Judging by online ads for different services, creating a website is easier and cheaper than ever. Even so, many small businesses and individuals are unpleasantly surprised once they take the first step.
Some claim creating a website can be 100% free, while others that a good site will set entrepreneurs back a couple of thousands of dollars. As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle, so we broke the math down to see how much the entire endeavour would affect the balance.
Initial Costs No One Talks About
When talking about websites, most people think of design and functionalities that make the user experience better. However, before one can even think about the colour scheme and lovely product pictures, it is necessary to cover the technical aspects of the website.
Choosing a Domain Name
A domain name is the internet address that enables players to access the site. The price of the domain varies depending on many factors:
- Extension: This is like a zip code to the domain. Mainstream .org and .com extensions have a charge of up to 20 USD, while more niche extensions may reach hundreds of dollars;
- Domain Registration Provider: One of the biggest in the industry is Spaceship. Check domain availability at the Namecheap site.
- Status of the Domain: Straightforward domains (like pizza.com or developers.com) may have a prize tag of thousands of dollars.
Prices of Web Hosting
Web hosting is where all the website data is stored in a way visitors can access it. Again, there are a couple of options to choose from, the cheapest being the shared hosting (around 15 USD per month), followed by VPS hosting (up to 100 USD per month).
More expensive options are dedicated hosting and cloud hosting, which is the most expensive version. The choice is not arbitrary, as the more traffic the site has, the more expensive hosting it needs.
Choosing the Website Builder
Website builders and content management systems are the most common site creation tools. When it comes to this part of creating the site, there is no price to put on.
Some services, such as Wix, offer bundle deals for 50 USD, and they include everything the company needs. Others are free, but every widget and tool is paid extra.
Design and Development
This is what most people consider “creating a website”, right after picking the right domain. The prices vary tremendously.
DIY sites may be free, up to around 100 USD, but if the company hires a professional, the costs quickly rise to thousands of dollars. The key is finding the right balance between needs and affordability.
The price of development, on the other hand, is often determined by the type of the website. Enterprise sites are the priciest and have no limits in terms of price.
E-commerce sites, which are becoming more common, will cost up to 20K USD. Those that require only basic development rarely set brands back more than 5,000 USD.
Functionalities and Features
Long story short: the more functionalities, tools and features the site has, the more expensive will it be. Anything, from payment platforms to inventory management to newsletter subscriptions, comes at a price.
Premium plug-ins may cost up to 500 USD per year. A chatbot that will lower customer support expenses will take a couple of thousands out of the budget. Expenses add up faster than one thinks.
Adding Content to the Website
All that text and pictures must come from somewhere. Hiring a professional copywriter at the very beginning may represent a bigger expense, but it will be more worthwhile in the long run. An experienced copywriter may ask for anywhere from 35 to 50 USD per 1,000 words.
Visual content is nowadays available for free, but companies must make sure to read the terms of use. Many agencies ban commercial use or are free only for private persons, while businesses must purchase monthly subscriptions.
The price of the subscription depends on the number of images. Hiring a professional to make custom-made visual content is also possible, but more expensive.
Ongoing Costs
After the site goes live, there will still be some ongoing expenses to consider:
- Hoisting and domain that may cost more than 500 USD a year;
- Software updates and security protocols, as well as privacy plug-ins. Each of them has a tag of a couple of hundreds of dollars;
- Programmers who will keep the site alive, fix small bugs and update it regularly;
- Copywriters who will add new content and create promo materials.
Marketing Campaigns and Google Rankings
The website that simply exists isn’t worth much. Companies and brands want to be recognized.
One of the easiest ways to reach an audience is search engine optimization (SEO). On-site SEO costs are around 1K, but off-site SEO may reach the price of over 5,000 USD per month.
Digital marketing campaigns typically involve pay-per-click ads. In this case, there is no limit on how much it can cost. Plus, hiring a social media manager will cost a couple of thousands of dollars.
Hidden Costs that Show Up
Website development is rarely smooth sailing, and experiencing unplanned expenses is difficult to avoid. They show up because of miscommunication, a lack of knowledge on both sides (the client and the development team), and an unclear vision of what the site should be about.
Conclusion: From Budget-Friendly to Expensive
Indeed, a website doesn’t have to be expensive, but in the end, the total prize will primarily depend on the project's size, purpose, and expectations. A small business site can be built for up to 5,000 USD, but more elaborate creations may cost over 50,000 USD.
The more custom-made the site, the higher the price tag. Understanding the components of website costs helps in narrowing down the options and avoiding unexpected expenses.
Whether opting for a DIY approach or hiring professionals, thorough planning and budgeting ensures a website that meets one’s needs and aligns with their financial goals.
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