How to Make a Website in Nepal: A Complete Beginner's Guide

If you have never built a website before, the hardest part is not the technical work — it is knowing what order to do things in and which decisions you are stuck with afterwards. This guide walks through the whole process as it applies in Nepal.

Step 1: Decide what the site needs to do

Be specific before you spend anything. A site that exists so customers can find your address and phone number is a very different build from one that takes online orders. Write down the three things a visitor should be able to do. That list determines everything else.

Step 2: Choose a domain name

Your domain is the hardest thing to change later, because it appears on printed material, in search results and in every link anyone makes to you. Keep it short, easy to say aloud, and easy to spell after hearing it once.

In Nepal you have two sensible options:

• .com.np — free, clearly Nepali, and good for local trust. You register it yourself with the Nepali registry, which requires documents and a few days for approval. See the full .com.np process.
• .com — around Rs 1,500 per year, instantly registered, better if you have any international audience.

Many businesses register both and point one at the other.

Step 3: Choose hosting

Hosting is where your site's files live. For a first website, shared hosting is almost always the right answer — a VPS is more control than you need and more maintenance than you want.

The one decision that matters most in Nepal is where the server physically sits. If your visitors are Nepali, a server inside Nepal responds in roughly 15–20ms versus 200ms+ from Europe or the US. That difference is visible to users and counts toward search rankings. Our provider checklist covers how to verify a host's claims.

Step 4: Choose how you will build it

Three realistic routes:

• WordPress. The default choice, and for good reason: you can update content yourself, there are themes for every kind of business, and any developer in Nepal can maintain it. Best for most small businesses.
• A website builder. Fastest to launch, but you are renting the platform, and moving away later usually means rebuilding.
• Custom-built. Right when you have specific functionality no off-the-shelf tool provides. Costs more and needs a developer for changes.

If you are unsure, start with WordPress. It is the least likely choice to trap you.

Step 5: Get the essentials right before launch

These are quick to do now and painful to retrofit:

• SSL. Your site must load over https. Certificates are free and should be one click in your control panel.
• Mobile layout. Most Nepali traffic is on phones. Check every page on a real phone, not just a narrow browser window.
• Contact details. Phone number, address and a working contact form. Test that the form actually delivers mail.
• Page titles and descriptions. Each page needs its own. This is the cheapest SEO work you will ever do.
• Backups. Confirm they run automatically and that you can restore one yourself.

Step 6: Go live and register with search engines

Once the site is live, submit it to Google Search Console and upload your sitemap. This is how Google learns your pages exist rather than waiting to stumble across them. Also create a Google Business Profile if you have a physical location — for local searches in Nepal this often drives more traffic than the website itself.

Step 7: Keep it maintained

A website is not finished at launch. Budget a little time each month to install updates (especially WordPress plugins, which are the most common way sites get hacked), check that backups are running, review what people are searching for to find you, and keep content current.

What it costs

For a small business site, doing the build yourself with WordPress: roughly Rs 4,800 for hosting and Rs 0–1,500 for the domain in year one — around Rs 5,000–6,500 total. Hiring a developer for design and setup typically adds Rs 15,000–60,000 depending on scope. Our full pricing breakdown has the details.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know how to code?

No. With WordPress and a good theme you can build and maintain a solid business website without writing code. Coding becomes relevant when you need something custom.

How long does it take?

A simple site can be live in a day or two. Realistically, allow a couple of weeks — writing the content usually takes longer than building the pages. If you want a .com.np domain, add the registry's approval time.

Can I move my site later if I choose the wrong host?

Yes, provided you can download a full backup of your files and database. Check that this is self-service before you sign up. A good host will also migrate you in for free.

Should I build it myself or hire someone?

Build it yourself if the site is mainly informational and you have time to learn. Hire someone if the site is central to how you earn money, or if it needs custom functionality. Either way, make sure the domain and hosting accounts are registered in your name — not your developer's.

When you are ready for the hosting step, our plans include free SSL, automatic backups and a control panel that handles all of the above.