The True Cost of Building a Website: What You Need to Know Beyond Design Fees

When budgeting for a new website, it’s important to account for the peripheral costs that come with launching and maintaining your site. While our design and launch services cover creating a beautiful and functional site, here are some additional expenses to keep in mind:

Domain Registration:

  • This is your website’s address (e.g., www.yoursite.com).
  • Cost: Typically $10–$20 per year, depending on the domain extension (.com, .org, .net, etc.).
  • Tip: Look out for renewal fees, which can sometimes be higher than the initial registration cost.

 

Web Hosting:

  • Your website needs a “home” where its files are stored and accessible online.
  • Cost: Basic hosting typically runs from $10-$20 per month for shared hosting, with premium options like VPS or managed hosting costing more.

 

SSL Certificate:

  • An SSL certificate encrypts data and shows your site as secure (https://). Essential for trust and SEO.
  • Cost: Often free with hosting providers, but premium certificates can range from $50–$300/year.

 

Additional Features:

Add-ons like e-commerce functionality, email marketing tools, or premium plugins might carry extra costs.

Cost: Varies widely, with some plugins costing $10–$100+ per year.

 

By understanding these associated costs, you’ll be better prepared to maintain a website that not only looks great but also runs smoothly. Feel free to ask me about recommendations for trusted providers or how to minimize your expenses!