You've received two quotes for the same website, and one is almost ten times the other. Maybe one is overcharging or the other is cutting corners, but most of the time these two numbers aren't pricing the same thing at all: one covers only building the website, and the other also includes part of the costs that come after launch.
The hidden costs of website design usually aren't hidden out of bad intent; they simply "aren't written down". This article is a list of those costs: what each one is, when it shows up and how to ask about it in a quote so the numbers become comparable.
Why do website design prices vary so much?
First, let's see why the build price itself goes up and down so much:
- How it's built. A website built on a ready-made WordPress theme and one with a custom design or coded from scratch can't be compared in terms of time and skill. We explain the difference between these approaches in our article on WordPress vs custom code.
- Scope of work. The number of pages and forms, multiple languages, connections to other software and any custom feature all change the hours of work.
- Who prepares the content. A proposal that leaves the text and images to you is naturally cheaper than one that also includes writing the page copy.
- What's included in the price. First-year hosting, the theme license, initial SEO settings, admin panel training and a support period may be included in one proposal and not in another.
So cheap isn't necessarily a trick, and expensive isn't necessarily more complete. The right question is: "What exactly does each one cover, and what has it left for later?" To see what transparent pricing looks like, see our website design pricing page.
Costs that repeat every year: domain, hosting and SSL
Domain and hosting
What it is: The domain is your website's address, and hosting is the space where the website's files and database run. We cover how to choose each one in our domain and hosting guide; here only the cost side matters.
When it shows up: Both are recurring and usually renewed every year. The key point is that the first year is often written in the quote as a "gift" or "free", and the real cost arrives in the second year. As the website grows, the hosting may also need an upgrade.
What to ask: "In whose name will the domain and hosting be registered? Who handles the second-year renewal, and at what rate? If the hosting isn't enough, how is it upgraded?" The domain should be registered in your own name; this matters more than any saving.
SSL certificate
What it is: A certificate that makes the website open with https so the browser doesn't show a "not secure" warning. It's essential for contact forms, user logins and payments.
When it shows up: Many hosting providers offer a free, automatic certificate, and for most websites that's enough. A paid certificate comes up for special needs, and it is recurring too. The real hidden cost is often not the certificate itself but a missed renewal: an expired certificate means a red browser warning on every page.
What to ask: "Is the SSL free or paid? Does it renew automatically?"
Theme, plugin and font licenses
What it is: WordPress websites usually use commercial themes and plugins: a page builder, a form builder, the paid version of an SEO plugin, a security plugin, extra store features. Commercial fonts, including Arabic fonts, also need a separate license for use on the web.
When it shows up: Many of these licenses are recurring. When the subscription ends, the website doesn't stop working, but it no longer gets security updates and gradually becomes incompatible with newer versions of WordPress or PHP. "Nulled" or cracked versions look cheap, but they are one of the common ways websites get infected; we cover the signs and the way out in our article on what to do if your website is hacked.
What to ask: "Give me a list of the paid theme, plugins and fonts with their license type. In whose name is each license, how long is it valid and who handles the renewal? Are they original versions?" Attach this list to your website design contract so that access to the licenses is also handed over to you after delivery.
Content and images: the biggest forgotten cost
What it is: A website without text and images is just an empty frame. Service page copy, product descriptions, the about us page, product photos, photos of the team and the workplace, and sometimes video. If stock photos are used, some of them need a paid license.
When it shows up: Twice. Once before launch, when the designer is waiting for your content and the project stalls for weeks; and once after launch, because content is ongoing work. In an online store, product photography grows with the number of products.
What to ask: "Who writes the page copy? How many pages or products are included in the price? Where do the images come from, and who holds the right to use them? If I prepare the content, in what format and by what date should I deliver it?" Content that isn't in the quote hasn't been removed; it has just landed on your shoulders.
Updates, security and backups: the cost of keeping the website healthy
What it is: WordPress core, the theme and plugins are updated regularly, and many of these updates are security updates. Alongside them, you need regular backups, security monitoring and testing after every update. A custom-coded website doesn't escape updates either.
