It is usually the first question a business owner asks us, and the honest answer is that it depends on how you pay for it. In South Africa there are two common ways to get a website: pay a once-off build fee, or pay a monthly amount that covers the build, hosting and upkeep. Both work. They suit different businesses.
Option 1: a once-off build
A studio or freelancer quotes you for the design and build, you pay it up front (often half before and half on completion), and the site is yours. For a small business site, quotes commonly run into five figures, and a custom site or online store can cost a lot more.
What the quote often leaves out is everything that comes after launch:
- hosting and email, paid every month or every year;
- the domain name, renewed every year;
- WordPress, theme and plugin updates, which keep the site secure;
- small changes, such as new prices, a new staff photo or holiday hours.
If nobody is paid to do those things, they tend not to get done. That is how a website that looked great at launch ends up slow, out of date or hacked two years later.
Option 2: a monthly website package
With a monthly package there is no large invoice at the start. You pay a fixed amount each month, and that amount covers the design and build, hosting, SSL, email and a set number of maintenance hours. The website is kept up to date because looking after it is part of the deal.
At Ketnal, our website packages start at R399 per month (excl. VAT) for a two to three page website with no build fee. The larger packages add more pages, more maintenance hours and services like Google SEO and a Google Business Profile setup. Packages run on a 12-month contract, billed monthly. You can see every inclusion on our Services and Pricing page.
How to choose
A once-off build makes sense if you have the budget now, someone in your business who can manage hosting and updates, and a site that will not change much.
A monthly package makes sense if you would rather keep your cash for running the business, you want one team responsible for the site, and you want changes made without a new quote each time.
Whichever way you go, ask any provider these questions before you sign:
- Is the domain registered in my name?
- What is included each month, and what costs extra?
- Who updates the site, and how quickly are change requests done?
- What happens to my website, email and domain if I leave?
If the answers are vague, the price probably is too.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us about your business and we will recommend a package, or put together a quote if you need something custom. Call us on 032 586 0815 or send us an enquiry.
