words, photos and prices
- The design and code stay with us if you leave; you keep your domain and content
- Logo design and advertising are not included
Suits: Removal businesses that want a proper site without building or maintaining it themselves.
DIY website builder
A drag-and-drop builder with a monthly subscription. You design, write and maintain the site yourself.
For
- Low upfront cost
- Changes are instant, whenever you like
- Plenty of templates to start from
Against
- Your evenings: setting up pages, forms and a layout that works on phones takes time
- Templates are generic; a quote form by move size means building the fields yourself
- Paid apps for forms or booking can add to the subscription
- The site usually stays tied to the builder
Suits: Owners who enjoy the work, have the time, and are happy to keep the site updated.
One-off agency build
A web designer or agency builds the site for a project fee, then hands it over.
For
- A custom design, if the budget allows
- You usually own the files at the end
- A good agency brings experience of what works
Against
- The largest cost comes upfront
- Hosting, security and changes are often billed separately after launch
- Sites often go stale when every edit costs money
- Quality varies widely, and removalist-specific features depend on the brief
Suits: Larger removal businesses with a bigger budget and someone in-house to manage the site.
What matters most for a removal business
Whichever option you choose, a few things decide whether a site brings in work. People look for a mover on Google, and Google ranks local results on relevance1, distance1 and prominence1. A page for each service and area you cover helps with relevance. So does a site that works properly on a phone, because Google uses the mobile version2 of a site for indexing and ranking.
The other option people weigh is advertising. Advertisers pay $11-$163 per click on "removalists", so a click that lands on a page with no quote form is expensive. Ads are not part of our plan, but if you run them, the site is where the money lands.
Our guide website or Facebook page covers the social-only option in more depth, and what a removalist website costs works through the numbers.
Not sure which option fits?
Book a call and ask. If a DIY builder or a Facebook page suits your business better right now, we will tell you.
A$249 a month, A$499 setup, GST may apply. Full pricing
No website: Facebook or Instagram only
A business page on social media, plus marketplace ads and word of mouth.
For
Against
Suits: Brand-new operators testing demand, as long as they plan for a site later.