Establishing a website involves several components including costs for domains, hosting and design. When building a website you have three options: using a website builder, using WordPress or hiring a designer. Let’s break down the website costs involved so you can be fully prepared for the process.
Essential Website Costs
When setting up a website you need to cover some basic requirements. These include:
- Domain Name: Registering your website’s address.
- Hosting: Finding a company to host your website.
- Design: Hiring a professional designer or using a website-building platform to create your site.
- SSL Certificate: Ensuring your site is secure which may be included with other services or need to be purchased separately.
- Add-ons: Additional features like an e-commerce portal if needed.
You can start a website with minimal costs but it might lack key components to make it searchable, engaging and secure. It’s important to make your website a reliable and attractive place for visitors to get information and make purchases.
| Component | Cost |
| Domain Name | $0 to $20 per year |
| Web Hosting | $30 to $500 per year |
| Theme or Template | $0 to $100 (one-time fee) |
| Professional Web Design | $100 to $5,000 or more |
| DIY Website Builder | $100 to $400 per year |
| SSL Certificate | $0 to $249 per year |
Domain Name
The domain name is the first step in creating your website. It’s important to secure a good domain name especially if you want a .com URL or another popular top-level domain (TLD). TLDs can be expensive because they are highly sought after.
Registering a domain name typically involves an annual fee from a domain registrar ranging from $12 to $60 per year. However, some premium domains with popular keywords can cost much more, sometimes even thousands of dollars. Most business owners can find a suitable domain name for under $60.
Best Domain Name Services
| Service | Rating | Starting Price | Standout Feature |
| Namecheap | 5 Star | $5.98 first year | Free Whois privacy |
|
Domain.com |
5 Star |
$11.99 first year |
Unique extensions available |
|
DreamHost |
3 Star |
$8.99 first year |
Domain name privacy comes standard |
|
Hover |
3 Star |
$17.99 first year |
Domain and email plans available |
Website builder services sometimes include a free domain for the first year. With services like WordPress, it usually costs extra.
Web Hosting
A domain name alone isn’t enough to have a functioning website; you also need web hosting. Hosting allows visitors to access your site’s content and is a separate cost from the domain, though some plans include it.
If you use a drag-and-drop website builder, hosting is typically part of the annual subscription fee. However, if you’re creating the site yourself or using WordPress, you’ll need to subscribe to a web hosting service.
Best Web Hosting Services
| Service | Rating | Starting Price | Storage | Bandwidth | Free SSL Certificate | Free Domain Name |
| MochaHost | 4.5 Star | $3.18 per month | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✓ | ✓ |
| InterServer | 4.5 Star | $2.50 per month | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✓ | X |
| A2 Hosting | 4.5 Star | $2.99 per month | 100 GB | Unlimited | ✓ | X |
| TMDHosting | 4.5 Star | $2.99 per month | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✓ | ✓ |
| DreamHost | 4.5 Star | $2.95 per month | 50 GB | Unlimited | ✓ | ✓ |
Web hosting fees typically range from $100 to $500 per year. If your website gets a lot of traffic, it’s wise to invest in a more robust hosting plan to prevent crashes. High traffic is considered over 100,000 visitors per month. Basic plans work when you’re starting out but you should be ready to upgrade as your visitor count grows.
Eventually, you might consider investing in your own servers to keep all data in-house. This is expensive, costing between $5,000 and $20,000 per year but most small businesses don’t need to go this route.
DIY Website Design
Website builders offer packages that can save you money if you’re on a tight budget. These tools usually don’t require technical skills and use drag-and-drop features making them user-friendly. While it might seem overwhelming at first, most people can create their first website in just a few minutes using these DIY programs.
Basic features are often free or inexpensive but premium features like unique themes, come with higher subscription fees. Costs vary depending on the platform and plan you choose typically ranging from $100 to $500 per year with an average cost of around $200 per year.
Best Website Builder Platforms
| Platform | Rating | Starting Price | E-commerce Price | Free Prebuilt Templates | Web Hosting Included | Free SSL Certificate | Free Domain Name |
| Squarespace | $16 per month | $28 per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Weebly | $10 per month | $12 per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | |
| GoDaddy | $9.99 per month | $20.99 per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | |
| Wix | $16 per month | $27 per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Shopify | $29 per month | $36 per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X |
As a general rule, website builders offer less customization compared to WordPress or building a site from scratch. For a unique design you might need a graphic designer skilled in HTML coding. These designers usually charge a flat fee or an hourly rate typically ranging from $30 to $100 per hour.
Professional Website Designers
If building a website yourself isn’t for you, hiring a professional designer is a great option. Though it will cost more, a professional can create a unique and beautiful website for you, taking the burden off your shoulders.
Designers can charge either by the hour or a flat rate for the project. It’s important to choose someone with a strong portfolio to minimize design revisions and ensure you get the website you envision.
When working with a designer:
- Show them examples of websites you like to give them a clear starting point.
- Discuss color schemes to make sure the site aligns with your brand and appeals to your audience.
Costs can vary based on the designer’s experience and the project’s requirements but expect quotes ranging from $30 to over $100 per hour.
SSL
Many small businesses overlook the importance of having an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. An SSL certificate verifies your website’s identity and enables encrypted connections for security. It’s essential for accepting online payments so any online store will need one.
SSL certification protects your visitors from cyberattacks. Without it, some browsers will warn users that your site may not be secure which can deter them from visiting. An SSL certificate changes your site’s prefix from HTTP to HTTPS indicating that you’ve invested in security.
You can often get an SSL certificate for free from your web hosting provider but you also have the option to purchase one from a third-party provider.
