How much does a website cost? This question is similar to asking “how much water can a human drink?” There are lots of variables that are not described in the question that needs to be known before you can answer how much a website actually costs. First, ask yourself these questions:
- What time frame are you referring to?
- Websites require monthly maintenance and payments to several companies to just to operate.
When asking how much it costs, are you referring to a month? A quarter? A year? Per day?
Determine the timeline you want your quote to be in.
The Original Way: The Cost of a One-Off Website Project
If you’re under the impression that you can pay a specific amount one time and your website will look great and operate exactly how you want it to forever, you’ve been misinformed. Many companies will try to sell you a $500 website or a $1200 website. If advertised as a one-time deal, you’ll likely have trouble reaching them after the project is “complete” for changes or corrections. And if you can still reach them and your web designer is actually responsive (which is rare), they’ll likely charge you hourly to make changes when you need them. This can add up quickly and can create many unexpected costs that continue to pop up. Meanwhile, you’ll still be paying for hosting and your domain name at a bare minimum.
When all comes down to it, paying for a custom website may cost you anywhere between $200 and $50,000.
The Better Way: The Cost of a Website Care Plan
We’re in such a quickly evolving technology era. So much so that websites require some tender lovin’ care almost every single week! Your money is best spent on hiring an internet marketing professional or company that will be of service to you for the long-run. Longer contracts actually benefit you in which you’ll have more opportunities to add and make changes to your website, and you’ll get a response within 24 hours from your designer.
Think about this: Do you pay for movies each time you want to watch them at home? No. You pay a smaller fee monthly for Netflix and have access to every movie and show. Why? Because it’s more convenient and the value is higher. Hiring a web designer as a service is incredibly valuable and will save you a ton of time & headache.
A website service provider may charge you anywhere between $50 and $300 per month to maintain your website depending on the complexity and frequency of your website edits.
The Choice is Yours
If hiring a web designer to do your website is a decision you’re about to make, we clearly recommend the second option and as a company, we can help take care of your website as your business grows. To get more information about our website design services, contact us today!
If you found this article valuable, you may also like this: Website Design Checklist for Restaurants, Breweries & Bars
Zander Aycock
Digital Marketer & Web Designer for Restaurants
Zander Aycock is a local marketer that is truly passionate about helping other local businesses. He has spent most of his time working with eCommerce websites and marketing them using Facebook, Instagram and Google with both paid and organic strategies. After gaining several years of professional experience, he decided to pivot and help some of the local businesses he frequents and loves. Since then, restaurants & other small businesses have had successful launches, grown their revenue and customer base, improved their customer's experiences, and got people back to their shops a second and third time.
