Last updated July 2026
There are two honest ways to pay for a business website: subscribe to it monthly, or buy it outright. Both are legitimate. Both have real trade-offs. This post lays out the actual math and the questions that decide which one fits your business, including the point where one becomes cheaper than the other, because that number matters and almost nobody publishes it.
What a website subscription actually is
On a subscription (sometimes called “website as a service” or a pay-monthly website), you pay one flat monthly fee and the provider designs, builds, hosts, secures, updates and supports the website for as long as you subscribe. There is no large upfront cost. With us, that is $150/month with $0 down and no contract.
The key characteristic: while you subscribe, the provider operates the site. Your domain name stays yours, your content is yours, but the build itself is part of the service rather than an asset you own.
What owning outright means
On a one-time build, you pay once and own everything from day one: the design, the code, the site. With us, that is $3,800 plus $50/month for hosting. After launch, keeping the site updated, secure and current is either your responsibility or something you pay for as you go.
The honest math
Here is the comparison most providers avoid putting in writing, using our own pricing:
- Over 1 year: subscription $1,800 · ownership $4,400 ($3,800 + hosting)
- Over 2 years: subscription $3,600 · ownership $5,000
- Over 3 years: subscription $5,400 · ownership $5,600
- Over 5 years: subscription $9,000 · ownership $6,800
The crossover lands a little past the three-year mark: before it, subscribing costs less in total; after it, owning does. But that raw math leaves out two things that push in opposite directions. Ownership numbers exclude the edits, updates and fixes you will need over five years, which are included in the subscription and billed separately when you own. And subscription numbers never stop, while an owned site’s costs mostly do. Neither model wins on arithmetic alone, which is exactly why the deciding factors are practical, not mathematical.
Choose the subscription if…
- You would rather keep cash in the business than spend $4,000 up front
- You want one predictable number and zero technical responsibility
- You will actually use the included support and edits (most businesses change hours, staff, photos and offers more often than they expect)
- You like the incentive alignment: a provider you can leave any month has to keep earning you
Own it outright if…
- You want the website on your books as an asset you fully control
- You plan to hold the site for many years with minimal changes
- You have someone (internal or hired) to handle maintenance properly
- Spending more up front to spend less by year five suits your finances
Plenty of businesses also start on the subscription and convert to ownership later once cash flow allows. We support that switch, and the build carries over.
The questions that expose a bad monthly deal
The subscription model has a bad reputation in places, and it is earned: some providers use it to trap clients. Ask these before signing with anyone, including us:
- Is there a contract? A month-to-month plan you can leave anytime keeps the provider honest. A 24-month commitment is a loan with extra steps. (Ours: no contract.)
- Who owns my domain name? It must be you, registered in your name, always. A provider holding your domain hostage is the classic trap. (Ours: your domain is always yours.)
- What exactly happens if I cancel? The honest answer is simple and stated up front. (Ours: the site comes down, no fees, and your domain and content go with you.)
- What is included vs billed extra? “Unlimited support” that turns into invoices is common. Get the inclusion list in writing. (Ours: hosting, security, updates, support and small content edits are all in the $150.)
What about the $199 one-time website?
You will see ads for one-time websites at $199 or $500. What you are usually buying is a template filled in quickly, no maintenance, no support, and often unclear ownership of anything. It is not the ownership model described above; it is a third category, and the reason it is cheap is that the work mostly is not happening. If budget is the constraint, a $50/month landing page with real hosting and support behind it is a safer floor than a $199 site nobody will ever touch again.
Frequently asked questions
Is a website subscription worth it?
If you value predictable costs, zero technical responsibility and a site that stays maintained, yes. If you are certain you will keep the site unchanged for five or more years and can handle upkeep, buying outright wins on total cost.
Do I own anything on a subscription?
Your domain name and your content, always. The build itself is part of the service while you subscribe. Any provider who registers your domain in their own name is a red flag, subscription or not.
Can I switch from subscription to ownership later?
With us, yes. You can move from the monthly plan to the one-time ownership build and the work carries over. Ask any provider you are considering whether they allow the same.
Which do most small businesses choose?
In our experience, newer and smaller businesses lean subscription for the cash flow, and established businesses split between the two based on how they like to buy. There is no wrong answer when the terms are honest.
What does NEZDEK charge?
Our pricing is public: $150/month all-in with $0 down, $3,800 one-time plus $50/month hosting, or a $50/month landing page. Full details and what is included in each are on the pricing page, and if you are budgeting a project, our breakdown of what websites cost in Calgary in 2026 covers the whole market.
Still deciding? Pick either plan and you see your homepage design before anything gets built. Compare the plans or start with the 2-minute form. No contract either way.
