Getting a website for your business doesn't have to be complicated. There are really only two routes: build it yourself with a website builder, or get someone to build it for you. This guide explains both honestly so you can decide what makes sense for your situation.
Your two main options
Option 1: Build it yourself using a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress. These are drag-and-drop tools designed for people without technical knowledge.
Option 2: Hire someone — a freelancer, an agency, or a specialist like CloudLaunch — to build it for you.
Both have genuine merits and real trade-offs. The right choice depends on your time, your budget, and how important your website is to how your business wins work.
Option 1: Using a website builder
Website builders let you pick a template, add your content, and publish. Most charge between £10–£25 a month for a business-appropriate plan.
Getting started: You register a domain name (your web address, e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk), connect it to the platform, pick a template that suits your type of business, and start filling in your content.
The realistic time commitment: Adverts make this look like an afternoon job. In reality, most business owners spend 3–6 weeks getting a result they're happy with. That time goes on learning the interface, writing your page content, sourcing or taking photos, and tweaking the design until it feels right.
Where people get stuck: Writing content is the hardest part for most people. You know your business better than anyone, but translating that into clear web copy is a different skill. The second most common problem is that the finished site looks quite similar to thousands of others built on the same template — which makes it hard to stand out.
What builders are genuinely good for: Getting something live quickly while your business is still finding its feet. If your website is a low-priority nice-to-have at this stage, a builder is a reasonable starting point.
For a detailed comparison of Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress, see our full comparison post.
Option 2: Hiring someone to build it
A professional builder handles everything: design, build, technical setup, SEO, and going live. You provide the content (or help create it) and give feedback at key stages.
What a typical project looks like: Initial brief → design mockup → your feedback → build → content review → launch. Most small business sites take 3–5 weeks from start to live, assuming content is ready. See our post on how long a website takes to build for the full breakdown.
What it costs: A simple 5-page site from a reputable freelancer typically costs £600–£1,500. Specialist services like CloudLaunch sit in this range. Full agencies often charge more. See our web designer cost guide for what to expect at different price points.
The real benefit: You get a result without learning a new skill. The site is faster, better optimised for Google, and often converts more visitors into enquiries than a DIY equivalent. For most businesses, the time saved and the quality of the result make professional builds the better investment.
What pages do you actually need?
Keep it simple. Most small businesses need:
- Home — who you are, what you do, who it's for. Make the key message clear in the first few seconds.
- About — a bit of background that builds trust. People buy from people.
- Services — what you offer, described in terms of what the customer gets, not just what you do.
- Contact — your phone number, email, and a contact form. Make it easy.
- Blog (optional) — useful if you want to build Google visibility over time through articles like this one.
You don't need to launch with every page perfect. A live site with four solid pages is worth more than a perfect site that's still being built.
What about costs beyond the build?
However you go about it, you'll need:
- A domain name — your web address (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk). Around £10–£15 a year from providers like Namecheap or 123-reg.
- Hosting — where your website files live. Typically £20–£50 a month if managed separately, or included in a package.
Builder plans include hosting in the monthly fee. If you hire a professional, ask specifically whether hosting is included or charged separately after the build.
What's the right choice for you?
If your website is a nice-to-have and you have time to spare, a builder is a reasonable DIY starting point. If your website is important to how you win work, or you'd rather spend your time running your business, hiring someone is almost always faster and produces a better result.
Still unsure? We're happy to give you an honest view. Get in touch — no sales pressure, just a straight conversation about what would actually work for you.