Websites are a great, low cost way to market your small business. But a website, like most marketing, is not a free lunch! You'll encounter an initial web design cost for creating and programming your website, a monthly web hosting fee, and possibly maintenance costs.

Look At Your Website As An Investment

Sure, there is a sizable initial web design cost, but, you need to view having a website as a business investment. Not an expense. For example, if your website generates $10,000 per month in new business, but the web design cost was $4,000 -- it becomes very clear, very quickly, that your website makes you money. A website is a smart investment -- especially when you consider how popular the web is to people reviewing products and services before making a purchase.

Initial Web Design Costs

Website design costs, much like buying a car, vary depending on the features you need. Many web design firms charge upwards of $2,500 for a basic, static website composed of a few pages. Commonly referred to as a "brochure" website because of their similarity to a printed company brochure, these websites are the perfect starter website for a small business. Brochure-style websites are an excellent way to keep your website design cost low, while getting your business online.

The best advice is to be open and candid with your website designer about your web design cost. Ask point blank, "how much does a website cost?" Ask about what features will help you achieve your short and long-term business goals, yet stay within your budget. Any designer worth his salt will work hard to understand your business and provide appropriate recommendations to save you time, while keeping your website design cost low.

Monthly Website Costs

All websites require web hosting service, which is a monthly fee separate from your initial website design cost. Think of web hosting as monthly rent for the server space to store your website online, and your usage of e-mail and bandwidth. Web hosting for a small business website typically costs between $25 and $35 per month. Larger, more complex websites may require advanced web hosting services at a different rate. Ask your website designer or website hosting company if they offer discount web hosting plans. Most web hosting companies bundle web hosting services into longer terms of 3-months, 6-months and yearly hosting plans at a significantly discounted rate.

Annual Website Costs

In addition to monthly web hosting, you'll also be charged an annual website domain name registration fee. Fees vary with each domain name registrar, but are typically about $25 to $35 each year.

Website Maintenance Expenses

You may also face an additional website design cost due to periodic content, graphic design or technology updates. These updates are requested by the website owner when information on your website becomes outdated, you need to add new web pages or other updates to your website. Website design costs due to site updates are typically billed hourly or on a per-project basis. Ask your web designer if they offer quarterly or bundled website maintenance packages at a discounted price.

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