developing a plan and need some help...

[rem1956]

I'm playing around with developing a business plan, and I'm trying to get a handle on website costs and income. For you guys who are trainers and have websites, can you give me a ballpark figure of the initial start up cost of the website, the average maintainence cost of the website, the average income you generate from your website, the number of clients you serve and briefly what services you provide. I know I'm asking alot, but I am trying to get a better handle on the cost, to see if this venture would be practical in the future (3-5 years out from now).

Thanks!

[Keith S.]

I can answer some of these questions, but I'm actually beginning the process of turning my blog into my website (including a blog). Website cost is going to depend obviously on who you're going to get to do your website, and what you want done.

Cost of a good/reliable host is between $80-$110/year. Make sure you do some market research about who you're going to use to host your site....some of the major hosts are just resellers of servers that aren't theirs. (Two VERY GOOD hosts are TextDrive and mediatemple.

If you do not know how to design a website, make sure you hire someone who does, professionally. Ask to see a portfolio. You don't want to end up with a guy who downloaded some template and just edits it. Depending on the size of your website (how many pages you're going to have, types of programming used, etc.) will change how much it's going to cost you. I'd think it shouldn't cost more than $1,000 but that depends on what you're going to offer right from your website.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[rem1956]

Thanks Keith!