One of the most common reasons website projects drag on or stall completely is that the business owner wasn't sure what they needed to provide. Here's a plain-English checklist of everything you should have ready — and what you absolutely don't need to wait for.
Your domain name
Your domain is your web address (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk). You don't need to have purchased it before you start planning, but you'll need it before the site goes live.
Choosing one: Aim for something short, easy to spell, and as close to your business name as possible. A .co.uk is generally preferred for UK businesses — it signals you're local and established. Avoid hyphens and numbers if you can.
Checking availability: Use a registrar like Namecheap, 123-reg, or GoDaddy. A .co.uk costs around £10–£15 a year. If your ideal name is taken, try adding your town name, "uk", or your main service — e.g. smithsplumbingbirmingham.co.uk.
Buying it: Once you've decided, register it straight away. Good domain names go quickly, and having it registered early means you can hand it over to your designer without delay.
Your business content
This is the part most people underestimate, and the most common cause of delays on professional builds. Before anyone can build your site, you need:
A description of what your business does. Not a polished paragraph — rough notes are fine. Focus on: what you do, who for, where, and why someone should choose you over the next option. Your designer can shape the wording later.
Your services or products listed. What do you offer? Each service should have at least a line or two of description. Don't worry about making it perfect — getting the information down is what matters at this stage.
An "about" section. Who you are, how long you've been in business, what your approach is. A few sentences is enough. Personal detail builds trust — people want to know there's a real person behind the business.
At least one decent photo. Of you, your team, your premises, or your work. It doesn't have to be professional. A clean, well-lit photo taken on a modern smartphone is entirely acceptable. Avoid blurry shots, dark images, or photos where you're surrounded by clutter.
Your contact details. Phone number, email address, and a business address if relevant (many service businesses don't list a home address — that's fine).
Your branding
If you have a logo: Have the file ready in digital format. The ideal is a PNG with a transparent background, or an SVG. Avoid low-resolution versions dragged off social media — these look blurry on modern screens. If you only have a JPEG, send it and your designer can work with it.
If you don't have a logo: That's completely fine. Many small business websites launch with just the business name in a clean font. A proper logo can come later. Don't let the absence of one delay you.
Colours and style: If your business has existing printed materials — business cards, leaflets, a van livery — note the colours if you know them, or take a photo to share. If you're starting from scratch, your designer will suggest options that suit your type of business.
Nice to have, but not essential
- Customer testimonials or reviews (even two or three is valuable)
- Accreditations or trade body logos (Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, FSB, etc.)
- A short video or series of work photos
- Examples of businesses whose websites you like the look of
What you do NOT need to have perfect before starting
A lot of business owners delay getting a website because they're waiting for everything to be exactly right. You don't need:
- A professional photography session
- A finished, polished logo
- Finalized pricing (many small business sites don't list prices at all)
- Every service fully written up
- Any technical knowledge whatsoever
The perfect is the enemy of the good here. A straightforward, live website beats a perfect one that's still being planned six months later. Get something real in front of people, then improve it over time.
A quick checklist
- [ ] Domain name chosen (and purchased, or handed to your designer to purchase)
- [ ] Business description written — rough notes are fine
- [ ] Services listed with brief descriptions
- [ ] At least one decent photo
- [ ] Logo file if you have one (PNG or SVG preferred)
- [ ] Brand colours noted if you have them
- [ ] Contact details confirmed (phone, email, address if applicable)
That's genuinely all you need to get started.
What happens next?
If you're working with a professional, they'll take these building blocks and turn them into something properly finished. If you'd like us to help, get in touch — we'll walk you through the rest of the process and let you know what we need from you and when.