Creating a Website in the Entrepreneurial Journey
Creating a website often slips to the bottom of the list in the entrepreneurial journey — and when it finally gets attention, it can feel overwhelming. You’re working with a limited budget, you’re unsure of exactly what you’ll need to pay for, and every option seems to come with hidden extras. It’s tempting to just sign up for a platform that promises to do it all for you. I’ve been there myself, in moments where I just needed something live and functional so I could keep moving.
But here’s the catch: those monthly fees add up quickly. Especially when you’re just starting out — not yet selling consistently (or at all), but needing a website in place before you can even begin marketing. It’s a bit of a catch-22: you need a site to grow, but the cost feels heavy when you haven’t grown yet.
And then there’s the other challenge: as entrepreneurs, our paths are rarely linear. We pivot, our vision shifts, our offers evolve. Suddenly that site we cobbled together no longer fits. Starting over again can feel exhausting — especially when the first one never truly reflected the essence of who we are.
For me, I’ve always loved creating websites, but I grew frustrated with the limitations of drag-and-drop builders. Even when I tried to push past them with custom CSS, things quickly became clunky and uninspired. They got the job done, but they never carried the soul of what I wanted to create.
What I’ve come to realise — especially now, in a time when AI has opened so many doors for us — is that we actually have far more freedom than we think. There are cost-effective, flexible ways to create a digital home that feels truly yours, without being locked into large monthly fees or boxed-in templates.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide: to share how a simple combination of hosting and a pure-coded website (or an integration with WordPress if you prefer a CMS) can reduce your costs significantly while giving you more creative freedom. Depending on your needs, you can start small, stay light, and still build something powerful. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of a basic setup — plus prompts you can use with ChatGPT to help you identify the best choices for your brand.
Hosting + Domain: A Cost-Effective Foundation
Here’s the real breakdown of what you can expect to pay each year when you build on hosting instead of subscription platforms:
- Hosting: Around US $36–120/year (≈ AUD 54–180). Prices are often lower in your first year and rise on renewal, but still far less than ongoing subscriptions.
- Domain name: Around US $10–20/year (≈ AUD 15–30). Many hosts include the first year free.
- Business email (optional, for professionalism): Around AUD 110/year with Google Workspace, or sometimes included with hosting.
Even with business email, you’re looking at roughly AUD 180–320 per year — usually half (or less) of what most all-in-one platforms cost annually. And instead of renting, you actually own your digital home.
You Don’t Need a Full Site to Begin
The liberating truth? You don’t need ten pages and a full site to launch.
If you’re a coach, healer, or creative just stepping into your work, sometimes all you need is a beautiful, magnetic landing page — one that reflects your essence and gives you a place to start sharing your message.
That’s why I create small, soulful templates like the Celestial Gateway Hero Section:
- A pre-coded hero you can use as a standalone landing page or drop into WordPress.
- Fully responsive and customizable, with a Notion guide that walks you through editing step by step.
- Designed to hold the soul of your work, not just the structure.
Think of it as planting the first stone in your digital sanctuary — a piece you can build upon as your vision grows.
Why This Approach Matters
For soul-led entrepreneurs, websites aren’t just tools. They’re energetic mirrors of the work you’ve come here to share. Starting small with hosting and a single aligned section means:
- Freedom: No subscription drain. Pay once, own forever.
- Ease: Start simple and add more when you’re ready.
- Alignment: A digital home that reflects your energy, not a generic template.
- Empowerment: When your site feels aligned, you naturally share it — and that magnetizes the right clients.
Try These ChatGPT Prompts
Not sure which hosting or domain setup is right for your business? Here are some copy-and-paste prompts you can use in ChatGPT (or any AI assistant) to get personalised recommendations:
Hosting
“I’m a [coach/healer/creative] starting a website. My budget is [insert amount], and I might want to add [a shop / a booking system / just a simple landing page]. What are the most cost-effective and reliable hosting providers for my needs?”
Domain Names
“I want a domain name that feels professional, easy to remember, and aligned with my brand. Can you suggest the most affordable and reliable domain registrars for someone based in [your country]?”
Business Email
“I’d like to set up a professional business email (like hello@mydomain.com). What’s the most affordable and reliable option, and should I use my hosting provider’s email or something like Google Workspace?”
Extras & Future-Proofing
“I want to start small with a single landing page, but eventually expand into a full site. Which hosting and domain options will give me the flexibility to grow without making it too expensive right now?”
WordPress or Pure Code?
“I don’t know CSS or HTML very well. Should I use WordPress (with templates and plugins) or stick with a simple coded landing page? What are the pros and cons of each for someone like me?”
“If I do know how to code, what tools or programs can I use to create and manage my own website files (e.g. code editors, frameworks, design tools)? And if I don’t code, what’s the easiest way to still have freedom without feeling overwhelmed?”
Your Next Step
You don’t need to overcomplicate your digital journey. With a simple hosting plan, a domain, and one beautiful section to start, you can create a space that’s affordable, aligned, and ready to expand when you are.
Explore the Celestial Gateway Hero Section Template — a luminous, pre-coded hero you can set up in minutes, with full guidance included.
Because your website isn’t just a tool.
It’s a portal for your soul work.