How much money do you need to start up a server

[Azura]

These are all estimations from my personal experience as a server manager.

Server, I personally recommend CubedHost, I've used them for both Minecraft and Teamspeak multiple times and although they charge $10 / GB, I have never had any issues with them and their servers run perfectly.

Server: 3GB - $30 / month (CubedHost)
Webserver: Plan 4 Webhosting - $7.50 / month (SpartanHost)
Website: XenForo Standard License - $140 Lifetime + 12 months updates and support w/ a $40 1 year extension after the first year *expensive route: +$35 for a custom theme

• This is a hard one, starting out, you could use Enjin, however, I strongly advise springing for a XenForo License. All be it expensive, it is worth every penny.

Discord: Easy to set up (in my opinion) you can do it yourself - ~4 hours of your time
Plugin Development: with Premium Spigot plugins, ~$175 (give or take). *expensive route: Custom Coded, ~$600 (maybe?)
*expensive route: Teamspeak: at 120 slots - $34 / month (CubedHost)
Advertisement (youtube): YT's from 10k-75k subs usually charge around $40 / video
*expensive route (youtube): YT's such as Graser10, StrawberryJam, and a few others (I have contact with their business manager, thus how I know this) charge $600 / video

Basic price: ~$352.50 + 1 YT ad at $40 / video = ~$392.50
Expensive Route: ~$846.50 + 1 YT ad at $600 / video = ~$1,446.50
Per month: ~$37.50
Per month expensive route: ~$71.50

So if you took the expensive route, starting your server would cost approximately $1,446.50.
If you took the basic route, starting your server would cost approximately $392.50.

If you took the expensive route, your server would cost you approximately $71.50 / month.
If you took the basic route, your server would cost you approximately $37.50 / month.

Again, all of these are estimations and assumptions.
I haven't owned a server in about a year, I usually only manage them so the finances I see can be limited sometimes.
It also depends on what you get done, i.e. what plugins you buy or who you hire to code for you. I know that Turqmelon (very reputable developer, works for BajanCanadian) charges $75 / hour.

Damn you went into detail

 

[Llisandur]

if you need a legit quote feel free to PM me. i’ll include links, hosts, xenforo themes, and designers

 

[YourPanda]

Hello, just wondering how much money you would roughly need to keep around a 100+ playerbase, I know, nothing is guaranteed. This would be a factions server, with some cool little features not many. Thanks!

For a Factions server, based off what I have just spent in getting it setup etc, you will need around 1,250$ to get it setup, this will cover custom plugins, builds, graphics, website, and buycraft. As well as anything you need to pay someone to setup for you etc. As for advertising etc, you are going to need at the least 750$. This will only cover the cost of small youtubes (under 10k subs), and even this will not get you a playerbase of 100+ at all times, this can get you 100+ peaks, with maybe 20-35 on at all times. With the exception of night time. However, if you are looking for SEO, some youtubers, and maybe even a slot or two. You will need at the least 1,000$ more for that. And, that is with some low end SEO, and a slot on like TOPG, with again 10k or less youtubers. However, these numbers can change depending on the people you know, and the contacts that you might have. But, this is what I have seen based off of my server setup, and what I remember paying for advertising when I had a more successful server back in the good old days.

 

[Krythax]

For a Factions server, based off what I have just spent in getting it setup etc, you will need around 1,250$ to get it setup, this will cover custom plugins, builds, graphics, website, and buycraft. As well as anything you need to pay someone to setup for you etc. As for advertising etc, you are going to need at the least 750$. This will only cover the cost of small youtubes (under 10k subs), and even this will not get you a playerbase of 100+ at all times, this can get you 100+ peaks, with maybe 20-35 on at all times. With the exception of night time. However, if you are looking for SEO, some youtubers, and maybe even a slot or two. You will need at the least 1,000$ more for that. And, that is with some low end SEO, and a slot on like TOPG, with again 10k or less youtubers. However, these numbers can change depending on the people you know, and the contacts that you might have. But, this is what I have seen based off of my server setup, and what I remember paying for advertising when I had a more successful server back in the good old days.

How much more will I need of I hire 2 full time devs for the server? Fixing common bugs, adding custom crates etc

 

[YourPanda]

How much more will I need of I hire 2 full time devs for the server? Fixing common bugs, adding custom crates etc

Personally, I would not do that, I would hire Free Lance Devs, or people who are good with Configs etc. Hiring dev's can be risky, and tend to not be as motivated to do things if they are not being paid enough. Quite frankly, a full time dev is not needed until you have a 500+ playerbase, that brings in enough money for you to pay yourself, server bills, and all staff that need paid.

Also, it might even be cheaper to find a FreeLance dev, as sometimes if it is an easy fix, they will not charge you. Depending on the dev you hire.


I would say, 150-200$ a month is what a Full Time Dev would charge, being said, this would be for a more high end dev, that knows what they are doing, and does not do a bad job, but also does not do a super outstanding job. However, really the rate of charge would be more easily decided by a dev himself.

 

[n0tzach]

$5 for a hosting.

If you work hard at it and learn how to do everything yourself you can make something amazing with little to nothing.

It just takes a lot of dedication.

 

[Sparko]

It depends, tbh you should decide how much you're willing to risk, and then ask people what your budget can get you so you can decide to either increase it or spend less.