Having introduced several s for my own business over the years, I’ve spent many hours bringing together some of the most productive small business developers on the market.
Now I have created this guide to the top website building platforms with small businesses in mind. Only platforms that are easy to use, come with plenty of useful tools and features, and provide excellent value for money have earned a spot.
Between our team of experts and I, we have spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing 140+ of the best website builders and hosting providers. In this guide, I have picked 7 of the best small business website builders and distilled everything you need to know about them into easy to digest chunks.
Wix tops my list as the best small business website builder, with a range of powerful (but easy to use) tools and features. With plans starting at $17 a month, it isn’t the cheapest option, but with everything you need to build a great small business website, it offers great value for money.
Owain has been leading on all website builder content at TechRadar for over a year. With a background in business and marketing, he has spent 7+ years testing website builders, building his own small business websites, and writing about small business and marketing topics.
Are you looking for all the information, but don’t need to read the full guide?In this section, I’ve indexed my top three online page developers for small businesses and looked at what they offer to earn a prominent spot.
1. Best Overall Website Builder for Small Businesses: Wix
Small businesses looking for an online page builder that’s easy to use, provides comprehensive tools, and doesn’t cost a lot of money deserve to take Wix seriously.
Wix offers a limited free plan. But most small businesses will want to invest in a paid plan, these start at $17/mo (paid annually).
In my experience, Wix is, in most cases, the choice for most small businesses.
Learn more at ▼
2. Best if you have a low load and few hassles: Weebly
If you want a website but don’t know where to start, Weebly’s super easy-to-use interface makes it the best option.
Weebly offers a free plan, but its paid plans are very affordable, starting at just $10/mo (paid annually).
Learn more at ▼
3. The best for online stores: Shopify
Although almost all the website builders on this list provide at least some level of ecommerce functionality, Shopify is the best choice for serious online stores.
When it comes to small businesses, it trumps other specialized e-commerce website developers due to its lower value and ease of use.
Learn more at ▼
January 14, 2025: Checked in with consultant to make sure all data was still accurate, resulting in some small adjustments across the board. I also repurposed two of the online page builders into new categories so readers find the most productive option given. your exclusive needs.
Our opinion:
Wix has introduced a new tool that allows online page owners to temporarily create visual sitemaps and wireframes with AI, particularly speeding up the process of building online pages. > Learn more about this new update here. Wix recently introduced a set of new AI-powered teams designed for users to produce more and better blog content. These teams leverage artificial intelligence and generate ideas, text, and photographs to use in blog posts. > Learn more about Wix’s new AI-powered blogging team
Wix is one of the most comprehensive online page developers out there, and it’s no other when it comes to online pages for small businesses. With a wide diversity of features, it’s no wonder that Wix is the platform of choice for over two hundred million registered users.
Tools and features
Wix’s website editor operates under the simple drag-and-drop principle, offering hundreds of different attractive design choices and customization tools. It also includes features such as an image editor, animations, video backgrounds, and proprietary and third-party apps.
Wix also recently introduced its fully AI-powered builder, which is helping small businesses create ads in record time. Start by answering some undeniable questions about your business. The AI tool then uses the data you provide to create a matrix complete with photos and text. Once you’ve reviewed your generated site, you can use the Wix Website Editor to make any required tweaks and adjustments.
Even making the necessary adjustments, I found that the AI online page builder particularly sped up the process of creating online pages, making it ideal for small businesses short on time looking to create a quality online page with little time investment. Plus, as Wix’s AI-powered online page builder creates a custom option, it’s helping to overcome the issues of limited template customization on Wix. Wix Studio is another new addition to the Wix platform and gives users access to complex tools for designing internet sites and working with clients. It’s absolutely free for all Wix users, making it one of the most productive online page developers for agencies.
Finally, small businesses can take advantage of additional equipment such as Wix Turbo, Wix Bookings, Wix Restaurants, and Wix Hotels. This makes it ideal for businesses that need undeniable yet rugged equipment for their business operations.
I created several Wix small business internet sites and found the procedure to be very undeniable. It was undeniable that internet sites were created, looked great, and were very easy to manage once they were live.
Alternatives
If you don’t want all the complex equipment that Wix offers, you can save a small amount of money by opting for Weebly. Paid plans start at $10 a month, and while they’re not as complex as Wix, Weebly still gives you a host of rugged equipment and features for website building.
