How to choose between a website project and a monthly website plan

When a fixed price project makes sense

• You want to own the website and content outright.
• Your website won't change much once it's built.
• You'd rather pay once and keep ongoing costs low.

When a monthly plan makes sense

• You expect regular updates and don't want to manage them yourself.
• Spreading cost over time matters more than total cost.
• You value having one person responsible for keeping things working.

Questions to ask about any monthly plan

• What is the minimum term, and what does it cost to leave?
• Do you own the website if you stop paying?
• What's included each month, and what costs extra?
• Does unused time roll over? (Often it doesn't — that's fine as long as it's clear.)

A combined approach

Many small businesses do well with a fixed price build followed by a modest care plan for routine checks and small updates. You own the asset, and someone is keeping an eye on it.