How Much Does a Website Cost for Small Business in 2024: Guide 2024 Techsenselabs

In 2024, having a well-designed and functional website is essential for any small business aiming to expand its online presence. But how much does a website cost for small business in 2024? With so many platforms, services, and tools available in the market, it’s crucial to understand the factors that influence website costs and ensure you're getting the best deal for your investment. From simple DIY website builders to more robust, customizable platforms, this guide from Techsenslabs explores all the options with up-to-date pricing as of September 2024.

Key Factors Influencing Website Costs

Before diving into specific platforms and tools, let’s explore the key factors that affect website costs:

1. Domain Registration: The price of securing your domain name (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com) varies depending on the registrar and the type of domain you choose (.com, .in, etc.).

   
   

2. Website Hosting: Hosting is where your website's data is stored. Hosting prices depend on factors like bandwidth, storage, and uptime guarantees.

   
   

3. Website Builder or CMS: Your choice of website platform can have a huge impact on costs. Do-it-yourself platforms like Wix and WordPress.com are typically more affordable, while custom-built websites using WordPress.org or other CMSs require more investment.

   
   

4. Design & Development: Whether you’re hiring a professional designer/developer or using pre-made templates, design costs can vary. Custom-built websites are more expensive compared to using off-the-shelf templates.

   
   

5. Maintenance & Updates: Regular updates, backups, and maintenance are necessary to keep your website secure and functional.

   
   

6. Additional Services: These include search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, analytics tools, and eCommerce capabilities.

Now, let’s break down the cost details across popular platforms, tools, and services in 2024.

Domain Registration Costs in 2024

Registering a domain is the first step in building a website. Popular domain registrars in India provide competitive pricing.

• GoDaddy: ₹999/year for .com domains.

• Google Domains: ₹860/year for .com domains.

• Namecheap: ₹850/year for a .com domain.

  
  

Certain domain extensions, such as .co, .biz, and .store, may come at a premium, costing ₹1,200 to ₹2,000 annually.

Total Annual Cost: ₹850 - ₹2,000/year

Website Builders and Hosting Platforms for Small Business in 2024

1. Wix

Wix is a popular website builder for small businesses that require simplicity and quick setup. It offers a range of pricing plans, which include hosting.

• Combo Plan: ₹1,200/month (₹14,400/year) – 2GB bandwidth, 3GB storage, free domain for 1 year.

• Unlimited Plan: ₹1,600/month (₹19,200/year) – Unlimited bandwidth, 10GB storage, and additional marketing features.

• VIP Plan: ₹3,300/month (₹39,600/year) – Priority support and advanced marketing tools.

Total Annual Cost: ₹14,400 - ₹39,600

2. WordPress

WordPress.com is a hosted solution, while WordPress.org (self-hosted) provides more customization options but requires hosting services.

• WordPress.com Personal Plan: ₹320/month (₹3,840/year) – Ideal for simple blogs.

• WordPress.com Premium Plan: ₹640/month (₹7,680/year) – Advanced design customization.

• WordPress.com Business Plan: ₹2,000/month (₹24,000/year) – Ideal for businesses that need plugin support and Google Analytics.

For WordPress.org, you’ll need web hosting. Popular hosts like Bluehost or SiteGround offer plans starting at ₹199 to ₹399/month (₹2,400 to ₹4,788/year).

Total Annual Cost (Self-Hosted WordPress): ₹6,000 - ₹30,000

3. Google Workspace

Google Workspace isn’t primarily a website builder but integrates with Google Sites for creating basic internal websites. Google Sites works best for simple information-sharing rather than professional business sites, but you can integrate it with platforms like Wix or WordPress for more robust functionalities.

• Google Workspace Business Starter: ₹125/user/month (₹1,500/year) – 30GB cloud storage and collaboration tools.

• Google Workspace Business Standard: ₹672/user/month (₹8,064/year) – 2TB cloud storage, enhanced admin controls.

Total Annual Cost: ₹1,500 - ₹8,064 per user

4. Zoho Workplace

Zoho Workplace is an all-in-one platform that includes Zoho Sites for building simple websites, alongside email, collaboration tools, and cloud storage.

• Zoho Workplace Standard: ₹99/user/month (₹1,188/year).