When it shows up: From the day after delivery, but usually nobody notices until the first day something breaks. A breakdown after an update, or a hack with no backup, usually ends up costing more than regular maintenance. We list the routine tasks in our WordPress maintenance checklist.
What to ask: "After delivery, who handles updates? Where are backups stored, and how often? Has restoring a backup been tested? If the website is hacked, is the cleanup part of support or charged separately?" If you don't have the time or skills yourself, you can hand this work to a website maintenance service; just don't assume "it takes care of itself".
Online store costs: SMS and payment gateway
Selling online adds a few more costs to the list.
SMS service
What it is: A service that sends SMS messages for login codes, order confirmations, shipping updates and reminders.
When it shows up: From the first day of sales, and it grows as the store grows; SMS is usually charged per message, so the more orders and users you have, the higher the cost.
What to ask: "Connection to which SMS service is included in the price? In whose name is the account registered? Which messages are sent automatically? If I change providers, does reconnecting cost extra?"
Payment gateway
What it is: An online store needs a payment gateway to accept card payments; you can choose from local and international payment gateways. Getting a gateway approved usually depends on your business documents. For details on choosing a gateway, see our payment gateway guide.
When it shows up: The cost of a gateway varies by gateway type and contract; it may be a fee per transaction, a yearly fee or a combination of both. Check the conditions and possible fees on the gateway's official website, because they change.
What to ask: "Connection to which gateway is included in the price? If I add a second gateway, is it charged separately?"
Changes outside the contract and support after the warranty
Requests outside the scope of work
What it is: "Just add one more page", "this form needs one more field", "let's have a blog section too". Anything not written in the scope of work is, from the developer's point of view, extra work, and it's usually priced separately.
When it shows up: In the middle of the project and after delivery; in other words, exactly when your bargaining power is lowest.
What to ask: "Exactly which pages and features does the scope of work include? How many rounds of revisions are included in the price? What's the difference between a revision and a change? How are extra requests priced, at what rate or by what method?"
Support after the warranty ends
What it is: Most developers fix bugs for free for a period after delivery. After that, any help (even answering "why won't this page open?") may cost money.
When it shows up: The day after the warranty period ends. If the length of the warranty and the definition of a "bug" aren't in writing, a dispute is almost certain.
What to ask: "How long is the free bug fixing period, and from what date does it start? What exactly counts as a bug? After that, is support monthly or hourly? Is training on the admin panel included in the price?"
SEO: a cost that doesn't end at delivery
What it is: Many quotes say "SEO-optimized". In practice, this usually means the basic technical settings: page titles and descriptions, a sitemap and the URL structure. This foundation is necessary, but showing up in Google also takes ongoing content, page improvements and following up on Search Console data.
When it shows up: A few months after launch, when you see that the website is up but brings in few visits and inquiries from Google. And no honest provider can guarantee a specific ranking.
What to ask: "What exactly do you mean by SEO in this quote? Will Google Search Console be set up and connected to my account? After delivery, what is my job and what is a separate service?"
Hidden costs of website design at a glance
The "who usually pays" column shows what's common, not a fixed rule; what matters is that it's written in your quote.
| Cost | One-off or recurring | Who usually pays | Question to ask in the quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | Recurring (usually yearly) | Website owner | In whose name is it registered, and who handles renewal? |
| Hosting | Recurring | Website owner | At what rate does it renew in year two, and how does upgrading work? |
| SSL certificate | Recurring (often free and automatic) | Website owner or host | Is it free? Does it renew automatically? |
| Theme and plugin licenses | One-off or recurring | Website owner | What are the licenses, how long are they valid and who owns them? |
| Licensed fonts and images | Usually one-off | Website owner | Do they include web usage rights, and in whose name? |
| Copywriting and photography | One-off, then ongoing | Website owner or developer, per the contract | How many pages or products are included in the price? |
| Updates, security and backups | Recurring | Website owner or maintenance service | Who handles it after delivery? Where are the backups? |
| SMS service | Recurring and usage-based | Website owner | Connection to which service is included in the price? |
| Payment gateway | Transaction fee or recurring fee | Website owner | Which gateway is connected? Is a second gateway extra? |
| Changes outside the scope of work | Charged each time | Website owner | What is the rate and pricing method for extra work? |
| Support after the warranty | Recurring or hourly | Website owner | How many months is the warranty, and what happens after? |
| Ongoing SEO | Recurring | Website owner | What exactly does "SEO" in this quote cover? |
How do you compare two quotes line by line?
