Many components go into building and establishing a website. Many business owners may even question how much a website will cost. The honest answer is that it is difficult to determine a specific dollar amount due to the unique nature of every website. However, we will dive into the most important components that contribute to the overall cost of a website.
Domain Name and Web Hosting
Domain name is the starting point for any website. Securing a domain that fits your business is vital, especially if you are looking for a very specific URL. Top-level domains tend to be more expensive since they fit most specific criteria followed by .com. Registering a domain does entail an annual subscription. Some premium or top-level domains may cost a business more depending on keywords and popularity, but most businesses can find an affordable price range.
While a domain is important, a website cannot exist without some form of web hosting. Hosting is a separate fee; however, it allows users to see the content that's on your site. There are various website hosting services that offer differing features based on your needs. You may have to research what is best for your business and its needs.
Size and Complexity
There are a few different types of websites: landing pages, templated, or custom. Landing pages tend to be small one- to two-page websites. These are ideal for small businesses or quick announcements. Templated websites are slightly larger but don’t offer as much design freedom. They are already built out, and the business can simply add their content to each page. Custom websites vary in size and may include more design and development elements.
The smaller and more simple websites will tend to cost less, while the custom sites will be more expensive due to their customization features. It is important to remember that the more complex a site becomes, the more work and resources are required.
Features and Functionality
The more features and functionality that your website requires, the higher the cost. For example, a site that includes e-commerce features, registration, search features, or chatbots will generally cost more. This is because it will require more design and development work as well as license costs and encryption features to protect user data.
Design and Development
The first step when tackling the design and development of a website is to determine the overall scope of the work. Will your in-house team be able to handle the workload? Do you even have an in-house team to do the work? Are contractors needed? Once you have that nailed down, you will be able to work through the design and development side of the website.
When thinking about design and development, consider your goals and key features. Are you looking for a simple site or a more complex site? Make sure your team (or contractor) is kept in the loop of design and development goals. Discuss options and the timeline. Both of those will impact the cost of the website. Remember, the amount of design and development needed for a site all ties back to the features and functionality. The more you want or require, the more costly.
The bottom line is that the cost of a website cannot be determined until all of the above has been considered and factored into the scope of the job. The amount of research and effort you put into the website will lead to the end price. If you have the manpower to produce a site internally, the price will be significantly lower; however, requiring outside contractors will increase that end price. Do your research and shop around for what’s best for your business.
Spicy Agent M. is a contributor for Degen Magazine. Her interests include web content/all things websites, corgis, and hanging out in the corner. Follow her on Twitter for more: @SpicyAgentM