Four ways to get a painting business online, compared honestly

Our plan isn't the right choice for every painter. Here is how it stacks up against building it yourself, paying for a one-off build, or sticking with Facebook.

A managed plan like ours

Someone else builds and runs the site; you pay monthly and send changes.

Good

  • The site is built for you from your content, within a fixed time
  • Changes are made for you, up to 5 a month
  • Hosting, security updates and the certificate are handled
  • A predictable monthly cost

Not so good

  • A 12-month minimum term
  • Over several years you may pay more than a one-off build would cost
  • You don’t get the site’s code or design to take elsewhere; your content and domain are yours
  • Work outside the plan, like a redesign, costs extra

Suits: Painters who want a proper site but don’t want to build or maintain it themselves.

A DIY website builder

You sign up to a website builder, pick a template and build the pages yourself.

Good

  • Low cost to start, usually a monthly subscription
  • You can change anything, any time
  • Usually no long contract

Not so good

  • It takes your evenings, and the site is only as good as the time you give it
  • Templates aren’t set up for painting work, so quote forms and galleries need building
  • Sites often go stale when work gets busy
  • You handle the settings, photos, page titles and anything that breaks

Suits: Painters who enjoy the computer side, have spare time and are happy to keep the site current.

A one-off build from an agency or freelancer

You pay a designer or agency to build a site once, then host and update it yourself or pay per change.

Good

  • A custom design shaped to a detailed brief
  • You usually own the finished site
  • No ongoing fee to the builder unless you want support

Not so good

  • A larger upfront cost
  • Changes after launch are often charged per job, so they get put off
  • Hosting, updates and security become your job or another bill
  • Quality varies a lot, and the result depends on the brief you write

Suits: Businesses with a budget up front, a clear brief and someone to look after the site afterwards.

No website: Facebook or Instagram only

You post jobs on a business page and take messages there.

Good

  • Free to set up
  • Easy to post photos straight from a job
  • Customers who already follow you see new work

Not so good

  • Posts sink down the feed, so your best work gets hard to find
  • Some customers don’t use Facebook or won’t message a business there
  • You don’t control the layout, the rules or who else is shown next to you
  • No quote form with the questions you need answered

Suits: Very new businesses testing demand, or painters who get all their work from repeat customers. It works best alongside a website.

Side by side

We describe other options in general terms. Prices for builders and agencies vary widely, so check current prices with any provider you're considering.

Managed plan DIY builder One-off build Facebook only
Upfront cost NZ$549 setup Low High None
Ongoing cost NZ$269/month, GST may apply Subscription Hosting plus paid changes None
Your time to build Answer a checklist Many evenings Writing the brief and reviewing None
Changes after launch Made for you You make them Usually paid per change You post
Quote form for painting jobs Included You set it up If you ask for it Messages only
Before and after gallery Included You set it up If you ask for it Posts in a feed
Hosting and security Included Included with the builder Your job or extra Not applicable
Commitment 12-month minimum Usually monthly One project None

Three questions to decide

  1. Will you really keep a site up to date yourself?

    If yes, and you enjoy it, a DIY builder is good value. If your evenings go on quotes and invoices, a site you build yourself will likely go stale.

  2. Would you rather pay upfront or monthly?

    A one-off build puts the cost at the start. A plan spreads it out and includes the looking-after, with a minimum term.

  3. Where do your customers look?

    If they find you on Google and compare several painters, a website with your services, areas and photos gives them what they need. Our article on websites versus Facebook pages goes into more detail.

If the plan sounds right, see pricing and what you get.

Not sure which suits you? Ask on a call

We'll tell you honestly if a DIY builder or a one-off build would suit your business better. The call is about what you need, not a hard sell.

Book a call See pricing

NZ$269 a month plus NZ$549 setup, GST may apply, 12-month minimum term. The call is free and there is no obligation. Online booking opens soon.