What's the Best Website Option for a Sole Trader?
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
As a sole trader, you're responsible for everything.
Finding customers, carrying out the work, replying to enquiries, managing your finances and keeping the business running all fall on your shoulders.
With so much to do, creating a website often gets pushed back.
The good news is that getting online doesn't have to be complicated.
Today, there are several ways to create a professional online presence, and the right option depends on your business, your budget and how much time you have available.
This guide will help you decide which website solution is the best fit for your business.
What Does a Sole Trader Actually Need From a Website?
Most sole traders don't need a large website with dozens of pages.
Instead, they need somewhere customers can quickly learn:
Who they are
What services they offer
Where they work
How to get in touch
What previous customers say about them
Examples of their work
If your website answers those questions clearly, it's already doing one of its most important jobs.
Your website should make it easy for potential customers to decide whether you're the right business for them.
Is a One-Page Business Website Enough?
For many sole traders, yes.
A one-page website is often all that's needed to present your business professionally.
It can include:
An introduction
About your business
Your services
Photos of your work
Customer reviews
Frequently asked questions
Contact details
Everything is available on one page, making it quick and easy for customers to find the information they're looking for.
Unless your business needs advanced features, a one-page website can be an excellent solution.
This depends on how involved you want to be.
Building your own website gives you complete control, but it also means learning the platform, designing the pages and managing updates yourself.
A done-for-you service removes that responsibility.
Instead of building the website yourself, someone else creates it for you.
If your priority is saving time, this is often the simpler option.
The best choice depends on whether you'd rather spend your time designing a website or running your business.
Hiring a web designer can be an excellent investment if you need:
A bespoke website
Multiple pages
Ecommerce functionality
Booking systems
Custom features
Advanced integrations
If your website plays a major role in how your business operates, a custom solution may be worthwhile.
However, many sole traders don't need that level of complexity.
If your goal is simply to establish a professional online presence, there are often simpler and more affordable alternatives.
Which Option Is Best if I'm Short on Time?
If time is your biggest challenge, you'll probably want the solution that requires the least amount of work.
Building your own website can take many hours while you learn the software and create your content.
Hiring a web designer still requires meetings, planning and feedback throughout the project.
PageNow is designed to minimise your involvement.
You complete a simple 5-minute onboarding form with your business information, and we'll professionally build your business page.
Your page will be live within 24 hours, allowing you to focus on your customers instead of your website.
PageNow is ideal for sole traders who want a professional online presence without building a website themselves.
It may be the right solution if you:
Want to get online quickly
Don't have time to build a website
Prefer a done-for-you service
Don't need e-commerce or booking systems
Want a professional business page that's easy to maintain
Want an affordable monthly solution
It's particularly well suited to service-based businesses such as electricians, plumbers, gardeners, cleaners, tutors, coaches, photographers, decorators and many other sole traders.
How Do I Choose the Right Option?
The best website solution isn't the one with the most features.
It's the one that matches your business needs.
Ask yourself:
Do I actually need a large website?
How much time can I realistically spend building one?
Do I enjoy learning new software?
Will my customers benefit from advanced functionality?
Do I simply need a professional online presence?
If your main goal is to help customers understand your business and contact you, a professionally built business page may be all you need.
Choosing the right solution means avoiding unnecessary complexity and focusing on what will genuinely help your business grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every sole trader need a website?
Most sole traders benefit from having a professional online presence. It helps customers learn about your business, view your services and contact you more easily.
Is a one-page website enough?
For many service-based sole traders, yes. A well-designed one-page website often provides everything potential customers need.
Should I build my own website?
If you enjoy learning new software and want complete control, building your own website can be a good option. If you'd rather save time, a done-for-you service may be a better fit.
How quickly can I get online with PageNow?
Complete the 5-minute onboarding form and your professionally built business page will be live within 24 hours.
Is PageNow suitable for every sole trader?
PageNow is ideal for many service-based sole traders. Businesses requiring e-commerce, booking systems or bespoke functionality may benefit from a traditional website instead.
Can I update my business page later?
Yes. Simply submit a Request an Update form whenever you need to change your business information, services or photos.
Ready to Get Your Business Online?
PageNow makes it easy to get your business online with a professionally built business page—without the time, cost or complexity of building a website yourself.
✓ Live within 24 hours
✓ 5-minute onboarding
✓ Professionally built for you
✓ Just £6.99/month
✓ Cancel anytime
Get started today and let us build your business page, so you can focus on running your business.
