So I have a confession. You’re not going to find a definitive answer to that question in this post. Sorry. But what I can give you is my own personal experience. The question ‘how much does blogging cost?’ doesn’t really have an answer as so many variables come into play for each and every blogger, from their own personal financial situation to their personal reasons for blogging.
But if you’re a new blogger wanting to make a real good go of this, then there will be expenses involved. Which is something you definitely need to consider but not something that should put you off pursuing your dream further. How much does blogging cost is just another factor you have to add to the list of factors you need to consider when either creating a blog or thinking about taking your blog further.
So, how much does blogging cost? Let’s look at the factors and what expenses you might be looking at. As well as being totally transparent in my own expenses.
Self hosting, WordPress packages, domain names
This is a big one for when you want to start taking your blog seriously or think about taking your blog to that next level. To turn your hobby blog into a business or an income then you’ll need to be thinking about at least getting your own domain name. And that’s the very least.
I currently pay for the Business package on WordPress, which sets me back around £260 a year. It’s quite a daunting figure to look at but over the course of a year, I think that’s okay. But that’s my personal situation. So using that as a guideline, self hosting, WordPress packages or domain names might set you back between £10 – £260 a year.
The reason I chose this option was simply because I’m not technically minded and I don’t have the skills to go self hosted by myself through an external company. If this is something you’re considering, check out the WordPress plans here or this post by Glow Steady about her switch to Lyrical Host, which is very informative!
Blog themes, graphic designs etc.
Thankfully, the Business plan comes with a ton of themes you can install for free. I didn’t have to pay anything extra for my current theme and I absolutely love it! Come to think of it, I’ve never personally paid for any theme I’ve had. Which, looking back was probably a mistake. Because the design of your blog is SO important.
Despite the fact you can get loads of lovely free themes, many bloggers pay for themes which have more customization options and reflect their blog and their brand. The same goes for graphics.
You can make great free graphics on Canva (I made a whole free media kit on Canva!) but if you don’t have the graphic design skills (like me) then you may have to pay someone to do that. My old blog header was £20 and my new one was £75. I’m perfectly happy to pay these prices to people who run small businesses and who excel at what they do.
Equipment
Of course we all have a phone and most of us have a laptop or a computer so you don’t really need to pay out anything extra in that respect but it also depends on your blog and what you might need. Last year I realised my photos weren’t up to scratch and compared to others I followed, they were incredibly low quality.
So for that reason, I had to fork out on a new camera, which set me back £500. *Screeching tires*, yes I know. I wasn’t entirely happy either, especially considering this camera is super big, heavy and bulky so I can’t even take it when I go out for the day but alas, needs must.
Extra resources
If you’re really looking to up your blogging game and take your blog to that next level, it might be worth investing in extra resources like eBooks or coaching. Of course these are all extra expenses but from experience, most resources from experienced, reputable bloggers are well worth the money. Plus it’s always nice supporting a blogger you love!
Here are some handy resources to consider:
Pinterest With Ell eCourse
Blog Growth Toolkit – The Bloglancer
Taxes
I mean, this isn’t exclusive to bloggers I know but thought it was worth sticking on the end because it’s still an extra expense for a lot of bloggers. If you’re a part-time or full-time blogger then you’ll be registered as self employed (and if you’re not you seriously need to get on that like NOW) and depending on how much you earn, you may have to pay tax at the end of the financial year.
So, how much DOES blogging cost? There will be many more expenses along the way but I think I’ve covered the main ones here. Have you been surprised at the expenses you’ve encountered whilst blogging?
