Building a website is an essential investment for any business in today’s digital age. However, the cost of creating a website can vary significantly based on the platform you choose, the complexity of your requirements, and the level of customisation you need. In this article, we will explore the costs associated with building a website using five popular platforms: WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, and Laravel.
WordPress
Overview
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) globally, known for its flexibility and ease of use. It is ideal for a wide range of websites, from blogs to business sites.
Cost Breakdown
- Domain Name: £10-£15 per year
- Hosting: £30-£150 per year (shared hosting) or £150-£300 per year (managed WordPress hosting)
- Theme: £0-£75 (free themes available, premium themes usually cost around £50-£75)
- Plugins: £0-£200 (basic plugins are free, premium plugins cost between £20-£100 each)
- Development: £300-£1,000 (DIY) or £500-£5,000 (professional developers)
- Maintenance: £100-£300 per year (updates, backups, security)
Total Estimated Cost: £440-£6,750 per year
WooCommerce
Overview
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that adds e-commerce functionality to your WordPress site, making it a popular choice for online stores.
Cost Breakdown
- Domain Name: £10-£15 per year
- Hosting: £50-£300 per year (requires more robust hosting than standard WordPress sites)
- Theme: £0-£75 (WooCommerce-compatible themes are often included with WordPress themes)
- Plugins/Extensions: £0-£500 (additional functionality like payment gateways, shipping calculators, etc.)
- Development: £500-£5,000 (basic setup to custom development)
- Maintenance: £200-£500 per year (updates, security, backups)
Total Estimated Cost: £760-£6,390 per year
Magento
Overview
Magento is a powerful e-commerce platform designed for businesses with large-scale operations and complex requirements. It is known for its flexibility and extensive features.
Cost Breakdown
- Domain Name: £10-£15 per year
- Hosting: £200-£500 per year (Magento requires dedicated or cloud hosting)
- Magento Open Source (Community Edition): Free
- Magento Commerce (Enterprise Edition): £15,000+ per year
- Themes: £0-£200 (free and premium themes available)
- Extensions: £0-£2,000 (depends on the number and complexity of extensions)
- Development: £2,000-£20,000 (basic setup to extensive customisation)
- Maintenance: £500-£2,000 per year (updates, security, backups)
Total Estimated Cost (Open Source): £2,710-£25,215 per year Total Estimated Cost (Commerce): £17,710-£40,215 per year
Shopify
Overview
Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform that offers an all-in-one solution for businesses looking to sell online. It is known for its ease of use and scalability.
Cost Breakdown
- Domain Name: £10-£15 per year
- Shopify Plan: £20-£250 per month (£240-£3,000 per year)
- Themes: £0-£250 (free and premium themes available)
- Apps: £0-£500 (depends on the number and functionality of apps)
- Development: £0-£2,000 (DIY setup to custom development)
- Maintenance: Included in the Shopify plan
Total Estimated Cost: £250-£5,765 per year
Laravel
Overview
Laravel is a PHP framework used for custom web applications. It is ideal for businesses needing a highly customised and scalable web application.
Cost Breakdown
- Domain Name: £10-£15 per year
- Hosting: £50-£500 per year (shared to dedicated hosting)
- Framework: Free
- Development: £1,000-£20,000 (basic setup to custom application development)
- Maintenance: £200-£1,000 per year (updates, security, backups)
Total Estimated Cost: £1,260-£21,515 per year
Conclusion
The cost of building a website can vary widely depending on the platform you choose and your specific needs. Here is a summary of the estimated costs for each platform:
- WordPress: £440-£6,750 per year
- WooCommerce: £760-£6,390 per year
- Magento Open Source: £2,710-£25,215 per year
- Magento Commerce: £17,710-£40,215 per year
- Shopify: £250-£5,765 per year
- Laravel: £1,260-£21,515 per year
Choosing the right platform depends on your business requirements, budget, and the level of customisation you need. Whether you opt for a user-friendly solution like Shopify or a highly customisable platform like Laravel, investing in a professional and functional website is crucial for your business’s success.
At Websites Do It, we offer expert web development services tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build the perfect website for your business.