Two website models · one goal
Custom website or website rental? Choose the model that fits your business.
Bunnypants builds custom WordPress websites for businesses that want the traditional ownership route. For businesses that would rather avoid a large development cost upfront, we also recommend Rent A Website — a managed website rental service operated through BP Online Solutions (Pty) Ltd.
Choose a custom Bunnypants build when ownership, backend access, bespoke functionality or a complex platform matters most. Choose Rent A Website when you want a professionally built and managed website without carrying the full build cost upfront. Neither option is the “cheap version” of the other — they solve the same business need in different ways.
Why we offer both
Not every business should pay for a website in the same way.
Some businesses want to invest once, own the website and manage it internally. Others would rather protect cash flow and pay for a managed online presence as a predictable monthly service. We would rather give you both options than force every project into one commercial model.
Custom Website Development
A custom WordPress website built around your brief, brand and required functionality. This route suits businesses that want ownership, backend access and the freedom to manage or extend the site themselves.
- Custom design and development
- Backend access and website editing training
- Suitable for complex e-commerce, LMS, membership, booking and custom systems
- Hosting, maintenance and additional services can be selected separately
Managed Website Rental
A professionally built website supplied as a managed service. Rent A Website keeps the upfront cost lower by spreading the build through a 24-month minimum term while the team manages the website for you.
- Professionally designed and art-directed
- Managed hosting, maintenance, backups, security and support
- No backend access required — send update requests to the team
- Add pages, content time, email, SEO and other modules as needed
Side-by-side
The important differences, without the jargon.
The biggest difference is not design quality. It is how you pay, who manages the website and what level of ownership and access you need.
| Question | Bunnypants Custom Website | Rent A Website |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial model | Custom development project. | Managed website rental service. |
| Upfront cost | Higher once-off development investment, paid according to the quotation. | Lower upfront activation cost, then an agreed recurring rental. |
| Ownership | Built as your own custom WordPress website. | Not rent-to-own. The website remains part of the managed service unless a separate written arrangement is made. |
| Backend access | Yes. Bunnypants custom packages are built for clients who can manage their own website content. | No. Updates are handled by the Rent A Website team within the selected plan. |
| Hosting & maintenance | Selected according to your Bunnypants hosting, security and maintenance requirements. | Runs on the managed Rent A Website platform; required hosting and ongoing care form part of the plan total. |
| Design | Fully custom design process according to the quoted package. | Professionally designed and art-directed for your brand, with AI tools used where they make production faster. |
| Functionality | Best route for complex e-commerce, LMS, memberships, booking systems, directories and custom integrations. | Best suited to business websites within the managed framework. Advanced functionality is quoted separately or referred to Bunnypants. |
| Minimum term | No website rental term. | 24-month minimum term so the build cost can be spread over time. |
| After 24 months | Your custom website remains your website; ongoing services depend on what you retain. | The plan moves to the ongoing monthly amount shown in the planner and continues month-to-month unless you choose an upgrade. |
| Best for | Businesses prioritising ownership, control and bespoke functionality. | Businesses prioritising cash flow, convenience and a managed monthly service. |
What renting really means
Affordable because of the model — not because the website is a cheapie.
Rent A Website is designed to lower the barrier to getting a professional business website online while keeping the design, technical care and support in experienced hands.
Protect your cash flow
Instead of carrying the full development cost upfront, the project starts with an activation fee and an agreed recurring rental.
Designed by people
The site is professionally designed and art-directed around your business, colours, content and tone. AI tools may speed up production, but they do not replace design judgement.
Managed every month
Hosting, software care, backups, security checks, support and website changes are handled within the managed service and the modules you choose.
Built to be found
Basic on-page SEO setup is included in the core website. Ongoing monthly SEO can be added in tiers when your business is ready to invest in visibility.
It is also not the same as Wix, “rank and rent” or rent-to-own.
You are not renting DIY software and building the site yourself. You are not renting leads from somebody else's ranked website. And the monthly fee is not an instalment plan that automatically transfers ownership at the end. You are renting a finished, managed business website service.
How Rent A Website works
From package planning to a live website, the process is clear.
You can plan the package yourself first, or speak to the team if you are unsure. The planner shows the activation fee, monthly total and what is included before you request a quote.
- Step 1Plan your packageStart with the Camp Site core, choose the number of pages and revision rounds, add modules, and add monthly SEO only if you need it. Payment can be by debit order or monthly EFT invoice.
- Step 2 · optionalTalk it throughIf you are unsure, book an online discussion. If renting is not the right fit, the team can point you back to a Bunnypants custom build instead.
- Step 3The website is builtThe team builds inside the managed framework, applies your branding and content, completes the selected setup, and gives you the included revision rounds before launch.
- Step 4Launch on your domainThe website goes live with managed hosting, SSL and security configured.
- Step 5Managed monthlyThe team hosts, maintains, backs up and supports the site. You submit update requests within your plan and can adjust modules as your business changes.
- Step 6After the first 24 monthsThe build-related portion falls away and your fee moves to the ongoing amount shown in the planner. Continue month-to-month, or request an upgrade that can be recalculated into a new rental period.
The easiest place to start
Use the Plan Your Package calculator before you speak to anyone.
The calculator is there to remove the mystery from website pricing. Build a realistic package, see what changes the monthly amount and only request a quote once the plan makes sense to you.
