9 Actionable Ways to Plan a Cheap Website for Small Business

With careful planning and research, you can create a professional-looking website without breaking the bank. begin by determining the website’s purpose, platform and selecting the type of web development that matches your interest and budget.

Creating your first website on a budget may seem challenging, but it is more achievable than you might expect. This article is intended for individuals currently in the research phase of cheap website development and uncertain about where to start. Let’s explore the curiosity section to see what this article covers.

Filtering Web Development Method by Budget and Platform

Let’s consider how to choose the right platform among WordPress, Wix, SquareSpace, and Shopify by evaluating specific questions.

How important is ownership and control of my website? WordPress stands out here, as it offers full ownership and control over your website. Wix, SquareSpace, and Shopify, while user-friendly, can limit customization and ownership.

Do I need scalability for future growth? WordPress offers unparalleled scalability with its extensive range of reputable plugins and themes, enabling your website to grow alongside your business needs.

How vital are community support and resources? WordPress has a vast and active community, providing a wealth of resources, forums, and tutorials, making it easier to find support

Do I need multilingual or complex site structures? WordPress supports multilingual sites and complex structures through plugins and customizable themes.

How important is SEO and content management? WordPress excels in SEO capabilities and content management, with powerful plugins like Yoast SEO, SeoPress WordPress excels in SEO capabilities and content management, with powerful plugins like Yoast SEO, SeoPress

What are my e-commerce needs? While Shopify is renowned for e-commerce, WordPress with WooCommerce offers a flexible and cost-effective solution.

What are my long-term costs? WordPress generally has lower long-term costs due to its open-source nature and ocean of free resources.

What level of customization do I need? WordPress provides high levels of customization, catering to both simple and complex site requirements.

Given a budget of $500 or less, WordPress emerges as the best choice for a budget-friendly website due to its platform freedom, scalable resources, and extensive community support.

Did you know WordPress Powers 40% of The Web.

Now, let’s break down three CMS web development approaches:

Approach 1: Building Website Using Ready-Made Themes/Templates

This is the most budget-friendly option. With numerous free and premium themes available, you can create a professional-looking website without exceeding your budget.

Approach 2: Building Website Using Semi-Ready-Made Website that Offers Brand Identity Design

This approach involves purchasing a slightly more customized template that aligns with your brand identity. If required, hire a designer for the help of customized graphics which might be more costly but still affordable.

Approach 3: Building Website from Scratch

While offering the highest level of customization, this approach typically exceeds the $500 budget due to development and design costs.

For budget-conscious individuals, Approach 1 is ideal, leveraging ready-made templates to build a functional and attractive website without incurring high costs.

Determine Your Website’s Purpose

Determining the purpose of a website involves examining several key factors but let me give highlight of most common types of websites and their primary purposes:

Informational Website Development

One of the most common types of websites is the informational website. Its primary purpose is to provide valuable information to visitors about a particular subject, organization, or service. Informational websites are often utilized by businesses, educational institutions, non-profits, and government agencies to convey essential knowledge and updates to their audience, helping to establish credibility and trust while serving as a resource for those seeking specific information.

Primary Content Page: Includes pages like “About Us,” “Services,” “Contact,” and other informational content.

Portfolio Website Development

These are used by professionals, artists, photographers, and designers to showcase their work. They serve as a digital resume, providing potential clients or employers with examples of the creator’s skills and accomplishments. The purpose is to attract new opportunities by displaying one’s talents and previous projects.

Primary Content Page: Features a portfolio or gallery section, along with information about the business.

ECommerce Website Development

An e-commerce website is designed to sell products or services online. Basically, which include function of product listings, a shopping cart, and payment gateway integration.

Primary Content Page: Includes product pages, shopping cart, and payment gateway.

Blog Website Development

Blogs are platforms where individuals or organizations publish articles, opinions, and stories. They can cover a wide range of topics, from personal journals to niche industry insights. Popular blogging platforms include WordPress and Blogger. The primary purpose of blogs is to share information, engage with readers, and often to establish the author as an authority on a particular subject.

Primary Content Page: Includes blog, category, blog single post and Archives page

Hybrid Website Development

If the website serves any of the above types such as informational, portfolio, e-Commerce, blog or any other function without one significantly overshadowing the others, it can be considered a hybrid site.

A multi-purpose WordPress theme is a versatile and flexible template designed to cater to a wide range of website types, from blogs and portfolios to e-commerce sites and corporate pages. By offering a one-size-fits-all solution, multi-purpose themes help to significantly reduce development time and costs. Choosing a right niche based or multi-purpose theme to prevent post-web development challenges is crucial.

Calculate Unavoidable Costs

Calculating the unavoidable costs required in web development involves identifying the minimum third-party expenses that are crucial for launching and maintaining a website.

Domain Name Setup

Which is your website’s address and usually costs around $10-$15 per year.

Web Hosting

Web hosting is another unavoidable expense, providing the server space needed to store your website’s files and ensure it is accessible online; shared hosting plans can range from $3 to $20 per month depending on the provider and the level of service required.

Integrate Premium WordPress Theme or Template

A premium WordPress theme, which enhances the design and functionality of your website, can cost between $40 and $100 as a one-time fee or annually.

SSL Certificate

An SSL certificate, necessary for encrypting data and ensuring secure communications, often costs Free (via Let’s Encrypt, Free CDN) Or around $10 to $70 per year.

Together, these costs form the foundation of a professional and secure web presence.

Factor in Additional Costs

Calculating the additional costs required in web development to enhance a WordPress site involves several key components.

