In this post, we’ve covered
- What you need to start a blog
- How much do they cost [Cost Breakdown]
- How to start a blog in 6 steps with
What You Need to Start a Blog
Starting a blog is simpler than you think. Here are the 4 essentials:
- A Computer/Laptop – Manage your site and write posts easily
- A Domain Name – Your blog’s address (e.g.,
yourblog.com)- Tip: Choose a short, memorable name
- A Blogging Platform – WordPress.org (best option) – free, no coding needed
- Let you customize everything
- Web Hosting – Keeps your blog online 24/7
- Recommended: HostGator ($2.75/month with free domain)
That’s it! With these, you can publish your first post.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog? (Cost Breakdown)
Many aspiring bloggers overestimate startup costs. In reality, you can start a professional blog for less than the price of a coffee each month. Here’s exactly what you’ll pay:
The Only 3 Essentials You Need to Pay For
- Domain Name (Your Blog’s Address)
- Typically $10 − $15/year
- But get it FREE with HostGator hosting
- Web Hosting (Your Blog’s “Home” Online)
- Stores all your files and keeps your site accessible 24/7
- Includes free WordPress installation (the best blogging platform)
- Best Deal: HostGator at just $2.75/month (with our discount) + free domain
- WordPress Platform
- 100% free (the .org version)
- Powers over 43% of all websites
- Get access to WordPress when you sign up with HostGator
Cost Breakdown
- Required expenses
- Optional costs & upgrades
[1]. Required Expenses
| Expense | Typical Cost | With HostGator Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Name | $10 − $15/yr | FREE |
| Web Hosting | $3 − $15/mo | $2.75/mo |
| WordPress | Free | Free |
| Total First Year | $60 − $200 | Just $33 |
Pro Tip: Choosing longer hosting plans (3 years) lowers your cost to under $2.75/month!
Why This is Smarter Than “Free” Platforms
This is better than free blogging platforms like WordPress.com or Wix:
- Give you a subdomain (yoursite.wordpress.com)
- Limit monetization options
- Restrict design control
- Costs more long-term ($12 − $18/month)
Starting a self-hosted WordPress site with HostGator:
✅ Your own domain (yoursite.com)
✅ Full monetization freedom
✅ Complete design control
✅ Lower lifetime costs
Plus, a free domain name and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
[2]. Optional Costs & Upgrades (Only If You Want)
- Premium Theme ($30 − $100 one-time) Free alternative: Use Astra or Kadence (excellent free themes)
- Plugins (Most essentials are free) – Must-haves: Yoast SEO (free), WPForms Lite (free)
- Logo Design
- Free option: Canva
- Paid option: Fiverr ($20 − $50)
- Email Marketing – Start with free plans (MailerLite up to 1,000 subscribers)
Total optional first-year costs: $33 − $300 (partly optional!)
Smart Spending Tip
Beginner-Friendly Path:
- Start with HostGator’s $2.75/month plan (free domain included)
- Use free themes/plugins initially
- Invest in upgrades only after making your first $100
Note: HostGator is risk-free; you can try it today and still have 30 days to request a refund if you regret anything along the way.
How To Start A Blog In 6 Steps
You can follow these 6 steps to start a standard and get going.
- Step 1: Click on “HostGator” to host your blog
- Step 2: Choose your preferred HostGator plan
- Step 3: Choose your preferred domain & complete your sign-up
- Step 4: Within your HostGator account, “Install WordPress” your blogging platform
- Step 5: Within WordPress, choose your blog theme [A Pre-built Site]
- Step 6: Customize your blog default pages and start writing and publishing blog posts.
Note: At the end of your sign-up with your web hosting [e.g., HostGator], you can install the generally used web version of WordPress within your HostGator admin area after you’ve logged in. This is easy for anyone to do. Detailed steps to start a profitable blog
