This document summarizes a study of Australian small businesses and their use of websites. It found that 41% of small businesses have websites, with the main reasons for not having one being that the business is too small or a website is too expensive. Small businesses with websites reported 25% growth on average. While many small businesses recognize the benefits of websites, regional businesses are less likely than metropolitan ones to have or plan to get a website.

1. Australian SMBs &
websites
2019 research study
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Conducted by YouGov Galaxy

2. This research study was conducted
online in late 2018 among a
representative sample of small
business owners and managers.
The sample comprises 425 respondents
from throughout Australia, including
both capital city and non-capital city
areas.
Copyright© 2018 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.2

3. Australian small businesses (1>20 employees)
41%
Have websites
59%
Don’t have websites
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.3

4. 61% of small business owners with
company websites believe it has
contributed as much as 25%
growth to their business.
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.4

5. Reasons given by business owners without websites
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.5
44%
My business is too small It’s too expensive to have
a website
No time to build or manage
a website
30% 17%

6. Although the benefits are widely recognized
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.6
 Two thirds of respondents (65%) say a website
would make their business look more credible and
professional.
 56% know that having a website means the
business can be found on Google.
 59% say a website can provide a good way of
receiving customer enquiries.
 Almost the same number (58%) say it opens up
new business opportunities.

7. 54% of small business owners in
metro areas who are without a
website are considering building
one in the next 12 months. Only
31% in regional areas reported
having the same goal.
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.7

8. Additional findings
Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.8
 Small businesses in regional areas are the least
likely to have a company website (65%).
 50% of small business owners based in regional
areas who are without a website have no plans to
build one in the next 12 months. Only 34% in metro
areas have no plans to build one within the next
year — a 26% difference.
 Small business owners in metro areas (42%) are
16% more likely than business owners in regional
areas (26%) to believe that it’s too time-consuming
to update a website.
Regional differences
 Almost half (47%) of small businesses without a
company website say that they are considering
building one within the next 12 months.
 Many small businesses currently without websites
say it would be easier to get one if it was
inexpensive to do so (47%).
 Respondents say they would get a website if the
process was quick and easy (39%), if there was an
easy-to-use DIY website builder they could use
(36%) or a professional to do it for them (34%).
Projections

9. Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.9
 Small businesses decision-makers on average
would expect a professional to charge around
$3,200 to build a fully functioning business website.
 There is also a digital divide among generations,
with Millennials expecting higher professional
website fees ($4,347) than either Gen X ($3,208) or
Baby Boomers ($2,553).
Cost expectations
 As many as 70% of small businesses with a
company website report that they experience issues
with it.
 The principal problems are that it is time-consuming
to update (38%) or that it contains information that is
incorrect or out-of-date (28%).
Website pain points

10. Copyright© 2019 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved.10