A pay-monthly website spreads the cost of a website over regular payments, which usually also cover hosting and ongoing care. Minimum terms, ownership and the work included vary between providers, so compare the total commitment and the written scope rather than the monthly price alone.
Pay-monthly websites come in two main kinds. With some, the monthly payment covers building the site plus ongoing care, and you may own the site once the term is paid. With others, you are paying to use a website or platform, and you lose it when the subscription stops.
The monthly price on its own doesn't tell you which kind you're buying. Ask the provider to explain in writing what they will build, what continues each month and what happens if you leave.
To find the real cost, multiply the monthly price by the minimum term and add any setup fee and extras you'll need. Check whether VAT is added, and whether hosting, domain renewal, support and any paid third-party tools are included.
MyDiro's website service is £89.99 a month, with no upfront cost, no build fee and no VAT added. The initial term is 12 months, after which the service continues month to month with 30 days' notice.
Find out who will research the pages, write the content, provide the photographs and check that your business details are correct. Ask which features, such as enquiry or booking forms, will be working on launch day.
A website builder that lets you add unlimited pages yourself is a different product from a service where the provider researches, writes and builds the pages for you. Get the split of responsibilities in writing before you sign.
The domain name, the content, your customer data, the website code, the design and any third-party services are separate things, and each may have a different owner. Ask who controls each one and when ownership passes to you. Being able to edit your pages doesn't mean you can move the site to another provider.
Ask which changes are included each month, how you request them and what extra work costs. Check the notice period, what you would still owe if you left early, whether you can export your data and what help you would get to move the site.
Don't assume that a general promise of maintenance covers a new campaign, extra filming or a substantial new feature. Ask how those are priced before you sign.
MyDiro sells a pay-monthly website service, so we have a commercial interest in this subject. Our service includes research into your business, writing for all the agreed launch pages, bespoke design, a film shoot at your premises, your own admin panel with agreed business tools, and ongoing care. We'd encourage you to use the same checklist with us as with any other supplier.
An upfront project may suit you better if you'd rather pay for the build straight away, or if you need to own the code and design from the start. With MyDiro, the code and design become yours once the 12-month initial term is paid.
See what the MyDiro service includes
It depends on what each option includes. Compare the same scope over the same period, because a lower first payment doesn't mean a lower total cost.
No. Ownership depends on the agreement, so check who owns the domain, content, data, code and design under each plan.
Only once you've compared the work included, the minimum term, any extras and the terms for leaving. The lowest monthly price may be for a much more limited service.
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