You can read our Wix vs Weebly comparison to stay more informed.
Alternatively, if you’re in the market for an advances AI website builder, but aren’t convinced by Wix’s price tag you may want to check out Hostinger. We have covered a full comparison of the two in our Wix AI vs Hostinger AI guide.
Plans & Pricing
With the free edition, you get a basic service with limited bandwidth and storage (500 MB) and you will have to support classified ads on your website.
By opting for one of the paid plans, such as the Lite plan at $17 per month (with an annual subscription), you get a traditional domain (free for the first year), 2GB of storage, Wix classified ads removal, and much more. . even more. However, if you want to sell online and unlock features like complex analytics, you’ll want to opt for the Core plan or higher, starting at $29 a month.
There’s also a 14-day money-back guarantee if things don’t go well.
My verdict
I’ve used Wix to create many of my own small business websites and found it to be very simple. The AI online page builder is impressive and lightning-fast; I personally prefer to find a template that I can then precisely adapt to what I need to employ editing tools.
Wix is wonderful for small businesses because of all the additional easy-to-use tools, like the undeniable eCommerce and search engine optimization features. I recently created an online page to accept reservations on Wix and found the visitor to be incredibly patient and helpful when looking for the formula to work exactly as I wanted it.
Read our Wix builder review.
Find the best deals on Wix products with our Wix promo codes.
Our opinion:
Weebly is a wonderful option for small businesses that need a very undeniable online page or store. It’s ideal for startups, marketers, or companies that don’t conduct their business solely online.
Tools and features
Weebly earned top marks in our review for its easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, attractive online page templates, and small business-friendly features like its app library and third-party integrations (e-commerce, social media). marketing, visitors and more).
It wasn’t all good news (e. g. , no blog templates, so you have to design your own), but there were no critical issues, and overall, Weebly is a powerful multipurpose builder for new users.
I found that while Weebly doesn’t have some of the complex features found on other platforms, such as AI teams and a wide diversity of templates, unless you want those extras, its affordability and ease of use make it an option wonderful. to others on this list.
Alternatives
If you need more complex equipment and more complex customization options, Wix is worth considering, it will charge you a little more. You can read our full Wix vs Weebly review to learn more.
Equally, if you need more advanced ecommerce tools, a specialist ecommerce platform such as Shopify is likely to better meet your needs. Alternatively, you may want to explore Square Online, a website builder owned by the same company as Weebly. This option offers some more advances ecommerce features than Weebly, but with a similar, affordable price tag. Read our Square Online review to learn more.Plans and pricing
A flexible plan makes it easier to try the service yourself, Weebly-branded ads, the inability to attach a traditional domain, and a minimum 500MB storage make it less suitable for long-term business use.
Opting for the Personal plan ($10/mo on the annual plan) lifts some of these limits, allowing you to connect a custom domain and sell digital goods.
Upgrading to the Professional plan ($12/month on the annual plan) provides so much more, giving you access to a free domain, search engine optimization tools, complex site statistics, phone visitation service, and an online store with unlimited items. If that’s not enough, the tough $26-a-month Business plan adds more premium features like abandoned cart emails, item reviews, PayPal payments, and more.
My verdict
The Weebly website builder is known for being one of the easiest to use website building platforms on the market. I often recommend this option to small business owners who are time-poor but want to get a professional website built without too much of an investment.
However, Weebly might not be the best option for you if you are looking to create a more complex website.
Read More: Weebly Review
Our opinion:
Shopify is arguably one of the best ecommerce platforms on the market. Although it is widely used by business behemoths including Tesla, Gymshark, and PepsiCo, it also offers fantastic options for small businesses that want to set up, manage, and grow an online store.
Tools and features
The platform includes an intuitive online page builder that makes building a site easy. The Shopify online page builder is the ideal selection for someone to start their online store, thanks to the wide variety of eCommerce features that Shopify offers.
These come with complex eCommerce equipment that can be used to create a beautiful logo storefront and to manage products, inventory, invoices, and shipping. Plus, you can integrate it with marketplaces to grow your business even more, adding Amazon, eBay, and even social media platforms, making it a great option for omnichannel selling.