Best SSL Services
| Service | Rating | Starting Price | Types of SSL |
| Comodo | 5 Star | $5.99 per year | DV, EV, OV |
| SSL.com | 4.5 Star | $36.75 per year | DV, EV, OV |
| DigiCert | 4.5 Star | $288 per year | EV, OV |
| Sectigo | 4.5 Star | $99 per year | DV, EV, OV |
| AlphaSSL | 4.5 Star | $49 per year | DV |
Key:
- DV: Domain Validation
- EV: Extended Validation
- OV: Organization Validation
Additional Costs
Before launching your website, there are always extra costs to keep in mind. Here are some of the most common ones.
Add-ons & Plugins
Regardless of whether you’re using a website builder, WordPress or creating an e-commerce site you’ll likely need add-ons called plugins. These plugins add features like on-page testimonials, contact forms and newsletter subscriptions.
There are many free and paid plugins available. It’s up to you to decide which features are worth paying for. Some plugins are free while others can cost over $100 per year.
Use plugins sparingly because too many can slow down your site which is bad for user experience and SEO. Only add plugins that will enhance your visitors’ experience. Regularly update your plugins to keep them current and delete any you no longer use.
Hiring a Webmaster
For large websites you might need to hire a webmaster or content manager to maintain the site and update content.
Costs vary based on the role and employment terms:
- Part-time or Contract: Could be a few hours per month.
- Full-time: Could cost upwards of $6,500 per month.
Choose the option that best fits your organization’s needs.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
To rank well on Google, your website needs proper SEO which doesn’t happen by chance. If you want your site to appear on the first page of search results you might need to hire an SEO specialist.
Costs can range from $500 to $6,000 per month depending on the amount of work needed on your content and web pages. The more pages you need to optimize the higher the cost will be.
An SEO specialist can help by recommending content identifying keywords to rank for and providing monthly reports on the strategy’s effectiveness. If you use WordPress you’ll have more flexibility and WordPress sites often rank better on Google.
Another benefit of hiring an SEO specialist is their ability to identify and address issues like 404 errors (“Page Not Found”) which can harm user experience and SEO rankings if not fixed.
Images & Design
Creating a website also involves costs for artwork. This can include your company’s corporate images, product shots or lifestyle photos. While you can use free royalty-free images from sites like Pexels or Pixabay, they won’t help your business stand out.
Royalty-free images are cheaper than a photoshoot ranging from free to $100. In contrast, a product photoshoot can cost between $25 and $500 per hour for a photographer to create unique images for your website.
If possible, hire a photographer to take images of your products, a graphic designer for custom visuals or subscribe to an extensive stock library like Shutterstock. Ensure the professionals you hire are experienced as simple mistakes can disrupt your website and lead to revenue loss.
Web Design Tips & Examples
Drag-and-drop platforms make it easy to design your own website. However, some may prefer to hire a designer or company for this task. Here are some industry guides to help you decide whether to design it yourself or hire a professional:
- How To Design a Website
- Law Firm Website Design
- E-Commerce Website Design
- Real Estate Website Design
- One-Page Website Design Best Practices & Examples
Costs by Industry
The cost of building a website varies depending on the industry and specific requirements. Different industries need specific elements which can increase the overall cost. The number of total pages also impacts the cost and work required to launch the site.
| Business Type | Web Design Costs | Annual Site Maintenance Costs |
| Small Business Website (Up to 16 Pages) | $2,000 to $9,000 | Up to $1,200 |
| Corporate Website (Up to 75 Pages) | $10,000 to $35,000 | Up to $15,000 |
| E-Commerce Website (Up to 1,000 Products) | $5,000 to $55,000 | Up to $30,000 |
| Website Application (Up to 2,000 Pages) | $6,000 to $75,000 | Up to $60,000 |
These costs reflect handing over the entire website design, coding and maintenance to another party. Many website owners start with a tight budget doing as much as possible in-house. As the business grows they can then upgrade and outsource some of the management. This approach helps save money initially and allows for more investment as revenue increases.
Most websites fall into the Small Business category. These are informational sites with details about the company, its mission, history and products or services. They might include a shopping cart or response form for easy purchasing or inquiries.
Types & Their Costs
Corporate Websites
Corporate websites are more detailed and may include studies or independent research, leading to higher costs due to the increased number of pages.
E-commerce Websites
E-commerce websites are also common. Many start with budget-friendly options like Shopify at $29 per month. As the business grows, custom solutions can enhance the user experience but will cost more.
Application Websites
Application websites are the most expensive due to extensive coding. These might include custom CRM systems to manage content and providers. Custom solutions cost more than using templates and integrating them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a website developer?
The cost of hiring a website developer varies widely based on their experience and the complexity of your project. On average, developers charge between $30 and $100 per hour. For a basic website you might expect to pay between $2,000 and $9,000. More complex websites can cost significantly more.
How much does it cost to develop a new website?
The cost to develop a new website depends on various factors including the type of website, the number of pages and the features you need. Here are some general estimates:
- Small Business Website (up to 16 pages): $2,000 to $9,000
- Corporate Website (up to 75 pages): $10,000 to $35,000
- E-commerce Website (up to 1,000 products): $5,000 to $55,000
- Website Application (up to 2,000 pages): $6,000 to $75,000
Bottom Line
The cost of a website can vary widely based on the project’s scope, required updates and unique functionalities. Learning to use an all-in-one website builder can be a cheap and easy way to create a site. However, if you need professional help or additional features, costs can increase quickly. Many new website owners do as much as possible themselves until they can afford to pay for upgrades and maintenance.
“Understanding the true cost of developing a website involves considering domains, hosting, design, and additional features, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.” — Sid Web Solutions
