Buying vs. subscribing: the math behind your website investment
If you’ve ever looked into getting a professional website built for your business, you’ve probably experienced "quote shock."
You ask for a quote, expecting something reasonable, and get hit with a proposal for $4,000, $8,000, or even $15,000 upfront. For a small business in Canterbury—whether you’re a tradie, a local cafe, or a consultant—that is a massive chunk of working capital to hand over all at once.
But for years, that was the only option. You either paid the ransom or tried to build a DIY site yourself on the weekends (and let’s be honest, those rarely end well).
At Digital Presence, we do things differently. We champion the subscription model. But we know some business owners still ask: "Is it better to just buy it and own it?"
Let’s look at the math, the hidden costs, and why the subscription model is taking over.
The old way: the "big deposit" model
In the traditional agency model, a website is treated like a construction project. You pay a huge deposit (usually 50%), wait a few months, pay the balance, and then you are handed the keys.
The math (example):
- Upfront build cost: $5,000 (average for a small business site)
- Hosting & security: $50/month
- Plugins & software licenses: $200/year
- Total year 1 cost: $5,800 (paid mostly in month 1)
The problem: Once the site is live, the relationship ends. If you need to change a photo, update your staff list, or fix a broken contact form six months later, you’re paying an hourly rate (often $150+ per hour).
Worse, in three years, the technology is outdated, and you have to fork out another $5,000 for a redesign. It’s a vicious, expensive cycle.
The new way: the subscription model
We treat your website like a service, not a product. Think of it like your power or internet connection—it’s a vital utility for your business that needs to be "always on" and always working.
The math (Digital Presence):
- Upfront cost: $0
- Monthly subscription: e.g., $139 (depending on your plan)
- Hosting & security: Included
- Software licenses: Included
- Total year 1 cost: $1,800 (spread evenly over 12 months)
The benefit: You keep that $5,000 of capital in your bank account. You can use it to buy tools, hire staff, or run ads to get traffic to the website.
The "hidden costs" of ownership
When people say "I want to own my website," they often forget that ownership comes with maintenance liabilities. A website isn't a house; it’s more like a car. It needs servicing, oil changes, and new tyres.
If you "buy" your website, you are responsible for:
- Security updates: If your WordPress plugins go out of date and your site gets hacked, you pay the bill to fix it.
- Broken links: Google changes its rules? You pay to update the site.
- Content changes: Need to change your Christmas hours? That’s a support ticket and an invoice.
With our website subscription plans, we include 15 minutes of free edits every month. That might not sound like much, but it’s enough to update a phone number, swap an image, or post a news update. You don’t get an invoice every time you pick up the phone.
Why cash flow is king for NZ SMEs
We’re a Christchurch web design business, and we know how tough the local market can be. Cash flow is the lifeblood of any SME.
Sinking thousands of dollars into a digital asset on day one is risky. By subscribing, you turn a massive capital expense (CapEx) into a manageable operating expense (OpEx).
- No risk: If your business direction changes, you aren't $5k out of pocket.
- Tax efficient: Your monthly subscription is a 100% deductible business expense.
- Future-proof: We build on modern platforms (like Duda) that are optimised for the future of search, including AI. You aren’t left with a dinosaur of a site.
The bottom line
If you have $10,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you love managing software updates, the traditional model might be fine.
But if you want a high-performing website that looks incredible, ranks on Google, and leaves your cash in the bank for growing your business, the math is simple.
Ready to keep your cash and upgrade your digital presence? Check out our [Plans & Pricing] to see how much you could save, or book a free chat with Simon today.
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