What are the hidden costs of a website?

Common hidden website costs include: domain renewal ($10–$20/year), SSL certificates ($0–$100/year), premium plugins or themes ($50–$500/year), email hosting ($5–$25/month per user), stock photography ($100–$500), content writing ($500–$2,000+), ongoing SEO work ($500–$2,000/month), and security monitoring. Many cheap website builders also charge transaction fees on sales or lock essential features behind higher-tier plans. The biggest hidden cost is opportunity cost - a poorly built website that doesn't convert visitors into customers costs you far more in lost revenue than the difference between a budget and professional build.