As a West Midlands freelance website developer (based in Malvern, UK), I know that websites need not be expensive to set up and maintain. The simplest site needs just three components:

• a registered domain name
• suitable web hosting
• one or more web pages

Some commercial web design companies inflate the true cost of a domain name and web hosting and pass this cost onto the client. You should not need to pay more than:

• Domain name: £5 - £10 per year
• Web hosting: £15 - £100 per year (depending on bandwidth requirements)

A simple one-page static website can cost as little as £100 to develop and install.  More complex dynamic websites will cost more to develop and install, particularly if they contain a Content Management System (CMS) and / or additional functionality such as an e-commerce module. Typical costs would range from £300 for a basic Joomla! website with just a few pages, to £750 for a more complex site with, say, e-commerce facilities.  (Clearly these figures are 'ball-park' figures, with  a website's actual cost dependent on the level of functionality and complexity which the website requires).

One particular advantage of a website using a Joomla! CMS is that it enables the client to make all future amendments to the website - without needing to know anything about design or code and without having to pay any update / maintenance fees to the web developer. I have considerable experience in creating websites than run under a Joomla! CMS, and am happy to discuss this in further detail.

John Elkington Websites offers:

• Domain name registration at cost
• Website hosting at cost
• Inexpensive website development (with or without a CMS)
• Joomla! CMS expertise
• Joomla! User Guide (as appropriate)
• Technical support via email or telephone

Please contact me for more information - I'd look forward to providing a low-cost solution for your website requirements.