If there’s something that has facilitated our lives online, it is easy to access any type of product or service. The basis for creating such web pages is a solid platform.
The main top-ranked website builder is WordPress. It’s easy to use by anyone. Every individual with a modest budget can create an entire business online. Still, many of you wonder what we mean by a modest budget definition.
Whether you’re aspiring to create a website to showcase your projects or you want to build up a business’s online presence, we got it all covered for you!
What’s the Total Cost to Develop a Website on WordPress?
The cutting-edges question! Costs of developing a website on the most popular hosting platform, WordPress. Obviously, if you clicked on our article, it’s because you’re thinking of developing a website. You’re aware of the importance of a website for any business in the 21st century.
The cost of developing a website can range depending on many factors, such as the size and complexity of the site, the development platform used, and the level of customization required. We know you don’t expect such a vague answer about the costs, but keep reading for more detailed information.
WordPress is one of the most popular site development platforms available and offers a wide range of features and options for website development.
The cost of developing a WordPress website can vary depending on your specific needs and requirements. However, WebFX states that you can expect to pay $75 to $115,000 for a simple business website.
The costs can increase if you need more complex features or customizations. Working with a reputable WordPress development company is vital to ensure that your site is developed correctly and meets all your expectations.
First Expenses
The first step when starting a website is to buy a domain name and hosting. A domain name is the address people will use to find your site while hosting is where your website’s files will be stored. You can usually buy both of these together from a web hosting company.
Prices for domain names vary, but you can expect to pay around $0.95 – $12 per month for a basic domain name. Hosting plans start at around $24 – $10,000 per month but can go up to several hundred dollars per month for larger sites or e-commerce businesses operating globally.
Once your domain name and hosting are set up, you must install WordPress. WordPress is free. Sorry, almost free.
WordPress is one of the most popular site development platforms available and offers a wide range of features and options for website development. Also you can select premium WordPress themes for more additional features.
Many free WordPress themes and plugins are available, so you can create a website without spending any money on design or development.
However, if you want a custom website or more features, you may need to hire a WordPress developer or designer or purchase contemporary themes for up to $200.
Prices for custom WordPress development start at around $500 but can go up to several thousand dollars depending on the scope of the project and the designer’s fee.
There are two types of optional costs in the initial list of expenses. Websitebuilderexpert states that anyone can add WP plugins one-time or ongoing, dependent on your plugin preference, for up to $1000 plus security programs starting from $50.
Choose wisely from the top-ranked website builders for maximum results.
Website Maintenance
Your website is like a car. It needs regular tune-ups to keep it running properly. Each aspect, from your codebase health check to content management and data leverage, demands constant attention to ensure smooth functionality.
The cost of maintaining a WordPress website varies depending on the size and complexity of your site. For smaller sites with limited complexities, you could anticipate an average expenditure of around $25 per month if you choose to manage upkeep procedures internally.
However, as requirements rise along with expansion in operations translating into diversity in offerings and upscaling IT requirements – hiring external services becomes inevitable! Freelancers specializing across domains differ largely based on their experience level- charging anywhere between $50 – $100 per hour.
WordPress Website Design
Now what might seem like something easy, but it needs extra attention is the WordPress web design process. WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that can be used to create a website.
WordPress is free to use, but there are costs associated with using it to create a website. These technical costs in setting up your website include a domain name, hosting, a WordPress theme, and plugins.
Now visual appearance is the deal-breaker. It’s either excellent or useless. While designing your website on WordPress, keep in mind these factors:
- Design style
- Website traffic
- Number of pages
- Redesign frequency
- Number of WP plugins
- Business functionalities
- Easy-to-navigate Website
- Consistent and Understandable Content
Still, getting back to important matters, the money! You’ll possibly invest from nothing up to $300 if you design it on your own, paying only for themes or templates.
If you’re not so proficient with designing your website, you can always check on new integrations such as Figma to WordPress. Still, if you don’t have the nerve or the budget cannot afford a professional agency service, you can easily hire a freelancer for $500 – $5000. An agency would charge $3000 – $100,000 as a one-time payment.
WordPress Plugin Costs and Considerations
One of the main factors contributing to WordPress’s popularity is its vast library of plugins. These handy tools allow you to add specific functionality to your website, customizing it according to your exact requirements. However, there are costs associated with using some of these.
While many excellent free plugins exist within the WordPress ecosystem, premium ones offer more features and capabilities. The prices for these high-grade plugins vary widely starting from $15 up to several hundred dollars – depending on their complexity and usefulness.
Furthermore, if you require a unique feature that no existing plugin offers, there’s an option of hiring a developer to create a customized one for you; but this could be quite pricey ranging anywhere from $1,000 upwards!
Keep in mind though that while they may escalate cost initially, investing in premium or custom plugins can help streamline processes on your site– leading potentially higher visitor engagement and conversion rates — offering substantial return over time.
WordPress Subscription
However, to host a website and have your own domain, going beyond the ‘WordPress.com’ label costs around $14.99/year and $7.99/month respectively. Yet, this is simply the bare bones. Website design, plug-in functionalities, and SEO optimization are other factors that can add to your WordPress expenditure. It is important to note that while these are optional features, they significantly enhance site performance and user experience.
For professional touches, you may also consider hiring a developer. Rates may vary dramatically depending on the complexity of your site and the expertise of the developer – they can range anywhere from around $30 to $200 an hour.
Remember that a well-developed and visually appealing site can significantly increase your web traffic, convert visitors into customers, and influence your overall brand image to the wider public. Therefore, your initial Short-Term Investment in a WordPress site can potentially bring long-term benefits for your business or personal brand.
WebFX provides other data:
The Premium plan is $8 per month and includes everything in the personal plan for starters of $4, plus the ability to upload custom plugins and themes, remove WordPress.com branding, and live chat support.
The Business plan is $25 per month and includes everything in the Premium plan, plus advanced design customization, Google Analytics integration, unlimited storage space, and the ability to sell products on your website.
If you aspire to take your e-commerce business to the next level, you can update the E-commerce plan for $45. And unsurprisingly, the enterprise plan goes up to $1700.
So, how much does it cost to develop a WordPress site? It depends on what features and customization you need for your site.
Nonetheless, with WordPress.com’s various subscription plans, you can find an option that fits your budget and your website’s needs.
WP Cost for a Business Website based on Business Type
The cost of developing a WordPress website for a business can vary greatly depending on the size and type.
For a small business, the cost can be as low as $75 up to $2500 as upfront costs + $300 – $700 annual costs for maintenance.
On the other hand, for a mid-sized firm, the upfront costs stand between $7500 – $35,000.
Conclusion
A website is incredibly needed when establishing your business’s online presence. WordPress is the most favored platform worldwide.
The cost of developing a WordPress website can vary depending on your needs and budget. However, with a little research and planning, you can estimate how much it will cost to develop your WordPress website.
By considering the costs of hosting, themes, plugins, and development time, you can get a precise answer to how much it will cost to create your dream website.
Hazel Raoult is the Marketing Manager at PRmention, a digital PR agency for SaaS and Tech Businesses.