Creating and maintaining a website can involve several costs, which can vary depending on the complexity and specific needs of the site. At The Grind, we want you to know exactly what you are in for when signing up for and running your website.
MUST HAVES:
1. Domain Name
Your domain name is the address of your website on the internet (e.g. ours is www.thegrindmarketing.co.za). Domain names typically need to be renewed annually and can cost anywhere from R99–R500 per year, depending on the domain extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.). Domains ending with .com or .org are more expensive than the standard .co.za (SA’s domain).
2. Web Hosting
Websites need to be hosted on servers to be accessible on the internet. Web hosting costs vary widely depending on factors like the type of hosting (shared, VPS, dedicated), the amount of storage and bandwidth required, and additional features like security and backups. Costs can range from R50 per month for shared hosting to R1 000+ per month for dedicated hosting.
3. Website Design and Development
If you’re not building the website yourself, you may need to hire a web designer and developer. Costs for design and development can vary significantly based on the complexity of the site, the experience of the professionals hired, and any additional features or customizations required. Check out our website pricings here.
MIGHT HAVES:
1. Content Creation
It is important to understand that when signing up for a website to be created, you are paying for the creation of the site itself and not the copy/text and additional content. You may hire professionals such as copywriters, photographers, or videographers for this purpose, or handle it in-house if you have the expertise. The Grind have copywriters and basic designers available too – check out our additional services and costs here.
2. Additional features (if applicable)
If you’re setting up a website that needs something extra for easier functunality, there may be an additional cost involved. An example would be having an online booking system that fully links to your Google Calendar. Although there are some free plugins/programs available, sometimes it is worth it for the premium (making life a lot easier for you to run your site!). Other examples could be additional costs for payment gateway fees, SSL certificates for security, and possibly ongoing transaction fees.
3. Maintenance and Updates
Websites require regular maintenance to ensure they function properly and remain secure. This may involve software updates, security patches, backups, and technical support. Some businesses opt for ongoing maintenance contracts with web developers or agencies, which can involve monthly or yearly fees. Small businesses are often taken advantage of, paying large companies monthly retainers to ensure their sites are working properly, but it is not always necessary to have these monthly retainers if you have a basic website. For basic websites, we recommend updates every second month. At The Grind we have an hourly rate for updates, which works out a whole lot less than any retainer would! View maintenance and update pricing here.
All-in-all these costs can add up, so it’s important to plan and budget accordingly based on your specific requirements and goals for your website. Here is an example of a basic site costing which should give you a better understanding of the prices you may be working with.
| Must Haves to have your website up and running for the first year | |
| Domain name: Once-off purchase fee Annual fee | R99 R99 |
| Web hosting: R99 p/m | R1188 |
| Website creation: Americano package with The Grind | R4500 |
| R5 886 | |
