A solid online presence is one of the many factors that will contribute to the success of your startup business. From social media to email marketing, there are plenty of ways you can establish such. Among others, however, one of the most important is having a website.

Building an effective website is not a walk in the park. It requires a meticulous approach, making sure that all elements are aligned. Not to mention, it can also be expensive. Many startups have limited capital, so the cost of a website can be a burden.

In this post, we’ll talk about the cost of building a website for a startup business, so you will have an idea of how much you will need.

The Cost of Building a Start-up Website

On average, a startup business website will cost $2,000 to $10,000. The latter is applicable to a small business with a simple website. The more complicated the features and design are, the higher the costs. It might seem expensive, but it is worth it, given that having a website is one of the best digital marketing strategies that can fuel success.

There is a way to make it cheaper. Instead of hiring a pro, you can decide to do it yourself. In this case, the average cost would be $300 to $600.

It might seem expensive, but a website is a must-have. From bootstrapping to payday loan online lenders, look for different fund sources for one of the most important elements that will kickstart your startup. It is one of the most important investments for your business.

Professional Website Building

From making your website more accessible to creating a user-friendly interface, professionals can help. Hence, even if their services are expensive, this is a good option to help propel your startup in the right direction.

Here is a quick breakdown of some of the most common elements associated with building a website. 

1.    Domain Name

Choosing an award-winning domain name is crucial for the success of your startup. This is the URL or the one that people will type to get to your website. 

On average, a domain name will cost $.95 to $15. However, it can be more expensive and reach at least $200 if you want a customized domain extension.

2.    Website Hosting

Once you have a domain name, you will need website hosting. It is what will allow you to publish your website, making it accessible to your target users.

The cheaper option is a shared hosting plan, which can cost as little as $24 annually. The more expensive option is managed hosting, which can reach up to $1,200 in a year. 

3.    SSL Certificate

A Secure Sockets Layer certificate is a digital certificate that aims to authenticate the identity of a website and allows it to establish a secure connection. It is optional, but most startups will consider it necessary as a part of data protection.

Some web hosting platforms will offer the SSL certificate along with your subscription. Otherwise, you will need to buy it separately, and such can cost $5 to $1,000 per year.

4.    Website Design

One of the biggest contributors to website effectiveness is its design. It is not just concerned with making the website aesthetically pleasing. It must also be user-friendly, offering a seamless experience that will contribute to customer satisfaction. Designing a website also includes finding appropriate images to use and using other visual elements, such as animations.

The cost can vary widely from one designer to another. On average, this will be anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000. The package is often inclusive of requests for revisions based on the client’s feedback to make the design more appealing and functional.

Rather than having just a website designing which can cost you a lot individually, you can start learning digital marketing firms. They will not only help you design, but fix your website SEO to get to the highest number of audience, and write web content worth reading.

5.    Content Management System

A content management system is a must-have in creating, editing, organizing, and publishing content. It allows easy modification of the elements of the website, such as updating the prices that show to reflect real-time changes. This way, it will be effortless to manage the website even for those who do not have coding knowledge and experience.

WordPress is one of the most popular content management system platforms. You can enjoy it for free but with limited capabilities. In most cases, the price can range from $2,000 to $25,000.  

6.    Functionality

One of the most common functionalities integrated into a startup website is online payment. This feature will allow you to accept payments using major credit and debit cards while offering a secure platform. It can even accept cryptocurrencies and other payment channels.

You might also need to integrate a subscription service or a scheduling platform, depending on the nature of your business.

The integration of online payment and other functionalities in a website can cost up to $2,000. The simpler the functions are, the cheaper the website will be.

DIY Website for Your Startup

As earlier mentioned, the cheaper option for a startup business website is DIY. Nonetheless, this isn’t for everyone. Most of you probably lack technical knowledge. Although, a lot of website building tools are currently available, which will help even those who lack experience.

Another problem with making a DIY website is that it can be time-consuming. You might be better off dedicating your efforts to managing the core operations.

Nonetheless, if you decide to build the website yourself, the components can be the same as mentioned earlier. For instance, you will also need a domain name, website hosting, and content management system, among others.

When doing it yourself, however, you can save more because you are exerting time and effort instead of paying a professional to do the job for you. You can also be more flexible and choose website elements that match your budget. Even when doing so, however, make sure you are not compromising quality and performance.

Conclusion

In sum, building a website for a startup business can be cheap if you do it yourself. Nonetheless, if you want the best outcomes, then it is best if you leave it to the pros. Hiring the services of experts might mean spending thousands of dollars, but at the end of the day, it is worth the money if the job is done right!