One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is: “How much does a website cost in Kenya?” We’re here to answer that question and help you put your money where it matters most.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused brick-and-mortar visitors to minimize their visits. With fewer customers visiting stores, it’s now more important than ever to create an online presence for your business to adapt to change.
Whether you’re building your first website or looking to redo your site existing website in Kenya, you will always find confusion about how much a website should cost. You may be wondering whether to spend thousands of shillings on a website or build one yourself.
To help you understand the costs to expect when designing a website in Kenya, we’ll explore all the factors considered when building a website.
Website Cost Factors
When building a website, either through a website designer or by making it yourself, it is important to know the cost to expect. The cost of a website is influenced by things like its complexity, size, and design requirements. However, to get your website up and running, you will need to consider all of the website cost factors involved.
1. Domain
A domain is your online identity. It’s the name you give to people who want to find you online. When creating a website, the first thing you need to do is purchase a domain name. This can be a .com, .org. .Coke, . network and so on. It depends on your preference.
To buy a domain, you need to visit hosting companies in Kenya like HostPoa, DeepAfrica, TrueHost, among others. To register, you’ll need to find a name that no one else is using and pay an annual fee to own it. Follow these steps:
- Choose a trusted domain company
- Using a domain availability checker, perform a domain name search
- Choose the best option available
- Complete domain registration by completing your order
- Check the availability of your new domain
A domain name is your identity online, so proper research is essential. Make it catchy and easy to remember. If you can’t get what you’re looking for, look for alternatives nearby.
A domain name costs between Ksh 950 and Ksh 10,000 depending on your choice.
2 . Web Hosting
Web hosting makes your website available to view online. Different hosting companies charge different rates. These domain registrars allow you to choose between shared hosting or dedicated hosting option.
Shared hosting is cheaper, ranging in cost from Ksh 2100 – Ksh 14 100 per year.
Dedicated hosting is much more expensive, with a price range of Ksh 5,100 – Ksh 25,100 per year.
However, there are many options among these options, and it’s up to you. look carefully to choose the plan. that best suits your needs without breaking the bank.
3. Content
To make your website visible online, you need to write engaging content. You need to make sure that people find value in what you have written on your website. SEO optimized content will help your website rank high in search engines for certain keywords. You can write the content yourself to keep costs down. However, a professional content writer can help you do a better job. You may need to hire a freelance writer or agency and expect to pay between Ksh 200 and Ksh 500 per 100 words.
It’s good to know how much a content writer will charge you to write SEO content for your site Web. A website writer may charge by the word, by the page, by the blog, or by the project. It’s up to you to find the best terms that fit your budget.
What kind of website do you need?
Before you start estimating the cost of the website in Kenya, you will need to decide what type of website you need for your company or business. Common types of websites you might consider include basic (brochure-style) websites, small business websites, e-commerce websites, and corporate websites.
Type of website Features Website cost in Kenya Landing page Website• 1 – 3 Responsive Pages • Contact Page • Landing PageKsh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000 Small Business Website • Multiple Pages • Social Media Integration • Google My Business Page • Google AnalyticsKsh 20,000 – Ksh 30,000 Ecommerce Website • Ecommerce Tools • Order Management System • Live Chat • Delivery Solutions • Payment IntegrationKsh 35,000 – Ksh 70,000 Corporate Website • Advanced Functionality • Unlimited Subpages • Custom Design • Database Population • CRM Integration 45,000 Ksh – 90,000 Ksh
Ways to build a website in Kenya
To create a website, you can decide to do all Either yourself using web builders or hire a web designer in Kenya.Each option has its pros and cons, and we’ll discuss them below:
-
Option 1: Do it all yourself using website builders
Creating a website using a website builder will help you reduce the cost of hiring a professional web designer. Website builders provide you with tools that help you create an attractive website quickly and efficiently. You will have a live website in a matter of hours. It takes care of all the technical stuff and you don’t need to learn to code. Just drag and drop the elements to create what you want.
Website builders are low cost and most of them have a free version of their product. These free versions will allow you to create very basic websites. But to build a professional-looking website, it’s good to upgrade to a premium plan that offers more customization and more features.
-
Option 2: Hire a web designer in Kenya
Professional web designers are experienced and reliable. They have perfected the art of website building and will build professional websites for you with all the functionality you need. Hiring a web designer in Kenya will be the best option if you need a website but lack the skills or time to create it yourself.
When choosing a web designer in Kenya, you may decide to work with an agency or an individual freelancer. A freelancer will give you a more personalized service, but you’ll need to do some research online. An agency will have a wide range of experience and will provide a quote for the entire project.
Cost of a Landing Page website in Kenya
A landing page website requires very little functionality and consists of 1-3 pages with a ‘brochure style’ appearance. They must also be responsive to mobile devices. You should go for a simple website if you need a simple online presence where you showcase your business and receive inquiries.
If you want to create a landing page website in Kenya, the cost of website design will be between Ksh. 10,000 and Ksh. 20,000. This mostly depends on the complexity of your website.
Here’s an example breakdown of the total cost of a landing page website in Kenya, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Cost of a Landing Page Website in Kenya
Cost of a Landing Page Website in Kenya Starting Costs DesignKsh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000 DomainKsh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year Total Initial CostKsh 11,000 – Ksh 22,000 Ongoing Costs Hosting Ksh 2000 – Ksh 3500/ year Content Updates Ksh 0 – Ksh 6000/ year Total Ongoing Costs Ksh 2000 – Ksh 9500 / year
Small Business Website Cost in Kenya
Like basic websites, small business websites are in the style of a brochure, but They have more features. They are great for businesses that want to update their existing basic websites. Its features may include integrated social media, Google analytics, responsive design, content management systems, and Google maps. They include more pages and are mobile responsive.
