# Monthly vs One-Off Website Payments: Which Is Better For Trades?
There's no universally "better" option. It depends on your cash flow, how you like to pay for things, and what's included in each option.
## One-Off Payment (Pay It All Up Front)
**How it works:**
- Usually 50% deposit to start, 50% when finished
- You own the website immediately after final payment
- After that, you just pay annual hosting (typically £100-£200/year)
**Best for:**
- Trades with decent cash reserves
- People who hate ongoing payments
- Self-employed who want to own everything outright
- Anyone planning to do their own updates after launch
**Pros:**
- Own it immediately
- No minimum term commitment
- Cheaper long-term (if you don't need ongoing support)
- Can switch hosting providers later if you want
**Cons:**
- Higher upfront cost (£995-£2,995 depending on module)
- You're responsible for updates, security patches, etc.
- If something breaks, you pay to fix it
- SEO maintenance is extra if you want it
## Monthly Payment (Spread It Out)
**How it works:**
- Pay monthly for 12 months minimum
- All hosting, security, updates included
- After 12 months, option to continue monthly or buy outright
**Best for:**
- Trades just starting out or with tight cash flow
- People who want everything handled for them
- Anyone who hates technical stuff
- Businesses that want ongoing SEO included
**Pros:**
- Lower initial cost (£99-£249/month)
- Everything included (hosting, updates, security, support)
- Ongoing SEO tweaks included
- Someone else worries about technical stuff
- Predictable monthly cost
**Cons:**
- Costs more over the 12 months than one-off
- You don't own it until term is complete (or you buy it out)
- Minimum 12-month commitment
## The Real Question: What's Actually Included?
This is where it matters. Some companies advertise "£50/month websites" but that's JUST the payment plan. You still have to pay separately for:
- Hosting
- SSL certificates
- Updates
- Support
- Domain
- Emails
At ARCHIVE 6, our monthly plans include everything. No hidden costs. No surprises.
## Quick Comparison
**Module One Example:**
- **One-off**: £995 total, then £150/year hosting
- **Monthly**: £99/month × 12 = £1,188 (all-inclusive)
- **Difference**: £193 more on monthly, but everything's covered
**Module Two Example:**
- **One-off**: £1,995 total, then £150/year hosting
- **Monthly**: £149/month × 12 = £1,788 (all-inclusive, plus ongoing SEO)
- **Difference**: Actually cheaper monthly because SEO is included (would cost £300-500/year separately)
## What Happens After 12 Months (Monthly Plans)?
You have three options:
1. **Keep paying monthly** - Reduced rate (usually £49-£99/month for maintenance)
2. **Buy it outright** - Pay a buyout fee and own it
3. **Cancel** - But you lose access to the site
Most clients keep the monthly plan because ongoing maintenance and SEO tweaks are worth more than the monthly cost.
## Which Should You Choose?
**Go one-off if:**
- You have £1,000-£3,000 available now
- You're comfortable with tech (or know someone who is)
- You want to own everything immediately
- You don't need ongoing SEO or support
**Go monthly if:**
- Cash flow is tight right now
- You want everything handled for you
- You value ongoing SEO and updates
- You prefer predictable monthly costs
There's no wrong answer. It's just about what works better for your business and how you like to pay for things.
## The "Hidden Cost" Most People Miss
Whether you go one-off or monthly, the real cost is the opportunity cost of NOT having a website.
If a proper website gets you one extra £3,000 roofing job per month, that's £36,000/year. The website cost (whether £995 or £99/month) is noise by comparison.
The expensive option isn't the monthly payment or the one-off cost. The expensive option is staying invisible online and losing jobs to competitors who have websites.
## What We Actually Recommend
For most trades just getting online: **Start with monthly**
Why? Because:
- Lower barrier to entry
- Everything's covered
- You're not stuck if you need changes
- Ongoing SEO actually matters for rankings
Then after 12 months, if you want to own it outright, buy it out. Or keep monthly if you value the ongoing support and SEO.
For established trades with cash available: **Go one-off**
Why? Because:
- You own it immediately
- Cheaper long-term
- More control
- Can add ongoing SEO later if needed
## Questions To Ask ANY Website Company
Regardless of payment structure, always ask:
1. What's included in the price?
2. Who pays for hosting?
3. What happens if something breaks?
4. Can I get out of the agreement early?
5. Do I own the website at the end?
6. What ongoing costs will there be?
If they can't answer these clearly, walk away.
## The Bottom Line
One-off and monthly both work. Choose based on your cash flow and whether you want everything handled or want to own it immediately.
Either way, the worst option is no website at all.
Ready to get online? [Get in touch](/contact) or call 07398 395 417 - we'll help you figure out which option works best for your trade.