When most people think about getting a website, they focus on the build — the one-off cost of having it designed and set up. But there’s a second cost that catches people out: the ongoing cost of keeping it live. This guide covers both, so there are no surprises.
Your domain — your address on the internet
A domain is the address people type to find your website — something like johnsplumbing.co.uk. You don’t buy it outright; you rent it annually. For a .co.uk address, you’re typically looking at around £10–15 per year. If you register it through a big provider and forget about it, they’ll auto-renew at a higher rate — sometimes two or three times what you originally paid. With NeoBookworm, the domain is included in the build fee and annual renewal is covered in the care plan.
Hosting — where your website actually lives
Your website files need to live somewhere on the internet so people can find them. Hosting quality varies enormously. Budget hosting (£3–5/month) tends to be slow and unreliable. Managed hosting (£10–20/month) is faster and more reliable, and usually includes automatic security certificates — the padlock in the browser bar that tells visitors the site is safe. A slow website loses visitors, particularly on mobile, and Google takes loading speed into account when deciding who to show in search results.
Security — the thing most people ignore
Some websites — particularly those built on platforms like WordPress — need regular updates to stay secure. If nobody’s doing that, the site becomes an easy target. NeoBookworm sites use a static architecture, which means there’s no database to attack and no plugins to exploit. The security risk profile is much lower by design. But hosting security and SSL certificates still need someone keeping an eye on them.
Content changes — who does them, and what they cost
Prices change. You get a new accreditation. A photo needs updating. Somebody needs to make those changes. If you’re managing your own site, you either need to know how to do it yourself, or you’re paying someone per change — typically £30–80 for a simple text or photo update. With the NeoBookworm care plan, small content changes are included. You email over what you want changed, and it gets done.
The full picture: self-managed vs care plan
| Self-managed | NeoBookworm Care Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain registration & renewal | £10–15/year | ✓ Included |
| Hosting | £10–20/month | ✓ Included |
| Security & uptime monitoring | Your responsibility | ✓ Included |
| Small content changes | £30–80 per change | ✓ Included |
| Single point of contact | ✗ | ✓ Included |
| Approx. monthly cost | £12–22+ plus your time | £9.99/month |
The care plan isn’t a premium option — it’s just a simpler way to handle the same costs that exist regardless of who’s managing them.
What the care plan covers
For £9.99 a month, the NeoBookworm care plan includes: domain registration and annual renewal, managed hosting, SSL security certificate, small content changes (text, photos, service updates), and one point of contact — just email and I’ll sort it. No setup fees, no long contracts, cancel any time. If you ever want to move your site elsewhere, you own it outright — it goes with you.
Full pricing breakdown with no hidden costs.