Australian business website checklist: GST pricing, the Privacy Act and Afterpay
What an Australian business website needs in 2026: GST-inclusive prices, your ABN, a privacy policy under the Privacy Act, Spam Act rules for email and SMS, Australian Consumer Law returns wording and the payment options shoppers expect.
By Syed Shahzaib Ali · 12 November 2026 · 2 min read
Australian customers are used to clear prices and strong consumer rights, and the regulators publish plain guidance on both. This is the checklist we use for Australian builds. It is general guidance, not legal advice.
1. Show the total price
The ACCC requires businesses to display the total price of a product or service as a single figure. That figure includes GST and any fee the customer cannot avoid. Optional extras and delivery that varies by address can be shown separately, as long as that is clear.
GST is 10%. You must register once your GST turnover reaches $75,000, and you can register earlier if it suits you.
2. Show your ABN and contact details
Put your business name, ABN and a way to contact you in the footer or on the contact page. Tax invoices need the ABN, and customers use it to check that a business is real. A .com.au domain also requires an Australian presence, such as an ABN.
3. Publish a privacy policy
The Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles set out how personal information is collected, used and stored. The Act covers organisations with a turnover of more than $3 million and some smaller ones. Even if you are below the threshold, publish a short, honest policy: what you collect, why, who you share it with and how to contact you.
4. Follow the Spam Act
Before you send a marketing email or SMS:
- you need the person's consent
- the message must say who sent it
- every message needs a working unsubscribe option
Add clear consent wording to your sign-up forms and keep a record of sign-ups.
5. Word your returns policy carefully
Under the Australian Consumer Law, customers have guarantees that cannot be signed away. "No refunds" on its own is misleading. Say what you offer for change of mind, and state that consumer guarantees apply to faulty products.
6. Offer the payments Australians use
- Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- PayPal
- Afterpay or Zip for instalments
- PayID or BPAY for invoices
7. What customers look for
- Delivery times by state, including regional areas.
- Google reviews and a Google Business Profile that matches the site.
- Pages for the cities and suburbs you serve in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
- A site that is fast on a phone.
How we can help
We build Australian websites and Shopify stores with GST-inclusive pricing, Afterpay and consent wording in place before launch. See our Australia page or ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Privacy Act apply to my small business?
- The Act covers organisations with an annual turnover of more than $3 million, plus some smaller ones, such as health service providers and businesses that trade in personal information. A privacy policy is still expected by customers and by platforms such as Google Ads.
- Do I have to show prices including GST?
- Yes, when you sell to consumers. The ACCC requires the total price as a single figure, including taxes and unavoidable fees. Prices shown only to other businesses can exclude GST.
- Should I offer Afterpay?
- For consumer products, usually yes. Afterpay and Zip are widely used in Australia and lift conversion on mid-priced items. We set them up on Shopify alongside cards and PayPal.
- How much does a website cost with The Dev Studio?
- Our fixed packages are US$299, US$599 and US$1,599, with Shopify stores from US$999. You get a written quote before any work starts.
See how we work with Australian businesses
Websites, Shopify stores, SEO and apps for Australian businesses at a fixed price.