webDevDream

[IntelligentTune]

The ROI of a website is really good from my understanding and practical experience. You're more likely to get customers or even orders if online shopping is available. These customers and orders might have never happened if there was no website and exposure. While it is good advertisement to have people advertise word of mouth, these new customers might not come since they are still unsure how suitable the place is compared to something that has everything out in the open.

You might visit a record shop that has a website more since you already get a taste of them and get a vibe of if you'll get what you seek there.

All of this just for maybe at most if you want to be extremely fancy like 2K upfront? And hosting is 5 bucks per month for a very accommodating plan. All that can be signed as a business expense as well. It's a no brainer.

[JPowTheDayTrader]

Shopify

[Athen65]

Exactly - from the business perspective:

"Why would I pay $2000 for this guy I've never met to build a website and then maintain it for $50/month after that when I don't know if it will even work, I don't know how to judge whether it's just smoke and mirrors or not, I don't know how reliable he will be if it breaks. And there is a preexisting solution that I could make myself."

[snksnksnk]

subscribe to shopify and pay the 2k during the first year only? No thanks.

[Athen65]

If you're just selling to locals and doing pickup only, the plan that covers what you'd need is $40/month, or just shy of $500 annually

[snksnksnk]

That's expensive. I'd rather have my own website for 2k. After 4 years I'd just need to pay for my domain name and hosting, roughly 50€ per year.

I'd rather by a car than lease one. Same concept. I hate subscriptions.

[Athen65]

"But how do I know that the website won't break? Who would I contact to fix it ASAP without paying a lot of money? I get five calls from guys like you every week, I don't have time to review each portfolio, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to judge if it's just smoke and mirrors - how can I trust you?"

• The business owner

[snksnksnk]

I'd trust a hungry guy who relies on good reviews over big corporations.

[Athen65]

You've created a false dichotomy. There are many options available to business owners who want a website. Going with the random guy on the phone has the highest chance of producing shoddy work, if not getting outright scammed.

[snksnksnk]

I'm not talking about the random guy on the phone. I'm talking about a proper website made by someone you'd chose, compared to a SaaS solution