One-off build
Pay monthly
Comparison period
Over your chosen period
Pay monthly usually includes hosting, updates and support, so compare like for like by adding a care-plan cost to the one-off option.
Talk through the optionsWhat should you factor in to each option?
The headline price is only part of the picture. These are the factors that determine which option actually suits your situation.
The one-off total cost of ownership
A one-off build is yours outright, but running it is not free. Hosting, domain renewal, WordPress core and plugin updates, security patches and occasional support calls all add up. A bare-bones care plan for a WordPress site typically runs from £30 to £80 a month. Add this to the build cost for an honest comparison.
What a pay-monthly fee covers
At Harrison Mann, the pay-monthly fee covers design, build, hosting, SSL, updates and ongoing support. It is a complete service, not just a licence fee on top of a build cost. That is why setting the care plan field to zero in the calculator will flatter the one-off option relative to what it truly costs to run.
The break-even point
The calculator finds the month at which the running pay-monthly total first exceeds the one-off total. Before that point, pay monthly has cost you less in total. After it, the one-off build has worked out cheaper. If you plan to keep your site for longer than the break-even period, a one-off build is typically the better financial decision.
Ownership and flexibility
Ownership matters if you expect to hold the same site for many years, want to transfer it to a different developer, or plan to sell the business. Flexibility matters if you want to upgrade without a large lump-sum payment, or if your site needs are likely to change significantly before a typical ownership period is complete. Neither model is universally better.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to pay monthly or pay once for a website?
It depends on how long you keep the site. A one-off build has a higher upfront cost but lower ongoing outlay, so it typically works out cheaper over time. Pay monthly costs more in total if you keep the site for several years, but the lower upfront commitment makes it accessible when cash flow matters. The break-even point for most comparisons falls somewhere between 24 and 48 months.
What is included in a pay-monthly website?
At Harrison Mann, pay-monthly websites include design, build, hosting, security and software updates, and ongoing support. The monthly fee covers the maintenance that a one-off build leaves to you, which is why a fair comparison adds a care plan cost to the one-off option. Comparing just the build price against the monthly fee is not comparing like for like.
Do I own a pay-monthly website?
No. With a pay-monthly model you are licensing the site for as long as you pay. If you stop paying, the site comes down. A one-off build is yours outright once paid for. For many businesses the trade-off is straightforward: ownership matters if you plan to keep the same site for many years; flexibility matters if you expect your needs to change or your cash flow is tight early on.
Not sure which route is right for you?
Tell me about your situation and I will give you an honest recommendation. No pressure, and no preference for one model over the other.
