Create & manage an affordable website: from €19.95 incl. hosting

Imagine this: you have a brilliant idea for your own business, a freelance practice, or a local shop. But every time you think about having a website built, you hear amounts of thousands of euros and complicated terms like 'hosting', 'domain name', 'SEO' and 'SSL certificate'. It feels like a hurdle that is too high. Right? I understand that better than anyone.

My name is Virgil Harbers. For twenty years now, I have been helping entrepreneurs – from starting freelancers to growing SMEs – realize their online ambitions. I started out managing 25 web shops and then moved on to developing them. I now have well over 20 web shops to my name and, with my company Jevy Web Development, I have guided hundreds of projects. And do you know what the biggest misconception is? That a good website has to be expensive.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In this comprehensive guide, I will show you that you can build and manage a professional, affordable website yourself, from just € 19.95 per month – including hosting! I'll walk you through the practical steps, the pitfalls, and the strategies I have learned over the past two decades. Whether you want a simple brochure website or a full-fledged web shop, by the end of this article you will have a clear action plan. Let's remove that hurdle together.

The first and perhaps most important step is choosing the right platform. This determines not only the costs, but also how easily you can manage the website yourself. There are roughly three options: a website builder (such as Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify), a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, or a custom solution. For a cheap website, I recommend sticking with the first two.

Website builders are ideal for beginners. They offer drag-and-drop functionality, integrated hosting, and often a nice starter package for €10 to €25 per month. You don't need technical knowledge. The downside? You're often locked into the provider's ecosystem, and it can be difficult to switch later.

WordPress, on the other hand, is more flexible and cheaper in the long run. The software is free, and you only pay for hosting (from €5 per month) and a domain name (about €10 per year). With a good theme and a few plugins, you can build a professional site in a day. It does require a bit more technical know-how, but with the right guide it's certainly doable. Remember: a cheap website starts with a smart choice. Want to know more about how to start strategically? Then read my article about Successfully Starting Your Website: Practical Tips.

Now comes the fun part: the design and content of your website. For a cheap website, you don't need to hire an expensive designer. There are thousands of professional templates available for WordPress (both free and paid, from €30 one-time) or built-in themes at website builders. Choose a theme that suits your industry and that is responsive (i.e., works well on mobile and desktop).

Content is king. Spend time writing clear, persuasive texts. Tell who you are, what you do, and why customers should choose you. Use short paragraphs, subheadings, and bullet points. Add professional photos – you can find them for free on sites like Unsplash or Pexels, or take them yourself with a good smartphone. Avoid using too many stock photos; authenticity always beats perfection.

A common mistake is that people want to create too many pages. Start with the basics: a homepage, an about us page, a services/products page, a contact page, and optionally a blog. You can always expand later. Keep the navigation simple. A visitor should be able to find what they are looking for within 3 clicks. A cheap website can look fantastic if you take the time for a clean design and relevant content.

Managing an affordable website is an ongoing process. Many entrepreneurs think a website is a ‘set it and forget it’ project, but nothing could be further from the truth. Without regular maintenance, you run the risk of hacks, slow performance, and poor rankings. Fortunately, with the right habits, management is simple and doesn't take much time.
Schedule 30 minutes weekly for website maintenance. This includes:

Security is crucial. A common mistake is using weak passwords or not updating plugins. In my career, I have seen dozens of websites crash because of an outdated plugin. Use a strong password manager and add a security plugin such as Wordfence or Sucuri. Would you like to know more about how to prevent a hack? Then read my article about preventing WordPress hacks starts with these 2 practical tips. It's a small effort that saves you a lot of misery.

Additionally, it is wise to regularly perform an SEO audit. Check whether your pages still rank well, whether there are no technical errors, and whether your competition hasn't overtaken you. I have conducted more than 1,250 SEO audits for clients in total, and I can tell you: a semi-annual check-up is worth its weight in gold.

The beauty of an affordable website is that it can grow with your business. What starts as a simple brochure website at €19.95 per month can evolve into a full-fledged online store or a platform with thousands of visitors. The key is to keep scalability in mind from the beginning.

Choose a flexible platform. WordPress is ideal for this. You can start with a simple theme and later add premium plugins for, for example, an online store (WooCommerce), a membership system, or a booking system. You can also upgrade your hosting later to a VPS or dedicated server as your traffic grows.

Keep learning and optimizing. One of my clients in the SaaS sector had written 50 blog posts but generated barely any traffic. After a content audit, adding author bios, and implementing an E-E-A-T strategy, the number of visitors increased from 100 to 8,500 per month. Revenue went from €8,000 to €45,000 per month. This shows that an affordable website with the right strategy can be a huge growth engine.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. At some point, you may run into technical limits. Then it's wise to bring in an expert. At Jevy Web Development, we help entrepreneurs exactly at that point. Whether it's a technical SEO audit, optimizing Core Web Vitals, or building a custom solution – we're here for you.

Creating and managing an affordable website is not only possible, it is also a smart strategy for entrepreneurs who are just starting out or have a limited budget. From €19.95 per month – including hosting – you can establish a professional online presence that rivals more expensive alternatives. The secret lies in making the right choices: a flexible platform like WordPress, reliable hosting, a clean design, and a focus on speed and SEO.

Over the past 20 years, I have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs achieve online success. Whether it was a simple website or a complex webshop, the principles remain the same. Start small, but think big. Optimize where you can, and call in help when needed. Remember: a website is never finished. It is a living project that grows along with your business.

Are you ready to get started yourself? Or would you rather have an expert guide you? At Jevy Web Development, we are ready for you. Whether it concerns strategic advice, technical optimization, or taking your website completely off your hands – we are happy to help you. Contact us today and discover what we can do for you.