How to start a small business website

A clear, fast site with your hours, services and contact details does most of the work. Here's the order to set it up and what each step costs.

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1. Pick and register a domain

Use your business name if it's available, keep it short and choose .com where you can. Register it in your own name, not a designer's, so you always control it. Namecheap includes free WHOIS privacy; a .com renews for about $18 a year there.

2. Choose a builder or WordPress

Selling products? Shopify handles payments, inventory and shipping in one place. Offering services? A WordPress site on shared hosting is usually enough. See Bluehost vs HostGator if you're choosing between those two.

3. Set up hosting (WordPress route)

Shared hosting is fine for a new local business site. Pick a 3-year term for the lowest price, and note the renewal rate before you pay:

Expecting real traffic or running a store on WordPress? Cloudways gives you your own server with no renewal jump.

4. Build five core pages

1. Home: what you do, where, and a clear button to call or book.
2. Services or products: one section per service, with prices or "from" prices if you can.
3. About: who you are, licenses, years in business.
4. Contact: phone, email, address, hours and a map.
5. Reviews or work samples: real customer quotes or photos.

Put your phone number and hours at the top of every page. Most local visitors are on phones and want to call.

5. Add business email

An address like you@yourbusiness.com looks more professional than a free email address. Many shared hosts include basic email; Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 cost more but are easier to use on phones.

6. Cover the legal basics

• SSL certificate: free on most hosts and builders; your site should load with https.
• Privacy policy: required if you collect emails, run analytics or take bookings. Policy generators like Termly can draft one.
• Cookie notice: needed if you serve visitors in places with cookie laws or run ad tracking.

7. Get found

• Create or claim your free Google Business Profile and link it to the site.
• Add your site to Bing Places and Apple Business Connect.
• Use the same business name, address and phone number everywhere.
• Ask happy customers for Google reviews.

What it costs in year one

Your site is only as good as your connection when you're updating it and taking orders. For your shop or office line, see the best business internet for a small office and our small business tech checklist.

Questions