Plugins/Add-ons

First, enhancing functionality through plugins can vary widely in cost depending on whether the plugins are free, premium, or custom-built; premium ($0-$100 depending on functionality) and custom plugins generally incur higher expenses.

Stock Images and Custom Graphics

Next, improving the look and feel of the site through stock images requires purchasing ($10-$50 per image) high-quality images from stock photo websites, which typically charge per image or offer subscription plans.

Content Writing

Finally, content enhancement through professional writing involves hiring skilled writers to create engaging and SEO-friendly content. These writers may charge per word, per article ($50-$300), or on a retainer basis.

Combining these elements will give a comprehensive view of the additional costs needed to elevate a WordPress site’s overall performance and appealing look.

The Process for Ready Made Theme Setup and Cost by Professionals

• Setting up a ready-made theme website involves several key steps starting from WordPress Installation, which serves as the foundation of your website.
• Setup Theme Demo and Replace Content, Once WordPress is in place, the next step is to set up the theme demo, providing you with a starting template that matches the look and feel of your desired design. Following this, you’ll replace the demo content with your own text, images, and other media to personalize the site.
• Configuring a contact form is crucial for facilitating communication between you and your visitors.
• If you’re setting up an eCommerce site, additional steps include adding product listings and integrating a payment gateway to enable secure transactions.

This comprehensive process ensures that your website is not only pleasing but also fully functional and ready for use.

The cost of hiring a professional web developer for basic customization and setup using a ready-made theme typically ranges between $200 and $1,000. This price can vary significantly depending on the region, as professional costs and market demand differ across locations.

Factors influencing the cost include the type of website, No. Of Pages, the complexity of the setup, geo-location and the developer’s expertise. Whether you need a simple personal blog or a sophisticated ecommerce platform, understanding these cost variations can help you budget more effectively for your web development needs.

Plan for Perodic Ongoing Website Maintenance Cost to Keep Website Healthy

Periodic website maintenance is essential to keeping your site healthy and secure. Depending on the size and type of your website, maintenance can be conducted on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

Websites built using ready-made themes without customization generally incur lower maintenance costs ($25-$75) compared to custom-built websites.

Here’s the link to the recommended WordPress maintenance schedule.

Keeping your website content fresh is crucial for staying relevant in search engine rankings and engaging your audience. Regularly updating your site with new and valuable content, such as blog posts, news updates, and industry insights, can significantly improve your SEO performance.

Additionally, optimizing existing content by adding new information, refreshing keywords, and ensuring all links are functional can make a big difference.

By consistently providing high-quality, up-to-date information, you not only attract more visitors but also establish your site as a trusted resource in your field.

Deciding Where You Can Save on Web Development Cost

Opting for free or personally owned images over costly stock images can significantly cut expenses.

Simpler and ready-made theme-based website sites are easier to manage on your own, potentially saving on recurring service fees.

If you have the time and interest, using ready-made themes and platforms like WordPress can simplify self-management and eliminate the need for professional maintenance.

Additionally, consider using open-source, Free CDN SSL certificates instead of pricier options from hosting providers.

Purchasing resources during events like Black Friday can offer substantial discounts, and subscribing to long-term hosting plans can lock in lower rates before inevitable price hikes at renewal.

Finally, if you’re unsure about any aspect of website development, conducting thorough research or consulting with a web professional can prevent costly mistakes and ensure you make informed decisions.

Deciding Where You Can’t Save on Web Development Cost

When considering web development, it’s crucial to understand the importance of theme and plugin licenses, whether you’re working with a company, freelancer, or agency.

As a learner, if you’re not familiar with frequent versioning and updates, always avoid downloading themes and plugins from NULL sources, as these can lead to significant costs and issues later.

Regular updates are essential for maintaining the health and security of your website. Once updates stop, your site becomes vulnerable to hackers, potentially ruining your investment and requiring additional professional costs to repair and secure it.

Hence, always prioritize licensed and regularly updated resources for a robust and secure web presence.

When setting up your email, I recommend choosing a business email service ($5-$25/per user) instead of using the webmail that comes with your hosting control panel. Hosting prices can change when you renew, and if you’re using a free email service, switching hosts means you’ll need to transfer your emails. This can be tricky and may need expert help.

Business email services like G Suite and Microsoft Office provide consistent benefits no matter how often you change hosts. However, to keep things running smoothly, you’ll need to set up your domain records correctly with your domain registrar.

You work hard to generate leads, but free SMTP services come with limitations. Often, spam bots can quickly use up your limit, leading to missed inquiries. Relying on premium SMTP services and secure forms offers more reliability than free options.

DIY vs. Professional Website Help

WordPress is generally easy to learn, but there are technical situations where things that seem simple can turn into headaches. This can lead to wasted time, and you might eventually need to seek professional help. Until you gain a solid understanding of the platform, it’s wise to start with professional assistance.

Ballpark Total

The estimated cost range for building an informational website, business portfolio website and e-Commerce website using a ready-made theme varies depending on the region.

For DIY, it could be between $100-$250, not accounting for your time and effort.

For a Professional Build, the cost typically ranges from $150-$1000, depending on the number of pages and the type of website.

Ongoing maintenance costs will vary based on the chosen services and license renewals.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, Hope this information is helpful to estimate your total cost, ensuring you make informed decisions throughout the 9 ways mentioned in the blog post. If you have any concerns, please feel free to comment and reach out. No obligation required for any of my services.

All the best for your online presence. 🙂