QuickLaunch vs the Alternatives: What a Website Actually Costs an NZ Small Business
If you're a small NZ business trying to get online, you've probably landed on some version of the same four options: build it yourself on a platform like Wix or Squarespace, pay a freelancer or agency to build it for you, keep putting it off, or use something like QuickLaunch. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at the first three against the fourth — what each actually costs, how long it takes, and who it's really for.
| QuickLaunch | Wix | Squarespace | Freelancer / agency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $100 NZD, once | $0 to start | $0 to start (14-day trial) | Typically $1,500–$4,000+ NZD¹ |
| Ongoing cost | $0/mo on a free subdomain, or $50 NZD/yr for a custom domain | From ~US$17/mo (Light plan, billed annually) — more for monthly billing or higher tiers² | From ~US$19/mo (Basic plan, billed annually)³ | Varies — hosting/maintenance is often billed separately |
| Time to launch | Minutes — pick from two live previews built from your info | Hours to days of DIY building | Hours to days of DIY building | Typically weeks |
| Who does the building | Automated build from your logo, photos and business info | You, in their drag-and-drop editor | You, in their drag-and-drop editor | The developer, to your spec |
| Support | A real person, NZ-based | Global support queue | Global support queue | Depends entirely on who you hire |
¹ Based on published 2026 NZ web design cost guides — small NZ business sites commonly run $1,000–$6,000 depending on scope, with freelancers often quoting $1,500–$4,000 for a straightforward brochure site. ² ³ Based on Wix's and Squarespace's own published entry-tier pricing as of August 2026, in USD as listed by each platform (both bill primarily in USD; actual NZD cost depends on your card's conversion rate and fees). Higher tiers cost more; both require paying for the year upfront to get the advertised rate.
Where each option actually makes sense
Wix and Squarespace are genuinely good if you want full creative control over every pixel and don't mind spending a weekend (or several) building it yourself — and don't mind an ongoing subscription for as long as the site exists. If you enjoy that kind of tinkering, or need something QuickLaunch doesn't do (a full online store, a booking system, a blog with dozens of categories), they're a reasonable choice.
A freelancer or agency is worth it once your needs get specific — custom functionality, a particular brand system, ongoing design work. You're paying for a person's time and judgement, not just software, and that shows in both the price and the timeline.
QuickLaunch is built for the business that just needs a clean, professional site up now — a name, an address, a phone number, some photos, what you do — without becoming a part-time website administrator or committing to a monthly bill. It's not trying to be a page builder or an e-commerce platform. If that's not what you need, one of the above probably serves you better. If it is, we're $100 and about ten minutes away.
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