What it costs, and what you own

The price matters less than the terms. Ask who owns the files and whether you can leave before you ask what it costs.

Why do website quotes vary so wildly?

Because "website" covers a five-page brochure and a booking platform with accounts and payments. The spread is real work, not just margin. Compare quotes by what is being built and who owns it afterwards, never by the number alone.

What are the costs that recur every year?

The domain, hosting, email if you pay for it, any licences for software the site uses, and maintenance if you have someone doing it. Ask for these as a list before you commit. An unexpected recurring cost is the most common complaint about a web project.

What is a care plan and is it worth it?

A monthly arrangement covering updates, hosting and a set amount of changes. It is worth it if the site genuinely changes and you will not do the updates yourself. It is not worth it for a static site you never touch — in that case buy hosting and pay for changes as they come.

What does "you own it" actually mean?

That you hold the domain, the hosting account and the files, and can take all three to someone else without permission. Ask the question before you sign. Some arrangements mean you are renting a site that stops existing when you stop paying, which can be a reasonable deal as long as you know.

Should I pay monthly or once?

Paying once and owning it costs more up front and less over three years. Paying monthly spreads the cost but usually means you are renting. Neither is wrong; what is wrong is not knowing which you have agreed to.

Is a cheap template site a false economy?

Not always. For a business that needs a presence and little else, a template is a sensible, honest choice and we would say so. It becomes expensive when you need something it cannot do and discover the work has to start again.

What should I expect to pay for ongoing SEO?

Enough to pay for real hours, which means a few hundred dollars a month at the low end for a local business. Below that, nobody is doing meaningful work and you are likely buying automated reports. Above it, ask exactly which hours you are buying.

Can I build it myself and have someone finish it?

Sometimes, and it can save money when the groundwork — photos, prices, your words — is what you have done. Half-built on a platform that does not suit you often costs more to rescue than to restart, so ask before you invest months.

What is scope creep and how do I avoid it?

The project growing one small request at a time until nobody knows what was agreed. Avoid it with a written list of what is included and a plain understanding that additions are quoted separately. This protects you as much as the developer.