• Zoho Workplace Professional: ₹399/user/month (₹4,788/year).

Zoho Sites:

• Starter Plan: ₹490/month (₹5,880/year) – Basic website-building tools.

• Pro Plan: ₹1,300/month (₹15,600/year) – Includes advanced features and eCommerce capabilities.

Total Annual Cost: ₹5,880 - ₹15,600

5. Microsoft 365

While Microsoft 365 focuses on productivity, email hosting, and document management, you can use SharePoint for internal websites or collaborate with other platforms for external sites.

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: ₹95/user/month (₹1,140/year) – Email hosting, OneDrive storage.

• Microsoft 365 Business Premium: ₹1,230/user/month (₹14,760/year).

Total Annual Cost: ₹1,140 - ₹14,760 per user

Maintenance, SEO, and Custom Development Costs

1. Website Maintenance

Small businesses often require ongoing maintenance to ensure the website remains up-to-date and secure. This includes updating plugins, security patches, backups, and content management.

• Maintenance Cost: ₹5,000 - ₹10,000/month (₹60,000 - ₹1,20,000/year).

2. SEO and Marketing Tools

Optimizing your website for search engines and running digital marketing campaigns can increase traffic and visibility.

• Yoast SEO Premium (WordPress): ₹8,200/year.

• Google Analytics: Free for basic use, advanced features (Google Analytics 360) can cost up to ₹12,00,000/year.

• SEMrush: ₹10,000/month (₹1,20,000/year).

3. Custom Web Development

Hiring a web developer or agency for a custom-built website can range from ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000, depending on the complexity, design requirements, and additional features such as eCommerce integration.

Additional Website Tools and Services

1. Freshworks

Freshworks offers CRM and customer support tools that integrate with your website for improved customer management and interaction.

• Freshdesk: ₹1,249/user/month (₹14,988/year) – Basic ticketing and customer support.

• Freshsales: ₹1,500/user/month (₹18,000/year) – CRM and sales management.

Total Annual Cost: ₹14,988 - ₹18,000 per user

2. Dropbox

Dropbox provides cloud storage services that integrate well with your website for managing and sharing large files.

• Dropbox Standard: ₹1,500/month (₹18,000/year) – 5 TB storage.

• Dropbox Advanced: ₹2,500/month (₹30,000/year) – Unlimited storage.

Total Annual Cost: ₹18,000 - ₹30,000 per user

3. Kaspersky

Security is critical for any website, especially when handling customer data. Kaspersky offers security solutions to protect your website from malware, phishing attacks, and ransomware.

• Kaspersky Small Office Security: ₹7,500/year for up to 5 devices.

• Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud: ₹12,000/year for up to 10 devices.

Total Annual Cost: ₹7,500 - ₹12,000

4. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is an email marketing and automation platform that helps small businesses engage customers through personalized email campaigns.

• ActiveCampaign Lite: ₹2,400/month (₹28,800/year) for up to 500 contacts.

• ActiveCampaign Plus: ₹4,000/month (₹48,000/year) for CRM and advanced automation.

Total Annual Cost: ₹28,800 - ₹48,000

5. Acronis

Acronis provides backup solutions and disaster recovery services to ensure your website data is safe and recoverable in case of a breach or server failure.

• Acronis Cyber Protect: ₹6,000/year.

• Acronis Advanced Backup: ₹8,000/year – Includes ransomware protection.

Total Annual Cost: ₹6,000 - ₹8,000

Final Cost Breakdown for Website Cost for Small Business in 2024

• DIY Website: ₹15,000 - ₹30,000/year – For businesses using website builders like Wix or WordPress.

• Intermediate Website: ₹30,000 - ₹1,50,000/year – For those needing more advanced hosting, SEO, and eCommerce.

• Custom-Built Website: ₹50,000 - ₹3,00,000 – Ideal for businesses needing bespoke design, functionality, and custom development.

Conclusion

The website cost for small businesses in 2024 ranges widely based on the complexity and tools you choose. While platforms like Wix and WordPress offer affordable DIY options, integrating additional services such as Freshworks for CRM or ActiveCampaign for marketing can elevate your website to a professional level, albeit with added costs. When budgeting for your website, consider not just the initial build but also ongoing costs for hosting, maintenance, and security to ensure your website performs optimally in the long run.