Starting a small business is an exciting venture, but it can also be a costly one. As a small business owner, you want to keep your expenses under control, but at the same time, you need to invest in tools that will help you grow your business. One of these tools is a website, and WordPress is a popular choice for small businesses due to its ease of use and affordability. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the actual cost involved in building a WordPress website for small businesses, and we promise to include some appropriate jokes along the way!
First, let’s get one thing straight: building a WordPress website is not free. While WordPress is open source software, you still need to pay for web hosting and a domain name. You also need to consider the cost of a WordPress theme, plugins, and any custom development work.
Now, let’s break down the costs involved in building a WordPress website for small businesses:
Web Hosting: Think of web hosting as the foundation of your website. Without it, your website won’t be accessible on the internet. Web hosting prices can range from as little as $2.75/month to over $100/month, depending on the provider and the features you need. We recommend starting with a shared hosting plan, which is the most affordable option.
Domain Name: A domain name is the address of your website on the internet. It typically costs around $10-15/year to register a domain name, but prices can vary depending on the domain extension you choose.
WordPress Theme: A WordPress theme is the design template that controls the look and feel of your website. There are thousands of free and paid WordPress themes available, ranging from $0 to $100 or more. While there are many free themes available, we recommend investing in a premium theme, which typically costs around $50-100.
Plugins: WordPress plugins add functionality to your website, such as contact forms, social media integration, and search engine optimization (SEO). There are both free and paid plugins available, and the cost can vary depending on the functionality you need. We recommend budgeting around $100-200 for premium plugins.
Custom Development: Depending on your business needs, you may need custom development work done on your WordPress website. This can include custom plugins, theme modifications, and custom functionality. The cost of custom development work can vary depending on the complexity of the project, but it’s typically billed at an hourly rate. We recommend budgeting at least $500-1,000 for custom development work.
So, what’s the total cost of building a WordPress website for a small business? Here’s a breakdown:
| Web Hosting | $50-100/year |
| Domain Name | $10-15/year |
| WordPress Theme | $50-100 (one-time cost) |
| Plugins | $100-200 (one-time cost) |
| Custom Development | $500-1,000 (one-time cost) |
Total: $710-1,315 (one-time cost) + web hosting fees
Of course, these costs can vary depending on your business needs and the complexity of your website. It’s also important to keep in mind that a website requires ongoing maintenance, which can also add to the cost.
While building a WordPress website for a small business is more affordable than you might think, it’s still important to budget accordingly. As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for,” so investing in a quality web hosting provider, WordPress theme, and plugins can make a big difference in the long run. Plus, who doesn’t love a good investment? (Okay, maybe that was a bad joke, but we tried!).
