Do I need to hire a developer or designer to use this guide?

No. This playbook is built for no-code builders such as Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com, Shopify or similar hosted platforms. You will choose a template, customise it, and connect services with point-and-click settings. Hire help only if you want custom functionality that a template cannot provide.

Can I do this without a custom domain, using just a free subdomain?

You can build and test on a free subdomain, but a custom domain you own (yourbusiness.com) is strongly recommended for trust, email deliverability, search results and portability. The guide shows how to buy it in your name, control the DNS, and avoid losing it if you change platforms.

What if I already bought a domain or started a site on another platform?

You do not need to start over. Use the early audit steps to check who owns the domain and where the DNS points, then decide whether to connect, transfer or rebuild. The guide includes the transfer and connection sequence, with checkpoints to avoid downtime and lost email.

Do I need an accountant or lawyer for privacy, cookies and business information?

For most small brochure sites you do not, but you must still publish accurate business details and meet privacy and cookie rules for your country and audience. The guide gives you a checklist for privacy policy, cookie banner, contact information and consent, and tells you when to seek professional advice for regulated industries or unusual data collection.

How much ongoing work and cost is there after launch?

Expect 1–2 hours per month for updates, backups, security checks and content tweaks, plus annual renewals for domain, hosting and SSL, usually $60–$300 per year depending on platform. The final phase sets up auto-renewal, monitoring, a backup schedule and a 90-day update calendar so nothing expires unseen.

EN2 versions

Build and launch your first small-business website

A tested, accessible, search-ready small-business website published on a custom domain with working enquiries, analytics, security, backups, and a maintenance plan.

Fby Finito HQEchipa Finito

Created 3 months agoUpdated last month

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Refined across 2 versionsUpdated Aug 2026

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Who it's for

A first-time small-business owner or sole trader who needs a credible, manageable website on a tight budget and will do the build themselves using a no-code builder or hosted platform.

About this playbook

This guide takes you from blank page to a live small-business website that customers can find, trust and contact. You define what the site must do, choose a platform and domain you own, build responsive pages with clear copy, and connect forms, analytics, privacy, security and backups before anyone sees it. Then you test across devices, optimise speed and search readiness, and publish in a controlled launch sequence with indexing and monitoring in place. It does not cover custom coding, e-commerce with complex stock or payments, or brand identity design from scratch — it shows you how to launch a professional brochure and enquiry site without hiring a developer.

What you'll do, step by stepFree preview

5 phases · 25 steps

Only a sample is open: 4 of 25 steps can be read in full. The rest unlock when you buy.

Phase 1: Define goals, audience and site blueprint
5 steps
Phase 2: Secure platform, domain and hosting foundations
5 steps
Phase 3: Build the accessible, search-ready site
6 steps
Phase 4: Test, optimise and proof before launch
5 steps
Phase 5: Launch, monitor and hand over maintenance
4 steps

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Details

Estimated duration1 day 1 hour

Steps25

Estimated budget$80–$400 for the first year

What you need first

A registered business name and basic offer you can describe, a logo or wordmark if you have one, access to a computer and internet, an email address you control, and a payment method for domain and hosting purchases.