Website Costs: Flat-Fee vs Monthly Subscriptions

If you're a contractor considering a new website, you've probably encountered two very different pricing models: flat-fee websites ($995-$2,500 one-time) and monthly subscription websites ($150-$500/month). Which is actually cheaper in the long run?

The Real Cost Calculator

Let's use real numbers from actual companies to see the true cost over time:

Real Examples From Popular Contractor Website Companies

Company A: "Starting at $150/month"

• Setup fee: $299
• Monthly fee: $150-$400/month
• 5-year cost: $9,299 - $24,299
• What you get: Basic website, you don't own it

Company B: "Professional websites for contractors"

• Setup fee: $500
• Monthly fee: $299/month
• 5-year cost: $18,440
• What you get: Website lease, no ownership

Website Freedom: Flat-Fee Model

• One-time cost: $995-$1,995
• Monthly fee: $0
• 5-year cost: $995-$1,995
• What you get: You own everything + training

Hidden Costs of Monthly Models

Monthly subscription models often have additional costs that aren't obvious upfront:

• Price increases: Most companies raise rates 10-20% annually
• Cancellation fees: Many require 30-90 day notice
• Setup costs: $299-$999 initial setup fees
• Change fees: $50-$150 for content updates
• Migration costs: $500+ to move away from the platform

What Happens When You Stop Paying?

With monthly models, stop paying and your website disappears immediately. All your content, photos, and SEO work vanishes. You start from zero.

With flat-fee models, you own your website forever. Switch hosting, change developers, or manage it yourself - you have complete control.

The Bottom Line

After analyzing dozens of contractor website companies, the math is clear: flat-fee pricing saves contractors an average of $15,000-$20,000 over 5 years while providing actual ownership.

The monthly model only makes sense if you're planning to need a website for less than 6 months - which describes exactly zero successful contractors.

What Should You Do?

Before signing any website contract:

1. Calculate the true 3-5 year cost
2. Ask what happens if you want to leave
3. Confirm you'll own your domain and content
4. Get training so you're not dependent on the company
5. Avoid any contract longer than 12 months

The contractor website industry has trained business owners to accept monthly payments because it's more profitable for the companies. But it's not better for contractors.