While doing a test run, I found Shopify’s dashboard quite neat and direct. It has a central hub for order tracking, customer management, analytics, and more. On top of that, the analytics suite gives detailed insights into customer behavior, sales trends, and the website’s performance.
It even has a wide variety of responsive themes that are customizable through a visual editor, where you can easily adjust layouts, fonts, colors, and other design elements without writing a single line of code. However, if you’re into coding and want to customize your theme further, Shopify gives access to the site’s JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, all giving you a free hand to make it your own.
You don’t receive any calls or emails with any of Shopify’s paid plans. However, the live chat visitor is available 24/7 on the platform. I tried to contact the team to answer some of my questions and they responded fairly quickly. which was impressive. So if you need to create an online store and are looking for a one-stop solution, I’m sure Shopify could be the right choice for you.
Alternatives
While it’s not a committed ecommerce platform like Shopify, Wix offers many complex ecommerce features and, with plans starting at $12 a month, it’s much more affordable. However, if you really want all the extra equipment that comes with an eCommerce platform, you might want one of the top eCommerce platforms, like WooCommerce or BigCommerce. Our Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and Shopify advisor will help you decide which option is most productive for you.
Although not included in this guide, Square Online is a great alternative for ecommerce stores, offering plenty of specialist ecommerce tools, but with a lower price tag than other Shopify alternatives. Plans and pricing
You can use Shopify’s website builder along with its other ecommerce features with a 3-day free trial, which is far from the most generous free trial. However, you can also opt to use the platform for an entire month for just $1, giving you ample time to build your site and test the platforms features.
After that, you’ll have to purchase a plan to continue using it. It has three different plans to choose from. The “Basic” plan is currently priced at $29/ month (yearly payment), the “Shopify” plan comes at $79/ month (yearly payment) where you get 5 additional staff accounts, and its “Advanced” plan costs $299/ month (yearly payment), offering 15 additional staff accounts.
My verdict
Having used Shopify to create and run a small online home goods store in the past, I can verify that it is a wonderful builder for small businesses.
Although the platform comes with a lot of complex equipment, the initial setup and fundamental equipment are incredibly useful. If you need to gamify your online sales, I suggest enabling sales notifications in the app. The “cha-ching” money sign sound is the ultimate dopamine hit and gets a little addictive!
Read more: Shopify Reviews
Our opinion:
Hostinger continues to make impressive updates to its website builder recently announcing 4 new tools. These include an AI-powered background remover and CSV product upload tool, along side a new feature that allows users to offer free and paid digital content, and the addition of custom fields to product pages. > Discover more about updates to the Hostinger website builder
Hostinger is a popular hosting platform with a remarkably easy-to-use AI-based builder.
Tools and Features
It boasts an extensive template library featuring over 150 responsive, fully customizable templates. These templates come with a diverse range of industries and purposes, from eCommerce and blogs to portfolios and business sites, all created with a keen eye for modern aesthetics and user experience. All of this helps websites built using Hostinger not only look contemporary but also perform flawlessly across devices.
In my testing, I was amazed by Hostinger’s AI site builder, which creates an entire online page by simply asking you a few questions about who you are and what kind of online page you’re looking to create. Not only is this very simple, but it makes Hostinger one of the fastest online website developers on the market.
Hostinger claims that it takes an average of just 28 minutes and 46 seconds to build a website with its AI site builder.
Even without the advanced AI tools, you can manually set up a website easily with their drag-and-drop editor. Plus, you can further customize their templates without writing a single line of code which makes it great for beginners.
Alternatives
If you prefer to talk to an actual person when facing website issues you may want to opt for an alternative such as Weebly, although even in this case phone support is only available on the platform’s more expensive plans.
Plans and pricing
When it comes to pricing, Hostinger leaves most of its peers with the cheapest rates. You can purchase their “Premium Website Builder” plan with the intuitive online page builder for only $2. 49 per month if you purchase it for four years. With this, you get a free domain, an AI-powered online page builder, marketing integrations, and much more.
However, if you want to create an online store, opt for the “Business Website Builder,” which costs $3. 99 a month (on a 4-year plan). In this one, you get all the features provided in the “Premium Website Builder”. “, as well as various e-commerce features, more than 20 payment methods, various AI tools, and more.
