In Kenya, many small business owners are drawn to Do-It-Yourself (DIY) website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify because of their seemingly low upfront costs. While they can be a good starting point, the initial price tag often hides a series of ongoing and sometimes unexpected expenses that can add up quickly.
Here’s a breakdown of the true cost of DIY website builders in Kenya:
1. The Low-Cost Illusion: Initial Costs
DIY builders market themselves with affordable monthly plans, often starting at Ksh 2,000 to Ksh 5,000 per month. This seems like a steal compared to a professional web design quote of Ksh 50,000 or more.
- Monthly/Annual Subscription: This is the core cost. While a basic plan may be cheap, it comes with significant limitations.
- Domain Name: Many builders offer a “free” domain for the first year, but after that, you’ll pay an annual renewal fee, typically around Ksh 1,000 to Ksh 3,000 for a
.co.kedomain. - Themes and Templates: The free templates provided are often very basic. To get a professional, modern, and feature-rich design, you will likely need to purchase a premium theme, which can be a one-time cost of Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 15,000 or more.
2. The Hidden and Recurring Costs
This is where the true cost of DIY builders begins to emerge. As your business grows and your needs become more sophisticated, you’ll find yourself needing to upgrade your plan or pay for additional services.
- E-commerce Functionality: If you want to sell products online, the entry-level plans often have very limited e-commerce capabilities. To add a functional online store, you will need to upgrade to a more expensive “Business” or “E-commerce” plan, which can cost Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 20,000 or more per month.
- Transaction Fees: Some builders, like Squarespace, charge a percentage-based transaction fee on sales if you are on a lower-tier plan. While Shopify’s fees are part of its built-in payment gateway, they can still eat into your profit margins, especially for businesses with high sales volume.
- Third-Party Apps and Plugins: DIY builders have an app marketplace to add extra features (e.g., advanced booking systems, shipping calculators, live chat, or loyalty programs). Many of the most useful apps are not free and come with their own monthly subscription fees, which can quickly accumulate.
- Marketing and SEO Tools: While builders offer basic SEO tools, truly effective search engine optimization often requires advanced features that are locked behind a higher-tier subscription or a paid app.
- Bandwidth and Storage: Lower-tier plans often have limitations on storage space and bandwidth. If your website receives a lot of traffic or has many high-resolution images and videos, you may be forced to upgrade.
3. The Cost of Your Time and Effort
This is the most overlooked and most significant cost of all.
- Learning Curve: While these platforms are designed to be user-friendly, building a professional-looking and functioning website from scratch takes time and effort. You have to learn how to use the builder, optimize images, write content, and structure the site properly. This can take dozens of hours that you could have spent on other business-critical tasks.
- Content Creation: DIY builders don’t provide the content for your site. You are responsible for writing all the text, taking photos, and creating videos. If you don’t have the time or skill, you’ll need to hire a professional writer or photographer, which is an additional cost.
- Technical Support: While these platforms offer support, it’s often limited to generic help articles or chat-based assistance. If you encounter a complex technical issue, you might not get the in-depth, personalized help you would from a local web developer.
The True Comparison: DIY vs. Professional
| Feature | DIY Website Builders | Professional Web Designer (Kenya) |
| Upfront Cost | Low (Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 5,000 per month) | Higher (Ksh 20,000 – Ksh 100,000+) |
| Ongoing Costs | Monthly/annual subscription, premium apps, transaction fees. | Domain and hosting fees (Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 15,000 per year), plus optional maintenance fees. |
| Customization | Limited to available templates and apps. Your site may look like others. | Fully custom design tailored to your unique brand and business needs. |
| Features | Dependent on plan tier and paid apps. Core features may require upgrades. | Features are built to your specific requirements, no a-la-carte add-ons. |
| Support & Expertise | Generic online help. You are the project manager. | Direct access to a local expert who understands your business and the local market. |
| Time Investment | Significant. You are responsible for all design, content, and updates. | Minimal. The designer handles the technical work, allowing you to focus on your business. |
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Ultimately, DIY website builders offer a great way to get a basic online presence quickly and affordably. However, for a business that wants to scale, project a professional image, and have a unique, fully-functional website, the initial cost savings of a DIY builder are often offset by recurring fees and the significant time and effort required to build and maintain the site. The true cost isn’t just the money you spend, but also the value of your time and the opportunity cost of a limited online presence.