Do I need a website for my business? It is a fair question for a new director, especially when money is tight and a Facebook page is free. The short answer is that most new businesses do, but not the expensive kind they are often sold. What you need is a small, fast site that answers the questions customers ask before they pick up the phone, and that you own. This guide explains why, when you can wait, and what a sensible first website looks like.
What customers do before they contact you
Think about how you choose a business you have never used. You search, you look at the map, you read a few reviews, and then you click through to see whether they look real: what they do, where they work, roughly what it costs and how to get in touch. If there is nothing to click through to, many people move on to the next result. A website is where that final check happens.
Why social media alone is not enough
- You do not own it. An account can be restricted or a platform can change its rules overnight.
- It rarely shows up in Google. People searching for “electrician in Luton” see websites and map listings, not Facebook posts.
- It looks less established. Larger customers, landlords and councils often expect a website and a business email address before they will take you seriously.
- Information gets buried. Prices, service areas and FAQs disappear under a feed of posts.
Social media is a good way to show your work and stay in people’s minds. It works best pointing back to a website, not replacing it.
When you can wait
Some businesses can hold off for a few months. If all your work comes from one or two contracts, from a platform you already sell through, or from word of mouth you cannot keep up with, a website is less urgent. Even then, set up a free Google Business Profile and register your domain name now, so nobody else takes it.
What a first business website actually needs
- A clear line saying what you do and where
- A page or section for each main service
- The areas you cover
- A phone number, a business email and an enquiry form that works on a phone
- Real photos of your work or your team, even a few
- Your company details in the footer, which are a legal requirement for limited companies
- A link to your Google reviews
That is it. Five to eight pages is plenty for most new service businesses. Blogs, booking systems and online shops can come later when you know you need them.
What it should cost
You can build a basic site yourself on a website builder for a monthly fee, pay a designer once, or rent a site on a monthly contract. Each has trade-offs, and the cheapest option on day one is not always the cheapest over three years. We compare them in pay monthly websites versus paying once and in our wider guide to how much a website costs in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Google Business Profile enough on its own?
It is a strong start and it is free, but a profile with a website link usually converts better, because customers can check your services and areas before calling.
How quickly can a new business get a website live?
A small, well planned site can be live within a week once the content is agreed. Most delays come from waiting on photos, logos and wording, which is why we write the words for you.
Will a new website show up on Google straight away?
Google usually finds a new site within days, but ranking for competitive searches takes months. Your Google Business Profile and reviews will bring the earliest local enquiries.
Do Luton businesses need a website?
Around Luton, Dunstable and Bedford, most customers searching for a local service compare two or three businesses on Google before calling. A Facebook page or a profile on a directory site helps, but you do not control them. A website you own is where your reviews, photos, prices and the towns you cover all sit together.
PrimeGuard Removals in Dunstable is an example. After their site went live with town pages and their Google reviews, people who had never heard of them started getting in touch through the website.
ST HECS in Luton is another local example. Its website shows its 30 Google reviews, photos from real cleaning jobs and how it vets staff, which is the kind of proof a care home or school wants before booking.
A website for your new business
Our New Business Launch package is a fixed £497 with no contract. It includes the site, the words, and hosting, domain and business email for the first year, and it is live in seven days. We will also set up your Google Business Profile free. Book a free 20 minute call and we will tell you whether you need a website yet.
