Having a website for your small business is a great step towards generating and keeping up a loyal clientele. Getting started may seem overwhelming, but with the right website design and a thorough knowledge of the costs, you’re just a few clicks away from a successful online store.
The cost of a business website can vary according to a bunch of factors, including professional website designers, web hosting companies, custom domains, and website maintenance. However, the
What Are Some of the Costs of Websites for Small Businesses?
If you are looking to start a small business website, you will want to look at the initial costs of website development. This can be broken down into a few simple factors, including:
- Development
- Domain name
- Website design
- SSL certification
- CMS (or Content Management System)
These essential services will assist in the initial process of website development and allow for continued maintenance of your small business’ website. Each of these factors has a varying cost depending on how you want your own website to function.
Building a Website
First, you might consider researching your competitor’s websites to formulate a plan of action better. This will give you a good idea of what features will work best for your specific small business.
The cost of building your own website will vary by which features work best for your business’s intended purpose. For instance, if you are looking for a website that deals mainly with blog articles and generating word of mouth, you will need an advanced WordPress site like the ones offered through Ecwid.
Ecwid works to provide a sustainable online shop platform for small businesses, and our website builder can easily help you navigate this process. Moreover, even if you decide to build a website from the ground up, there is never a fee to build your own website with Ecwid. This means that starting up here is
Best website builders
Many of the best website builders will come with regular fees for keeping your website active. There are many options to choose from like Squarespace, or Wix that are great for building your first small business store and website. However, each of these comes with subscription costs or hidden purchases.
Many website builders allow you to create a base small business website for a flat rate before charging a recurring subscription fee to keep your online store active. With us, no matter what subscription you choose after developing your website, including our free option, your website is yours.
When looking for the best website builder, you must factor in what it has to offer. You will want to find a builder that helps you:
- find a domain name that fits your online store
- connect to essential software like WordPress
- generate traffic on your website
- remain engaged with eCommerce trends
- connect with multiple social media platforms
Typically, if you choose a
Professional web designer
If you have the funds for a more substantial initial
This is a great option if you need a flashy website with
Finding a Domain
Most often, a website domain is included in the
If you plan to use a traditional domain (.com, .net, .edu, etc.), the starting cost should be anywhere between $10 and $20. However, creating a custom domain for your business (.business, .shop, etc.) can cost anywhere between $200 and $300 annually. Most domains are essentially rented, meaning you will typically pay any associated fees yearly in one lump sum.
Free domains
Our domains are automatically included with your free website, so you do not have to pay the annual fees usually associated with owning a URL. There are many other options to choose from when finding a domain. Depending on your needs, you may even find some as low as $1.
However, consider what platform you are using when choosing a domain. For instance, Shopify allows a free trial of keeping your domain active for shoppers to traffic. However, you have to pay a monthly fee in order to keep that domain accessible.
If you are unsure of your platform’s policy on domain ownership, be prepared to pay up to $20 for a standard WordPress Site or easily accessible website builder.
Business licensing
You will need an SSL certification and license to keep customer information safe and secure on your domain. This certification is free with your Ecwid website, so it’s one less thing you need to worry about. Otherwise, you may have to purchase your SSL certification through services partnered with your website builder.
Some builders, like WordPress, include the price of an SSL certification in the monthly fee. However, many certification sites charge between $70 and $300 per year. An expensive SSL certification can help attract more clientele. However, this may not be something needed in the beginning stages of your small business.
Website Design
Themes and design are a big part of the
Designing your business website will also include graphic design elements and added pages. These added pages could be product listings, customer support, blog posts, etc., and each page will add extra fees when going through professional website builders.
Overall, you can expect to pay between $1,100 and $3,800 for a web designer’s initial fee, plus around $600 to $2800 per year in maintenance costs. The best way to negate these costs is to find a free website builder that allows you to choose your small business website details with no hidden fees.
Website Maintenance
A large portion of the initial maintenance of your website will be dependent on your Content Management System. CMS programs are a type of software that allows your online store to properly function. This may include small software programs like Microsoft Word or larger systems that encompass a WordPress site.
Most small business websites will need an online word processing system like WordPress in order to directly edit your online store’s content without a thorough understanding of writing code. The cost of a WordPress site can vary by web hosting companies. However, if you plan to build your site from the ground up, you can expect to pay around $400 per year in one flat fee or $33 per month.
Get Started Today!
Starting your own small business website can be an expensive process. However, there are certain steps you can take in order to ensure you are getting the best value.
After assessing the needs of your online store, try Ecwid to see how easy it is to get started and how well they meet your needs. With Ecwid, your brand new free website or online shop is just a few clicks away.
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