First, it’s helpful to take a look at what is needed to successfully build a site. That way, you can understand why the costs involved exist.

What you need first and foremost is a domain name. This is effectively the name of your site: it’s the URL that people will type in or search for to find your site.

Typically, you will pay something up front to get the domain name, followed by an annual fee to keep it. The cost can depend on the type of site. For example, a .com domain name may cost more or less than a .org domain name.

The next thing you will need is a host for your website. Many people host their site through WordPress. There is a wide range of prices for web hosting, but the lowest ones are very inexpensive.

One of the largest costs can be web design. You want your site to be unique, attractive, and interesting. The design knowledge it takes to get there can be costly, if you don’t have web design knowledge yourself.

You might also pay for security to protect your site from getting hacked. And, when you want to add plugins and features to make your site look fancier, those will cost you, too.

Don’t forget to factor website maintenance into your budget. If something goes wrong, or you want to make a change or update, those fixes will cost you, too.

Some domain names are free, but many will cost money. The price usually depends on the availability of that name.

Your domain name can be as inexpensive as $10-$20 up front, with variable yearly renewal fees. If you want a domain that’s already in use, it is possible that the owner will be willing to sell it, but it will often cost you a lot more.

Sometimes, though a seller will sell their domain name at a lower cost, such as when they have been trying to sell it for a long time. It won’t hurt to contact a seller and ask for their price if it’s a domain name you’d be interested in.

A domain name’s owner may even auction it off when they decide they are done with it. There is a wide range of prices an auctioned name can go for, from below $100 to thousands of dollars.

Most domain registrars also offer a domain buying service. In exchange for a set fee, they will reach out to the owner of a domain you want on your behalf and see if you can buy it. However, it’s best to try to contact the domain owner yourself before paying for a buying service.

Once you have a domain name and an idea of how you want your site to look, the question “How much does it cost to make a website – really?” becomes easier to answer.

Web hosting costs can start as low as $10, and go up to hundreds of dollars. The more expensive ones generally come with extras like security or customer support when you have issues.

Design is likely the most variable factor for you to consider when planning your website. The less elaborate your website is, the less expensive it will be. However, it can be worthwhile to build a fancier website – just know that it will cost more up front.

A simple site that can use a free WordPress theme will not cost too much. However, if you hire professional web development services, you can end up paying a great range of prices.

Plugins and extra features will also have a range of prices, from nearly free into the thousands, depending on how you want your site to look.

There are a few ways to save a little (or a lot) while making your site.

First, when you get the domain name, make sure to do a Google search to find out if your domain registrar has any coupons available for the service.

It’s up to you whether or not you want to save money on things like your domain name. It can be worth it to pay more for the name you really want, but you may be able to find a name you like just as well that’s cheaper.

The more you can do yourself, the less expensive your site will be. For example, if you know how to do some basic web design work on WordPress, building your site will cost less.

One of the best ways for you to save is to plan ahead and shop around so you’re getting the best price on what you need for your site. If you try to build your site in a hurry, or without a clear idea of what you want, you will end up paying more.

As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to “How much does it cost to make a website?”

It depends on what you envision for your site. However, there are some costs that you can predict, depending on what you have in mind. The more planning you do, the easier it is to build a site that you love and that works with your budget.

Once your site is up and running, there are other things you can consider to help it succeed. Things like digital marketing services will help your brand or business grow. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to grow the following for your site, get in touch with us – we can help.