Renting a website or e-shop sounds attractive: nothing upfront, a small monthly fee, and "everything included". Before you sign, it is worth doing two sums: how much you will pay in total, and what you will be left with at the end.
How renting works
The company builds the website, hosts it and maintains it, and you pay every month. There is usually a minimum contract term, e.g. 12 or 24 months. The website remains the company's property.
Cost comparison over 3 years
A simple example for a business presentation website:
- Renting at €40/month: €1,440 over 3 years, and at the end you own nothing.
- Buying for €250 to build, with the domain and hosting free for the first year and €100 a year after that: €450 over 3 years, and the site is yours.
Even if you add maintenance for changes, buying usually works out cheaper from the second year onwards.
The hidden risks of renting
The domain
If the domain is registered to the company, when you leave you also lose the address your customers know, and with it your position on Google. This is the most expensive mistake.
The content
Texts, photos and products you entered may not be easy to export from a closed system.
The commitment
If the site doesn't satisfy you, you keep paying until the contract ends.
When renting makes sense
- You are testing something temporary, e.g. a seasonal business or an event.
- You have no cash available right now and need a site immediately.
- The subscription includes real, ongoing work (e.g. weekly changes, advertising) and not just hosting.
Questions to ask before you sign
- In whose name will the domain be registered?
- What is the minimum term, and what happens if I leave early?
- If I leave, do I get a copy of the site and its content?
- What exactly does the monthly subscription include?
Our view
For most small businesses, it pays to buy once and, if you need it, add a monthly subscription for maintenance only, with no lock-in. That way you pay less and the site is yours. With our new low prices, a website starts from €250, delivered in 3 days. See how to choose a web design company and avoid the traps.