Overall, Hostinger offers a great website builder for someone who wants to create a website quickly, cheaply, and without a lot of effort.
my verdict
Hostinger is a strong contender when it comes to the most productive small business builder. Offering many Wix-like tools and adding a powerful AI builder, the platform is designed for the tech-savvy and is very easy to use.
It’s also very affordable, making it an option for cash-conscious small businesses.
Read More: Hostinger Website Builder Review You can save on Hostinger products with our Hostinger promo codes.
Our opinion:
In September 2024 Squarespace announced Squarespace Refresh, seeing 14+ new and updated tools and features launched across the website building platform. These include improved functionality across areas including design, invoicing, content, and marketing, with a strong theme for AI integration across the board. > Read our full interview with Squarespace about its latest updates> Learn more about Squarespace Refresh 2024
Squarespace is one of the best known website builders on the market – and for good reason. With all the essential website building tools and some of the most aesthetically pleasing templates on the market, it is a great option for small businesses that want to make a big impact.
Tools and Features
The drag and drop editor is exceptionally easy to master and allows you to customize each and every detail of your website. It may seem a little basic, but don’t worry: Squarespace’s huge range of wonderful templates is so elegant that you may not need to make any adjustments (although even if you do, there’s a good chance that adjustments and alterations will be made).
In fact, in my testing, I found that Squarespace has some of the most visually appealing templates available. This makes it ideal for small businesses that appreciate logo aesthetics.
You can also take advantage of Squarespace Blueprint AI, the platforms full AI website builder. By answering just 5 design questions about your website structure, color palette, fonts, and design preferences, Squarespace’s AI will then create a bespoke site matched to your answers.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for similar online page builders and add one of the most productive AI online page builders, Wix’s offering is a great option and is a bit less expensive. For a full comparison, you can check out our Wix vs. Wix page. Square space guide.
Alternatively, for a difficult eCommerce website, Shopify offers a much wider diversity of eCommerce teams than Squarespace. Pricing and Plans All users can take advantage of the 14-day free trial before deciding which Squarespace pricing plan is right for them. This is great for small businesses making sure they’re making the right investment.
Unlike some competitors, Squarespace doesn’t offer forever-free plan, but at $16/month its cheapest package is more than generous, making it a very price competitive small business website builder. You’ll get access to unlimited storage and bandwidth, an SSL certificate, SEO features, image/video galleries, intelligent image optimization, professional web store, performance boosting CDN support, free fonts, a free domain for a year, and more.
However, this package does not come with an online store. If that’s what you’re looking for, want the Business plan at $23/month (billed annually) or one of the Business plans starting at $27/month.
my verdict
Squarespace is very productive and known for offering some of the most amazing templates on the market. However, it offers much more than that. With a powerful AI-powered online page builder and intuitive small business equipment such as e-commerce features and a committed booking system, Squarespace is a good choice for small businesses as a comprehensive online page building tool.
Read more: Squarespace review Check out our Squarespace promo codes for the best deals on Squarespace products.
Build your next online page for just $10. 80 consistent with month. With world-class designers creating templates for each and each use case, Squarespace can assistance you make your concept stand out online. Start with one of our most productive online page templates and customize it to suit your needs. Use the exclusive Squarespace promo code TECHRADAR10 to get this worth on the cheapest plan.
Our opinion:
HubSpot helps businesses scale by connecting marketing, sales, content marketing, and visitor service. But the most sensible thing is that it also comes with a builder that can do a lot of things.
Tools and features
With a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editor, its website builder comes with a versatile range of templates, all of which are mobile-responsive and designed with conversion optimization in mind. Whether you’re building a landing page, blog, or full-fledged business site, HubSpot provides a foundation that not only looks professional but is also tailored to meet specific business goals.
After testing the platform, I discovered one area where HubSpot shines: seamless integration with its popular CRM and marketing automation tools. If you already use your CRM, the online page builder becomes the best extension for nurturing leads, tracking online page behavior, and creating personalized experiences. Plus, it comes with wonderful built-in search engine optimization features, intuitive blogging tools, and tough conversion elements like smart content and A/B testing capabilities.
While HubSpot allows you to make customizations with your online page, it lacks the detailed offering of other committed online page developers like Hostinger or Shopify. Instead, it concentrates more on using pre-built modules and sections, which can be a bit restrictive for someone who needs to create a super-custom online page.
