As you may already be aware, Kinmunity costs money to run. We have to pay for: the server, the domain names (kinmunity and wulf howl), the IPS license, as well as for the various custom components that run on the site that were not created by our administration team. This isn't even counting the time and labor put towards custom coded components created by myself and by our staff team. On this current incarnation of the site (which opened on September 25th of 2019), I have spent well over $1000 of my own money. This does not include the many thousands I have spent between 2014 and 2017 on various updates and redesigns over the years.
With that said, the yearly upkeep cost to maintain the site in its current state (without any updates) is approximately $696.50. You can see how I get these numbers below:
With this information in mind, and with the hopes that we continue to add features and evolve the site as it grows, I bring up the uncomfortable discussion of offsetting costs. Obviously, Kinmunity is free to use and will be forever and the goal here is not to make a profit off of the site, but rather to offset these yearly costs as much as possible. Therefore, I have the following ideas in mind:
With that said, the yearly upkeep cost to maintain the site in its current state (without any updates) is approximately $696.50. You can see how I get these numbers below:
Breakdown of one-time costs:
- $550 - IPS core license cost (core site framework)
- $290 - component costs (14 custom components)
- $190.00 - IPS license renewal costs (core site framework)
- $324.00 - yearly server costs ($27.00 / month, OVH)
- $35.00 - yearly domain costs (x2 domains, gandi.net)
- $147.50 - yearly component renewal costs (10 custom components requiring renewal)
- Showing Google AdSense advertising for guests who are not logged in; registering and logging in is free. We will not be making a pay-for "ad-free" version of the site if we use this option. There will be a small ad near our footer, and logging into an account gets rid of it.
- Selling yearly VIP memberships for real money.
- Selling packages of bones for real money.
- Holding specific-goal donation drives. These will be held in order to meet a specific goal (a certain time period of hosting paid for, a group of existing or new component renewals paid for) when needed.
- Awarding a special medal to donors over a certain dollar amount.
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