Key Points
- Bluehost, Go Daddy, and Google Domain offer free domain names for a limited period of time.
- Hosting may cost between $3 and $20.
- WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems and is ideal for beginners.
Blogging is a popular activity. Some people blog to share their knowledge and experience, while others to make money. No matter your motivation for blogging, knowing how much it costs to set up a blog is crucial. Our handy guide will walk you through blogging costs, so you can have a great head start.
However, similar to any other project you may want to start, it is important to ask, what is the upfront cost of starting a blog? There is no exact answer. Many factors contribute to your overall cost to get your blog running.
Continue reading to learn how much you need to set aside to start a blog and how much you might need to sustain it.
#1: The Main Expenses
When starting a blog, domain name, hosting, and a content management system(CMS) are the three major expenses to account for.
Domain Name
The domain is the online address for accessing your website. It comprises a name and .com or another extension. For instance, the domain name of this page is history-computer.com. The domain name cost is unavoidable since you must purchase it to run the page.
Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to afford the domain name. You can purchase the domain name from a company like Site Ground. Domains typically expire annually, so you will need to renew yours to retain ownership.
You can also get the domain name for free for the first year from Bluehost and then renew it every year. Google domain and Go daddy also offer free domains with annual plans. Premium domain names are likely to cost more than regular names, regardless of the domain name provider.
Hosting
The hosting price is the rent you pay to the company that houses your blog. Depending on the hosting service, web hosting can cost you as low as $3 per month to as high as $20 per month. Before grabbing a plan, note that the cheapest option isn’t always the best, as it may have limited features and storage.
Instead, go for reputable hosts like SiteGround, or Bluehost, with affordable monthly payments. When looking for a host, check their reliability, security, cost, and features. Settle for the host that works best for your blog.
Content Management System (CMS)
©monticello/Shutterstock.com
Content Management System (CMS) is the engine of your blog. A good starting place is wordpress.com.
WordPress allows you to change your blog’s themes and plugins. Themes determine your blog structure and appearance. You can add features like templates, social media profiles, or email links to your blog page using plugins. Besides, you can publish content and upload files.
Although WordPress is 100% free, premium these aren’t. Most themes cost $30-$60. For beginners, the Word Press-free option is a good start for a blogging newbie.
#2: Optional Expenses
While domain name, hosting, and a content management system are the blog’s foundation, the optional expenses are the blog’s finishing. Although a blog can run without them, they help make it more attractive and functional, not to mention earn more money. They include:
Email Service Providers
To grow your blog, you will need an email list. This is the list of email addresses where you can send newsletters and product or service offers. Email marketing enables you to educate and sell to your target market. This is important if you hope to monetize your blog. You can use email service providers such as ConvertKit, whose monthly subscriptions start at around $10.
Blog Logo
A blog logo is a good way of showing your brand. You can use free online logo makers such as Canva, or crowd-sourcing websites. If you need to hire a professional, head over to Fiverr or Upwork. A freelance graphic designer can whip up a logo for $5 to several hundred dollars.
Blog Theme
Although you can get a free blog theme at wordpress.org, it’s best to consider premium themes. Professionally designed themes option allows for greater customization. Themeforest is a good starting place. Their prices vary but start at about $25. When shopping for a theme for your blog, pick one that promotes your brand.
Ghostwriters
As you start your blog, you may assume you’ll tackle all the writing. However, you will realize there is much more to do as a blog owner. For instance, you need to grow your audience, get backlinks, and create digital products. With all these on your plate, you may have little or no time to write. This is where professional writers will come in handy.
You can find freelance writers at Upwork or ProBlogger. Some charge per word while others hourly. For a 1000-word post, pricing can range from $100-200 or more.
Blogging Course
A good way to master blogging is to enroll in a blogging course. These courses help you stay on par with all blogging trends. You will learn the dos and don’ts that enable you to stay ahead of your competitors. Blogging courses can range from a few tens of dollars to several hundred dollars. For example, Launch your Blog Biz shows you how to successfully start, run, and monetize your blog.
Hardware Requirements
Blogger using a laptop.
©Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com
You will need a laptop and a reliable network to run a blog. A decent computer will cost you between $600-$700. Wi-Fi installation will cost you $300-$500. You may also need other hardware devices, such as cameras, microphones, and headphones.
#3: Hiring a Website Designer
If you want to start a blog but don’t have the time or skill to create one, you can hire a web designer. These people typically charge $250-$5000 for a blog, depending on your desired features and specifications.
Pros of Hiring a Website Designer
- They do all the work for you. They help you avoid the technical part of starting a blog, especially if you are not experienced.
- You will likely have a high-quality blog than you could if you did it yourself.
- A designer is likely to complete designing the blog faster
Cons of Hiring a Designer
- Hiring a designer is expensive and may not be the best idea if you’re starting a blog on a budget.
- You may get features you don’t like, which might be complicated to change.
- You don’t have a chance to exercise your creativity in blog designing
The Overall Cost of Starting a Blog
Given the expenses above, it is possible to come up with an approximate amount that you need when starting a blog
| Expense | Cost |
| Domain Name | $15 |
| Hosting | $84 |
| Content Management System – WordPress | $0 |
| Blog Theme | $129 |
| Total | $228 |
To get your blog running, you typically need around $228. However, the cost can be higher or lower based on your blog type. For instance, a full-time blog will likely spend more to start and sustain a blog.
Can You Start a Blog for Free?
You can start a blog at wordpress.com or Wix without spending a dime. But we don’t encourage this option. Free blogging platforms have limited features and tools. And they can bombard visitors with ads. They often include their name in your website address. For instance, if your website address is coolblog.com and you are using Wix, your address becomes coolblog.wix.com. Not to mention, a free blog is generally unprofessional and has a poor SEO ranking.
Conclusion
Starting a blog costs approximately $228 to get started. This amount can be higher if you want a professional blog and lower for hobby blogs. The total amount that you might incur also varies based on whether you expect to monetize the blog.
However, if this is your first blog, focus more on creating quality content for the blog than having expensive features. High-quality content can help you to start earning and make it possible for you to pay for premium blog features.
Up next
- How to Start A Music Blog: Do you want to share your favorite music with the world? Click the link to find out how to get started.
- How to Start a Beauty Blog: Are you an expert in all things skincare, hair, and makeup-related? Here’s how you can start what can become a rather remunerative hobby.
- How to Start a Sports Blog: Sports is one of the most popular topics on the internet. No surprise given the wide variety available and the number of avid fans. Here is how you can create your very own space for talking about your favorite past time.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/scyther5.