Alternatives
HubSpot offers a lot with its free plan, but if you’re more, the basic premium plans are expensive. Weebly is a cheaper and easier-to-use alternative, with premium plans starting at just $10 a month.
Plans and prices
The HubSpot builder is absolutely free and can be used by signing up for the “Free Tools” plan or higher. This provides a wonderful opportunity for small businesses to get a builder plus other free marketing, sales, CMS, service, and commerce equipment all in one place.
Another advantage of HubSpot’s free builder is that it allows you to attach a traditional domain to your site, something that most free developers don’t allow you to do.
However, if you want to increase the number and features of the tools, you will need to opt for a paid home/small business plan that starts at $18/month (paid annually) and goes up to $800/month (paid annually). ). Training
my verdict
HubSpot offers a pretty impressive website building package, especially considering the fact that it is free.
However, by opting for HubSpot’s online page builder, you risk becoming tied to the company’s broader product ecosystem. This is bad, after all, most HubSpot products are great, but it can also get expensive as your desires grow.
Read more: Hubspot website builder review
Our expert review:
GoDaddy has now made its AI tools, adding its AI-powered Airo generator, less difficult to use with the advent of a new API. The new API integration allows users of third-party platforms to create and manage emails without having to go directly through GoDaddy. > Learn more about this new update here
GoDaddy is much more than just a place to register domains or host websites – it’s a one-stop shop for creating a standout website for your small business. With a host of powerful AI tools, all available under the GoDaddy Airo banner, GoDaddy is a great choice for businesses that want to create and launch a website quickly and easily.
Tools and features
This all-in-one solution includes internet hosting and an easy-to-use website design editor. It’s the best pick for newcomers and those with limited technical or design experience, thanks to its intuitive site building kit. and its synthetic design intelligence (ADI) editor.
You can dive into approximately two hundred design templates or let GoDaddy’s ADI create a traditional site based on your preferences, the selection is yours. Whether you’re pitching an undeniable portfolio or launching a full-fledged online store, with this drag-and-drop editor, polishing your site to perfection has never been easier. However, even if Tradition is available, it may be limited compared to platforms like Squarespace and Hostinger.
Geared toward small businesses, GoDaddy’s website builder covers all the bases, boasting features like product and inventory management, online store templates, payment options, inventory tracking, shipping, tax calculations, discounts, promotions, and mobile optimization. With its intuitive interface and built-in analytics, tracking your site’s performance is a breeze – no external plugins are needed.
Airo AI, GoDaddy’s latest addition to its toolset, is designed to simplify virtual marketing for small businesses. It automates responsibilities like suggesting domain names, coming up with email marketing strategies, creating logos, and even creating an entire website, saving you time. and energy. By analyzing the latest trends, market developments and customer behavior, Airo helps you create effective marketing plans tailored to your target audience.
While GoDaddy may not have an app marketplace for additional features, its comprehensive platform ensures that you’ll have everything you want at your fingertips. Plus, with its affordable costs and nifty equipment like Airo AI, GoDaddy’s online page builder can be an excellent best friend. for small businesses to make a splash online with minimal effort.
Alternatives
Although it’s a little more expensive, Wix is also a little less difficult to use and allows for more customization than GoDaddy. For a complete comparison, you can read our Wix vs GoDaddy guide.
Plans and pricing
While GoDaddy does offer a free plan with basic features, its paid plans start at $10.99/mo and come complete with essentials like SSL certificates, custom domains, and round-the-clock support – packing a more serious punch.
In addition, they come with very good business equipment such as appointment scheduling, email marketing, social media control, graphic design, and visitor appointment control (CRM).
My verdict
GoDaddy has been a champion of small businesses for many years. Although its website builder features have previously been known for being a little simplistic, recent updates have made it a worthy contender, especially in the small business space.
Perhaps the biggest reason for this is the launch of GoDaddy Airo, a dedicated AI-powered small business tool that includes a complete AI website builder, making it easier and faster than ever before to get your small business online.
Read more: GoDaddy website builder review You can save on your GoDaddy subscription with our GoDaddy promo codes.
Picking which website builder is right for your small business can be tricky, especially when there are so many great options. Below I have listed some of the most important factors to consider when picking a website builder, comparing each from the website builders on this list.
The most productive online page builder for small businesses will depend on your exact virtual needs, but there are a few key site-building features that everyone considers.
