Fussy startup issues

[Semi-retired]

Yes, it's still kinda early in the riding season (not really, I know, but I have a garden, too! LOL) so it's only now that I'm running into this issue after about 5 rides in:
My ignition switch (on the '03 Midnight) has been a little feisty for a couple of years now...meaning when I just try to turn it to on from off, it tends to "run into a roadblock" so I've been depressing it slightly while turning...and, Bob's your uncle. No problem starting, ever.
Yesterday, however, after turning the bike off to speak to someone in a parking lot, when I went to restart, the "dash" lights came on, just like normal, but when I hit the start button, I heard a single, distinct CLICK that sounded as though it came from under the seat/(battery shelf location).
The guy I was talking to was actually a friendly parking security guy and he immediately turned to his vehicle and popped out one of those portable jumper devices. He said he'd heard the click, too, and proudly announced, "Your battery's dead!"
I said, "I don't think so; maybe loose, but not dead; it's been starting and running like a champ for a couple of weeks."
Nonetheless, between his attaching his wonder-device, and my "fooling with" both the ignition switch AND the kill switch.....after a couple of different combinations and flicking back and forth of BOTH of these items, it finally did start.
I drove home and parked outside my closed garage.
When I went to start it and bring it inside for the night......NO JOY. Couldn't even get lights on.
This morning....went out...turned the key, lights on, hit the start button.......CLICK. DEAD.
No amount of turning or fiddling could get .......oh, wait a minute...yes, after I go to the trouble of digging out the multi-meter and the charger....(battery shows 12.3, so it's not her).......suddenly, after coaxing through the Acc position to On, I finally see lights.....hit the Start button and.........CLICK. All dead again.
So, IS there a fast, inexpensive solution for that ignition switch? (Which I'm 90% thinking is the cause....unless you guys have "less expensive" opinions, which I'm ALWAYS willing to try!
Thanks, as always.