The 'First Website' Guide for Small Business Owners
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Building your first website can feel overwhelming.
Should you build it yourself? Hire a web designer? Use a website builder? Or do you even need a traditional website at all?
With so many options available, it's easy to spend more time researching than actually getting your business online.
The good news is that creating your first online presence doesn't have to be complicated.
In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know before creating your first business website, helping you choose the solution that's right for your business.
Why Does Every Small Business Need an Online Presence?
Today's customers expect businesses to be online.
Whether someone hears about you through a recommendation, discovers you on social media or finds you on Google, they'll often want to learn more before getting in touch.
They may be looking for:
What services you offer
Where you're based
Your contact details
Photos of your work
Customer reviews
Answers to common questions
If they can't quickly find this information, they may move on to another business.
Having a professional online presence helps customers feel confident about contacting you.
Do You Actually Need a Traditional Website?
Not always.
Many business owners assume they need a large multi-page website.
In reality, many service-based businesses simply need one professional page that clearly explains:
Who they are
What they do
The services they offer
How customers can get in touch
If that's all your customers need, a professionally built business page may be a better fit than a traditional website.
The right solution depends on your business rather than what other businesses are doing.
What Are Your Options?
There are several ways to establish your business online.
Build a Website Yourself
Website builders allow you to design and publish your own website.
This gives you complete control but also means you're responsible for learning the platform, designing the pages and keeping everything up to date.
Hire a Web Designer
A freelance web designer or web design agency can create a bespoke website for your business.
This is often the best option if you need advanced functionality or a fully customised website.
However, many small businesses don't require that level of complexity.
Use a Professionally Built Business Page
If your goal is simply to give customers a professional place to learn about your business, a business page may be all you need.
Rather than building a website yourself, your page is professionally created for you.
It's a simple way to establish an online presence without the time and complexity of a traditional website project.
What Should Your First Business Website Include?
Whether you create a website or a business page, most customers are looking for the same core information.
Make sure your online presence includes:
Your business name
A clear description of what you do
The services you offer
Contact details
Photos of your work
Customer reviews
Frequently asked questions
Links to your social media profiles
You don't need dozens of pages.
You simply need to answer the questions your customers are likely to ask.
Common Mistakes First-Time Business Owners Make
When creating their first website, many business owners:
Spend too long trying to make everything perfect
Choose features they'll never use
Overcomplicate the design
Delay launching while making endless changes
Forget that customers mainly want clear information
A simple, professional online presence that goes live today is often more valuable than a complicated website that's never finished.
What Makes a Good First Website?
A good first website should be:
Easy to understand
Professional
Mobile-friendly
Simple to navigate
Focused on your customers
Easy to contact
Kept up to date
It doesn't need unnecessary features or complicated layouts.
It simply needs to help customers understand your business.
How Quickly Can You Get Online?
The answer depends on the option you choose.
Building a website yourself may take days or weeks while you learn the software and create your content.
Hiring a web designer usually involves planning, feedback and revisions before the finished website is launched.
If you choose PageNow, you'll complete a simple 5-minute onboarding form and we'll professionally build your business page. Your page will be live within 24 hours.
Why Many Small Businesses Choose PageNow
PageNow is designed specifically for small businesses, sole traders and freelancers who want to establish a professional online presence without building a website themselves.
Instead of learning website software or managing a website project, you simply tell us about your business.
We'll professionally create your business page using the information you provide.
Your page can include:
Your business information
Services
Contact details
Photos
Customer reviews
Frequently asked questions
Links to your social media profiles
The result is a professional online presence that's quick to launch and easy to maintain.
Choosing the Right Option
There isn't one solution that's right for every business.
Choose a website builder if you want to design and manage your own website.
Choose a web designer if you need a bespoke website with advanced functionality.
Choose a professionally built business page if your goal is to get online quickly with a simple, professional online presence.
The best option is the one that matches your business needs—not the one with the most features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a website to start a business?
You don't always need a traditional website, but having a professional online presence helps customers find information about your business and contact you.
Can I create my own website?
Yes. Website builders make it possible to build your own website without coding knowledge.
What's the easiest way to get online?
For many service-based businesses, a professionally built business page is one of the quickest and simplest ways to establish an online presence.
How quickly can I get my PageNow business page?
Complete the 5-minute onboarding form and your professionally built business page will be live within 24 hours.
Is a business page enough?
For many sole traders, freelancers and service-based businesses, yes. If you don't need e-commerce or advanced functionality, a business page may provide everything your customers need.
What happens if my business grows?
As your business evolves, your online presence can evolve too. Many businesses begin with a simple professional business page before moving to a larger custom website if their requirements change.
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.
