What's the difference between the two?
With a one-off payment, you pay for the design and build upfront, then pay separately for hosting, updates and changes. With a monthly plan, one fixed fee covers the build and the ongoing care, spread over a minimum term.
| One-off payment | Monthly plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | High | Low or nothing |
| Hosting and updates | Usually extra | Usually included |
| Edits | Often charged per change | Often included |
| Commitment | None after payment | A minimum term |
| Who looks after the site? | You, or whoever you pay | The company that built it |
Why do more small businesses pay monthly now?
Cash flow, mostly. Finding a few thousand pounds in one go is hard when you're running a business. Spreading it out means the website starts working for you before you've finished paying for it.
The other reason is less obvious. When a web designer is paid monthly, they have every reason to keep your site fast, secure and up to date. When they're paid once, the relationship can quietly end the day the invoice clears.
When is a one-off payment the better choice?
If you have the budget, someone in-house who can manage hosting and updates, and very few changes planned, paying once can work out cheaper over the long run. It also suits businesses that want to own every part of the setup and move it around freely.
What should you check before signing a monthly plan?
- The minimum term: how long you're committed for, and what happens if you cancel early.
- What's included: hosting, edits, updates and support, in writing.
- What you own: your domain, your content and your business profiles should always belong to you.
- What happens at the end: whether you can keep the site, and on what terms.
A good provider sets all of this out in writing before any work starts. If they're vague about it, that tells you something.
How does our monthly plan work?
Our Signature website is £0 upfront and £99 a month for a hand-coded 5-page site, with hosting, unlimited edits, lifetime updates and support included. Your domain, content and profiles are yours, and the terms are agreed in writing first. See the full pricing, or read our guide to what a small business website costs.