Small business website design, done properly
A small website has a simple job. It says who you are, what you offer and how to get in touch, clearly enough that the right people do.
What a small business site needs
Good small business website design starts with fewer pages than you might think, each with a clear job to do.
We design and build websites for businesses of every kind, from Paris House, a restaurant in Bedfordshire, to Cambourne, a financial services company in the Midlands.
A homepage that answers three questions: What you do, who it is for and what to do next, all clear within a few seconds.
A page for what you offer: One for your services, in the words your customers use rather than the words of your trade.
Proof, and the people behind it: Examples of your work, reviews you have permission to use, and an about page on the people they will actually deal with.
A contact page that makes it easy: A short form, a phone number and an email address. If people come to you, add your address and opening hours.
Room to grow: A small site can grow into a bigger one later, if it is built with that in mind.
Websites, each with a clear job
Questions to ask before you choose who builds it
Quotes for a small website can differ a lot, often because they cover different things.
- 01
Who writes the words, and who supplies the photographs?
Content is the cost people underestimate most, so words and photographs you already have bring it down.
- 02
Can it grow without starting again?
Even with five pages, build on something that lets you add services, case studies and articles later without starting again.
- 03
What will it cost to run in the first year?
Include the first year of running costs: hosting, maintenance and some budget for improving what you learn is not working.
- 04
Who looks after it after launch?
Website care runs six checks on your site every week. Small fixes that can be undone are made and logged.
- 05
How will we know the site is working?
Google’s Search Console and Analytics are both free. Between them they show what people search for to find you, which pages they read and where they leave.
From a menu of five to a site we host.
Cambourne is a Midlands financial services company offering strategic advice to private and corporate clients. In September 2026 we rebuilt its website, and we host it.
The menu holds five items: Home, About Our Clients, Our Services, Our Team and Contact Us.
Read the Cambourne case studyQuestions we are asked
Should we use a free website builder or a template?
For a very simple site it can be the right choice, if you have the time to learn it. Free plans usually put the builder's name in your web address and its branding on your pages. Whatever you use, the words, the proof and the next step matter more than the tool.
How much does a small business website cost?
It depends on a few decisions more than on the number of pages: how much writing it needs, how bespoke the design is, whether it has to connect to anything, and who looks after it afterwards.
How long does a small website take to build?
Mostly it comes down to how ready the words and pictures are, and how quickly decisions are made. Waiting for content is a common cause of delay, so it is worth settling before the design starts.
Can you write the words for us?
We can, if nobody on your side has the time. Either way the words are settled before the design, so each page is built around what it has to say.
Will a small website show up in Google?
It can be found for your name and your main service, with accurate page titles and descriptions and a Google Business Profile. Winning new customers from search usually takes more pages.
“Paris House sits in a deer park, so when Phil asked us to look again at the brand, the stag felt like a natural choice. The food and the Tudor house are beautiful, and we designed the website to let the pictures speak for themselves. It’s work I’m always happy to show people.”
