WordPress is Free — So Why Does It Cost to Build, Profit, and Rank With It?

Let’s break down why building, profiting from, and ranking with a WordPress website isn’t free — and why it’s still one of the best investments you can make for your business.

🧰 1. WordPress Is Free — But Everything Around It Isn’t

While the core WordPress software is free, running a professional website comes with several necessary expenses:

✅ Domain Name

You’ll need to register a domain (yourbusiness.com) through a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy, usually costing $10–$20/year.

✅ Hosting

To make your website live, you need hosting. Reliable WordPress hosting (like SiteGround, Bluehost, or Kinsta) typically costs $10–$30/month.

✅ Themes & Plugins

Yes, there are free themes and plugins, but high-performance, secure, and feature-rich ones are usually premium.
Examples:

• Elementor Pro for page building

• RankMath or Yoast Premium for SEO

• WP Rocket for speed optimization
  These can add up to $100–$500+ per year.

✅ Security, Backups & Maintenance

Regular updates, malware protection, backups, and uptime monitoring are not optional if you want your site to run smoothly. Most businesses pay for tools or a service to handle this.

🧑‍🎨 2. It Takes Skill to Build a High-Converting WordPress Site

Anyone can build a WordPress site. But building one that looks professional, loads fast, works on mobile, and turns visitors into customers? That takes:

• Design skills (UX/UI, branding, responsive layout)

• Development skills (HTML, CSS, plugin integration)

• Copywriting (sales-focused messaging)

• Conversion optimization (forms, CTAs, layout testing)

This is where professionals come in — and why agencies and freelancers charge $1,500 to $10,000+ for a well-built WordPress site. You're paying for strategy and execution, not just tools.

📈 3. Ranking on Google Requires SEO, Not Just a Website

Your website won’t show up on Google just because it exists.

If you want to rank for competitive keywords like “plumber in Toronto” or “best fitness coach near me,” you need SEO. That includes:

• Keyword research

• On-page optimization

• Site speed and mobile responsiveness

• Backlink building

• Local SEO (Google Business Profile, reviews, etc.)

• Ongoing content creation (blogs, service pages)

These SEO efforts require expertise, tools, and time — and that’s why they’re a long-term investment. You may pay $500–$2,000/month or more, depending on the competition and goals.

💰 4. WordPress Is Free — But Results Aren’t

At the end of the day, business websites aren't just digital brochures. They're sales tools.

You’re not paying for a website.
You’re paying for:

• More traffic

• More leads

• More phone calls

• More sales

• More profit

A $3,000 investment in a WordPress site that helps you generate $30,000 in sales is a 10X return. Free platforms might save you money upfront, but they often cost you in lost visibility, credibility, and revenue over time.

⚡ Final Thoughts

Yes, WordPress is free. But building a strategic, profitable, and SEO-optimized site with it is not — and that’s a good thing.

The costs involved are a reflection of the value it can generate for your business. So if you're ready to build a WordPress website that not only looks good but actually works to grow your business...

👉 Let’s Talk — Book a Free Strategy Session