Despite what many people seem to think, owning and running websites is not free. In fact, it can be very expensive. If you’re just getting started you shouldn’t have to spend too much, but it’s still a significant investment. There are many things that webmasters need that cost money (cheap web hosting, domains, etc.), and then there are even more things that are not really necessary, but help you out. The cost of these things can add up quickly, so if you’re on a budget, be sure to watch your spending.
One of the main expenses for modern webmasters is cheap web hosting. Though it is “cheap”, it’s still a major expense for most people. Cheap web hosting will run you about $5 per month – not exactly “break the bank” money, but in this economy, it’s still a hefty expense. Cheap web hosting is one of those things that is absolutely essential. Yes, there is free hosting available, but if you want to have any sort of professionalism, you need real hosting. I highly recommend steering clear of free hosting, as it’s usually more of a hassle than anything else.
Another expense is domains. .com domains cost $10/year, and most top-level domains (.net, .org, etc) cost about the same, if not more. This may not seem like a big deal, but keep in mind that most webmasters have at least 5-10 domains. Even if you only think you want 1 site, you will probably change your mind in the future. And, with every new site comes a new domain, so the yearly bills can start adding up fast. If you think your finances are a little tight, I recommend staggering your domain purchases. That way, you can just pay $10 every few months, instead of $50 or so at once.
Written by Web Hosting Expert on Dec 27, 2009.
