You might see offers like “Website from R600”, that sounds great. But there’s often a catch: after paying a small setup fee, you pay R200–R600 every month and you may not own the website.
Here’s how the two models usually work
- Rent model: Low setup fee, high monthly payments. The company keeps the site files or hosting account, so you can’t move the site easily.
- Own model (one-off fee): You pay once to build the site. You pay your own hosting and domain to a host you control, and the files are yours.
Why ownership matters
- Control: If you own the domain and hosting, you can change providers, update content, or sell your website later. With the rent model, you depend on the company.
- Cost over time: Monthly payments add up. What looks cheap at first can become more expensive after a year or two.
- Freedom to change: Want a new look or new features? When the site is yours it’s easier and cheaper to improve it.
What to ask before you pay
- Who owns the website files and the domain?
- Where is the site hosted and who can access it?
- If I stop paying monthly, what happens to my site?
Why Ubunye Digital Consultant does it differently
We charge a one-off build fee and help you set up your domain and hosting in your name. That means:
- You own the domain and files.
- You pay hosting directly to the hosting company (we’ll help you choose).
- If you want changes later, you, or any developer you choose, can update your site easily.
A low upfront price can hide long-term costs and loss of control. A one-off build fee with you owning the domain and hosting is usually the safer, more honest option for small businesses.