Small business websites are ideal for businesses that intend to update their content regularly, such as startups and freelancers.
If you want to create a small business website in Kenya, the cost of website design will be between Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 30,000.
Here is a breakdown of the total cost of a small business website in Kenya, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Small Business Website Cost in Kenya
Small Business Website Cost in Kenya Starting Costs Design 20 Ksh 000 – Ksh 30,000 Domain Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/year Total Upfront Cost Ksh 21,000 – Ksh 32,000 Ongoing Costs HostingKsh 2,000 – Ksh 3,500 Content UpdatesKsh 0 – Ksh 6,000/year Total Ongoing CostsKsh 2000 – Ksh 9500/ year
See Also: 10 Best Ways To Promote Your New vo Business Website in Kenya
Ecommerce Website Cost in Kenya
Now more than ever, people want to review uct products online sooner to make a purchase decision. When your products are visible online, there is a high probability that people looking for them will find them and place orders. That’s why you need an ecommerce website for your business.
The price of an ecommerce website varies greatly, depending on how many items you want to stock and the varieties of each item you want include. It is also heavily influenced by additional features such as a live chat facility, an order management system, and a delivery tracking feature.
When requesting your eCommerce website development, think about what is expected of him.Is it your main brand presence tool? Want to include a blog post? Do you want your readers to engage with your social media?
See Also: How To Start An Online Store Ecommerce Business In Kenya 2023
To To ensure that your e-commerce website is secure, include an SSL certificate. This will make your customers and Google take your website seriously.
If you want to build an e-commerce website in Kenya, the cost of website design will be between Ksh 40,000 and Ksh 70,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the total cost of an eCommerce website, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Ecommerce Website Cost in Kenya
eCommerce Website Cost in Kenya Startup Costs DesignKsh 40 000 – Ksh 70 000 DomainKsh 1000 – Ksh 2000/ year Total Startup CostKsh 41 000 – Ksh 72,000 Ongoing Costs HostingKsh 3,500 – Ksh 6,500/year Content UpdatesKsh 0 – Ksh 6,000/year Total Ongoing Costs Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/year
Corporate website cost in Kenya
Larger companies that require more functionality need a corporate website. It is also called a custom website. These websites are needed by large corporations that have a larger number of visitors or a lot of information to share. It is built from the ground up on an original and unique set of requirements.
Corporate websites are data driven, have advanced functionality and unlimited subpages. They are required by businesses in certain industries like real estate companies, financial services, architects, contracting, health and fitness, and more. These websites have a high level of mobile responsiveness.
If you want to create a corporate website in Kenya, the cost of website design will be between Ksh 90,000 and Ksh 150,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the total cost of a corporate website, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Corporate Website Cost in Kenya
Site Cost corporate website in Kenya Startup Costs DesignKsh 90,000 – Ksh 150,000 DomainKsh 1000 – Ksh 2000/ year Total Startup CostKsh 91,000 – Ksh 152,000 Ongoing Costs HostingKsh 3,500 – Ksh 6,500 / year Content updates Ksh 0 – Ksh 20,000 / year Total ongoing costs Ksh 3,500 – Ksh 26,500 / year
Additional website costs to consider
- Web and email hosting: Depending on the amount of traffic expected to your website, the costs of web and email hosting or will vary. You will be charged monthly or annually.
- SSL Certificates: An SSL certificate will make your website more secure, giving your customers the confidence to buy from you. An SSL certificate keeps information between your website and the site visitor private. You can buy or get a free SSL certificate depending on the company you are working with. Ask about this to account for costs.
- Copywriting: Copywriting should be considered in great detail from the very beginning of website design. You want your website to rank high in search engines so that those looking for your services or products can easily find you. If the designer can provide you with the website copy, ask how much they will charge. If not, consider hiring a copywriter.
- Training: Managing a website can be challenging, especially if you’re not familiar with the eCommerce platform used to build it. Most people will find it difficult to manage their websites properly. This may require you to undergo some form of training and obtain documentation. This will help you understand how to manage your website, add new products, edit content, and other daily tasks.
- Photography: You need great images for your website. If you need to create a strong brand image, consider hiring a photographer to help you collect stock images. You can also buy stock images from sites like Shutterstock or download free images from sites like Unsplash.
Tips for getting an exact website cost on Kenya
The costs of websites in Kenya vary greatly depending on a wide range of factors. Getting an exact cost for your website can seem difficult, especially if you don’t know what to consider. Consider these tips to get an accurate cost for a website in Kenya.
1. Get functionality documents
The web designer you hire to create your website should produce a detailed document on all the features and functionality you want. This will ensure that you do not skip or forget anything. Document everything, then check them off the list once the task is complete. These functionality documents are also important to ensure you don’t pay for things that were never agreed upon.
2.Research Your Options
Once you’re ready to build your website, consult 3-4 designers to get an idea of how they would handle your website. Get insight into their process, experience, and detail. You will also get an idea of how they will handle your inquiries and questions. Ask for quotes and compare them.
Cheapest option is not always best
Different designers will give you different prices for your website development. Choosing the cheapest option could end up ruining your life. Again, an expensive web designer does not automatically mean high-quality work. To determine the best web designer to work for, check out their past results and talk to some of their clients. This will help you decide whether or not to work with them.
Agree favorable terms of employment because this is the beginning of a working partnership that can last a long time.
Need help with your next website?
There are so many little things that can affect the cost of a website in Kenya. If you need more advice or have any questions, we’re always ready to help, whether you’re interested in starting a new website or redesigning your existing site. Visit our contact page and get in touch.
.