The final number alone tells you nothing. These six steps make two proposals comparable:
- Make a fixed checklist. Write the rows of the table above on one sheet, plus the number of pages, the main features, how it's built and the delivery time.
- For each quote, mark every row: "included in the price", "separate, with a stated amount", "my responsibility" or "unclear".
- Ask about the "unclear" rows in writing. A verbal answer over the phone can't be relied on later; ask for it to be added to the quote or the contract.
- Add up the cost of the first two years, not just the build cost. A proposal that's cheaper today but leaves out licenses, support and changes may turn out more expensive over two years.
- Assess ownership separately. After final payment, in whose name are the domain, hosting, code, design files and licenses? The cheapest proposal that doesn't give you ownership is, in practice, the most expensive.
- Compare the same build approach. If one offers a ready-made theme and the other a custom design, you're comparing two different products; ask both to quote for the same approach.
How does MyTarh state these items?
MyTarh's pricing publishes the starting price of each plan: a business website on a ready-made WordPress theme from $1,490, custom WordPress from $2,990 and custom-coded from $5,990; online stores start from $2,490, $4,990 and $9,900 respectively. Hosting, domain and external services (APIs) are charged separately. Free bug fixing after delivery is 1 month on the ready-made plans and 3 months on the custom plans.
These items are also written down in our terms of service: a written contract before we start, 50% upfront payment and 50% after delivery, three free review rounds after the first presentation, and full ownership of the custom code and design transferred to you after full payment. You can also cancel with 14 days' notice and payment for the work already done. Other costs depend on the scope of your project.
Summary
The hidden costs of website design are mostly "unwritten" costs: domain and hosting renewals, licenses, content, maintenance, SMS and payment gateway, extra changes, support after the warranty and ongoing SEO. The way to control them isn't haggling over the final number; it's knowing, before you sign, whether each line is included in the price, charged separately or your own responsibility.
Next step: before you request quotes, use our website design cost calculator to define the features you need, so you can compare proposals against one single list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does website maintenance cost per year?
There is no fixed number for everyone, because it depends on the parts of your website: the type of hosting, the number of plugins and paid licenses, your SMS and transaction volume, and whether you handle updates and backups yourself or hand them to a maintenance service. The best approach is to fill in the recurring rows of the table above for your own website and ask the developer to write a specific amount or a responsible party for each one.
Does a cheap quote always have hidden costs?
No. The project may really be simple, or the developer may work with a ready-made theme and charge less. The problem is when a cheap quote covers only the build and says nothing about content, licenses, support and ownership. Comparing line by line shows where the low price comes from.
Is the yearly cost of an online store different from a business website?
Usually, yes. Besides the domain, hosting and maintenance, a store also has sales-related costs: SMS for order confirmations and logins, payment gateway fees, and often more plugins or integrations. Store hosting also usually needs to be more powerful because of a heavier database and checkout traffic. As sales grow, some of these costs go up as well.
What must I get in writing in a quote?
The exact scope of work and pages, how the website is built, the list of paid licenses, who is responsible for content, the number of revision rounds, the warranty period and the definition of a bug, the rate for extra work, who is responsible for renewals, and ownership of the domain and code. Anything said verbally but not written down effectively doesn't exist. See the details of contract clauses in our article on website design contracts.