What you do inside the calculator
The core is a three-page professionally built website with mobile-friendly design, contact form, WhatsApp, basic on-page SEO, Care+ maintenance, monthly support and included revision allowances.
Increase the number of pages, design concepts and pre-launch revision rounds to fit the project you actually need.
Add services such as email, content changes, blog functionality, domains, POPIA support or Google Business Profile management. Managed web hosting is required by the platform.
Choose no Advanced Monthly SEO, or select one of the available monthly SEO tiers according to your market and budget.
The summary separates the once-off activation amount, website rental, optional SEO, the monthly total for the first 24 months and the ongoing amount from year three.
When you are happy, choose Get My Quote. Your selected configuration is carried into the quote request so the team can review it with you.
Build around your business
A small core website can grow with add-on modules.
You do not need to predict every future requirement on day one. Start with the core, then add the modules that make sense for your business and budget.
Modules are meant to flex.
Modules can generally be added as your needs grow and removed from a future billing month where the service allows it. The Camp Site core and the minimum rental term continue. The live calculator is the best place to see current pricing rather than relying on figures copied onto another website.
Explore all Rent A Website add-on modules and current prices →
Which route suits you?
Choose based on how you want to run the website, not just the first invoice.
A Bunnypants custom website is likely the better fit if…
- You want to own the website and have backend access.
- Your staff will manage WordPress content themselves.
- You need a complex online shop, LMS, membership system, bookings, directory, custom portal or unusual integration.
- You want a highly bespoke scope that falls outside a managed rental framework.
- A larger development investment upfront works for your business.
Rent A Website is likely the better fit if…
- You want to avoid a large website build cost upfront.
- You prefer a predictable recurring business expense.
- You would rather have a team manage updates, maintenance, backups and technical care.
- You need a professional business website that can grow through clearly priced modules.
- You are comfortable with a 24-month minimum term and a managed website without backend access.
That is exactly why Bunnypants presents both options. Tell us what the website needs to do, how you want to pay and how much control you want afterwards. If the rental model is a better fit, we will send you to Rent A Website. If the project needs a custom build, we will keep it with Bunnypants.
Ownership, access & the agreement
Know what you are signing up for before the build begins.
Rent A Website is intentionally different from a custom website purchase. The commercial terms are designed around an ongoing managed service, so ownership and backend access work differently.
Your content stays yours
Your company name, logo, brand assets, copy, photographs, product information and other original business content remain your material.
The rental site stays managed
The website build, platform setup and managed service are not automatically transferred to you simply because the first 24 months have been completed.
Your existing domain stays yours
If you already own your domain, Rent A Website can point it to the new site without changing your underlying ownership of that domain.
There is an ownership upgrade path
If you later want a website you own outright, Bunnypants can quote a custom rebuild or conversion route rather than pretending the rental automatically becomes a purchased website.
Three documents define the rental relationship.
Your accepted quotation records the package and price; the signed Rental Agreement records the client-specific rental arrangement; and the Rent A Website Trust Agreement contains the standard rental terms. Always read the current documents before signing.
Read the Rent A Website Trust Agreement → · Read the full FAQ →
Straight answers
Common questions about custom websites vs website rental.
- Is renting a website cheaper than buying one?
- It is cheaper to get started because you are not paying the full development cost upfront. Over several years a managed rental can cost more than buying once-off because the monthly payment also covers an ongoing service. The benefit is cash flow, convenience and ongoing management rather than the lowest possible lifetime cost.
- Do I own a Rent A Website site after 24 months?
- No. Rent A Website is not rent-to-own. After the initial term the service can continue month-to-month at the ongoing amount shown in the planner, or you can discuss an upgrade. Ownership is only transferred where a separate written arrangement specifically provides for it.
- Why is there a 24-month minimum term?
- The website is built at the beginning, while the commercial model spreads that build cost over time instead of requiring a large development payment upfront. The minimum term is what makes that structure possible.
- Can I use a domain I already own?
- Yes. An existing domain can be pointed to the rented website while remaining your domain. If you need a new domain, Rent A Website offers domain registration and renewal modules.
- Is hosting included?
- The rental website runs on Rent A Website's managed hosting platform. Web Hosting is a required module and is included in the package calculator's total, so the site remains inside the environment the team maintains and supports.
- Is SEO included?
- Basic on-page SEO setup is included in the Camp Site core. Ongoing monthly SEO is optional and available in several tiers. You can start without it and add it later.
- Can I move my existing website onto Rent A Website?
- Usually yes. The team can use your existing content and structure as a starting point and rebuild it inside the managed platform rather than simply copying the old website across unchanged.
- What if my project becomes too complex for the rental model?
- That is where Bunnypants remains useful. Complex e-commerce, LMS, booking, membership and custom integration projects are generally better handled as custom builds. The two services are deliberately complementary rather than competing with one another.
- What happens if I later want to own my website?
- You can ask Bunnypants to quote a custom website that you own outright. Your content, structure and design direction can inform the new build so you are not starting from zero.
Two routes. Choose the one that fits.
Do you want to own the website — or would you rather rent the service?
If ownership, backend access and highly custom functionality matter most, start with Bunnypants. If predictable monthly cost and a managed website matter more, build a Rent A Website package and see the numbers before you commit.
Rent A Website is a managed website rental service operated through BP Online Solutions (Pty) Ltd. Bunnypants remains the custom website development route.