Quick answer
- Domain (~₹800–₹1,200/yr), hosting (~₹2,000–₹5,000/yr) and maintenance (from ₹1,999/month) are three separate, ongoing costs — not one-time fees.
- Domain and hosting should be registered in your own name so you're never locked in to one developer.
- Maintenance is optional at launch but usually needed within the first year for updates, backups and fixes.
Almost every confused conversation about "why does my website cost X" comes down to one thing: domain, hosting and maintenance are three separate services, billed separately, and most people have never had them explained clearly.
Domain — your address
A domain (like skilloura.com) is just your website's address on the internet. You rent it, one year at a time, from a domain registrar. It doesn't include a website, storage, or email — it's purely the name.
- Typical cost: ₹800–₹1,200/year for a .com
- You renew it every year or it can be picked up by someone else
- It should always be registered in YOUR name/email, not your developer's
Hosting — where the website actually lives
Hosting is the computer (server) that stores your website's files and serves them to visitors when they type in your domain. Without hosting, your domain just points to nothing.
- Typical cost: ₹2,000–₹5,000/year for shared hosting (fine for most small business sites)
- Bigger, ecommerce, or high-traffic sites need more powerful (and pricier) hosting
- Hosting and domain are usually bought from different companies, but can be bundled
Maintenance — keeping it running and current
Maintenance is the ongoing work after launch: security updates, small content changes, monitoring for downtime, backups, and fixing anything that breaks after a platform update. It's optional at first, but most sites need some of it within the first year.
- Typical cost: from ₹1,999/month for a basic care plan
- Without it, you're on your own for updates, backups and fixes
- Not the same as "revisions" (which are part of the original build's agreed scope)
Who should own what
Domain and hosting should always be registered in your name, even if your developer sets them up for you on your behalf. That way, if you ever change developers, you keep full control — nobody can hold your website hostage by refusing to hand over access.
The honest summary
One project, three separate ongoing costs: a domain you renew yearly, hosting you pay for (yearly or monthly) to keep the site live, and maintenance you can add if you want someone else handling the upkeep. A trustworthy quote lists all three separately instead of hiding them inside one number.
Cost breakdown
| What you get | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Domain (.com, 1 year) | ₹800–₹1,200 |
| Shared hosting (1 year) | ₹2,000–₹5,000 |
| Monthly maintenance plan | From ₹1,999/month |
Guide prices. Your final quote depends on scope, features and integrations — always in writing before any payment. Domain, hosting and paid APIs are separate third-party costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy domain and hosting myself and just hire someone to build the site?
Yes — this is actually the safer option. You keep full ownership and control, and your developer just builds on top of what you already own.
What happens if I stop paying for maintenance?
Your website keeps working, but nobody is actively watching for security issues, broken updates or backups. Many businesses add maintenance later once the site becomes core to their operations.
Is maintenance the same as revisions?
No. Revisions are changes within your original project's agreed scope, done before final delivery. Maintenance is ongoing support after the project is complete.
Related reading
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