The three ways to get a website
1. Build it yourself. Website builders charge a monthly fee and give you the tools to do it yourself. The cost in pounds is low. The cost in evenings and weekends is not, and the result depends on how confident you are with design and writing.
2. Pay a designer upfront. A freelancer or agency designs and builds the site for a one-off fee. For a small business site this is commonly anywhere from several hundred pounds to a few thousand, depending on the size of the site and who you ask. Hosting, your domain name and future changes are usually extra.
3. Pay monthly. The design and build cost nothing upfront, and you pay a monthly fee that covers hosting, your domain, updates and support. This is how we work at Digital Two, with plans from £29 a month.
The costs people forget
- Domain name: your web address, renewed every year.
- Hosting: the service that keeps your site online.
- Changes: new prices, new photos, new services. Many designers charge by the hour.
- Fixes and security: some types of website need regular updates to stay safe.
When you compare prices, add these up over two or three years. A cheap upfront price with expensive extras can cost more than it first looks.
Which is right for you?
If you enjoy that sort of thing and have the time, building it yourself can work. If you have the budget and want to own everything outright from day one, paying upfront makes sense.
If you’d rather keep your cash for tools, stock or a van, and have someone else look after the website, paying monthly is worth a look. Just check the terms first: is there a contract, and what happens to your domain if you leave?
Ours are simple: no contract, and your domain name goes with you. You can see every plan on our pricing page.