Ease of use
Ease of use is important for every level of user, but it’s made up of many ingredients. The best services have quality templates to get you started right away, a simple drag-and-drop editor and in-depth knowledge base with simple explanations on how to create and run your site.
Design Capabilities
Different developers offer other approaches to ad design. What’s right for you will depend on your confidence in the design and the time you have.
For example, some website builders offer a drag-and-drop approach to website building, allowing you to customize your site based on a number of predesigned sections and pages. Others offer full templates which can be edited to meet your needs. There are also several AI website builders that use information you provide to create a bespoke website in seconds.
Of course, many website builders offer a combination of all three of these approaches.
Marketing Tools
The marketing team will help you engage with your audience, attract more visitors to your online page, and generate more sales. When opting for an online page builder, look at what type of marketing team they offer.
This can come with email tools to help you design and send resilient marketing emails to look for engine optimization tools to help you rank your online page on search engine results pages. Some of them can be incorporated into the platform or come with optional options. integration.
Integrations
Business integrations allow complex users to link their Internet sites to all types of business services. Common features include Google or Facebook analytics to track your visitors, Mailchimp for email marketing, or Social Stream to demonstrate social media feeds on your site.
Check out the online page builder to see what integrations are offered. Having them included in your online page builder package can save you money (if you were to pay for them anyway).
eCommerce Features
Ecommerce features are a must-have if you want to sell online, but they vary wildly between plans and online page developers. Make sure that the supplier of your choice can handle the number of products you need to sell and includes payment and shipping. and other equipment you need.
Additional fees
It is also vital to pay close attention to additional fees. For example, some online website builders may offer e-commerce features in their less expensive plans, but will charge transaction fees based on the offering. This may affect profits at the end of the year. over time, so it’s especially vital for small businesses to keep this in mind.
Safety
Website security is overlooked, but it is an essential detail to consider when opting for an online page builder. Therefore, it is vital to take the time to study the security point that your online page builder offers.
Higher security levels can help build authority and acceptance among your online page visitors and protect your business from potential attacks.
Price
Price is important, but be careful when making comparisons. Some providers may offer great deals, but only if you sign up for years and prices skyrocket upon renewal. Read the fine print carefully to make sure you understand what you’re getting before you sign up.
We take the builder’s review seriously, applying the method shown and special considerations. When creating this shopping guide, we took into account the unique desires and demanding situations that small businesses face.
Registration process
When testing builders, our reviewers start by signing up and purchasing plans from the builders. They then follow the same procedure as any small business when creating a parent company for the first time.
Creating a website
We cannot get a good idea of how good a website builder is unless we use it to build a website. So, our experts go through the process of creating a website, following the same steps that any small business user would.
Evaluation of functions and tools
Our reviewers then review each of the available features and tools. They compare ease of use, quality of results, and how vital they can be for a small business to create, manage, and grow a website.
Pricing
Small businesses have to do impressive things with not-so-impressive budgets. We took the time to compare the pricing plans on offer, looking at what you get for your money and which plans might be most applicable to small businesses. We’re also looking for free trials and plans that allow small business users to check out what’s on offer before committing.
Weigh
Because nothing can be one hundred percent perfect, we’ve made sure to identify the positives and negatives of each online page builder so you’re transparent about what to expect.
Would you like to know more about our testing process? Find out how we’re testing developers now.
Choosing the right online page builder for your small business is no easy task. In this guide, I’ve walked you through the most productive features on the market and presented you with a review of the tools and features that will help you create your most productive online page.
Wix offers a great option for those looking for an all rounder. However, if you are looking for something specific such as advanced ecommerce tools or an aesthetically pleasing design, then other options such as Shopify or Squarespace may be better for you.
Luckily, many of the website builders I cover in this guide some with a free plan, free trial, or money back guarantee – offering you a risk free way to try and them and see which works for you.
Every business can get advantages from a online page. For what? Because a online page can prospective new consumers locate your business online, act as an extension of your brand, and supply a central location where visitors can locate all the data they would possibly need, such as where where you are, what you be offering and how they can do it. can acquire your products and services.
Many small businesses can also use their to sell directly to their customers, opening up a whole new profit stream.
Here are some key questions when deciding whether to build your own Internet site or hire an Internet designer: 1. What is your budget?
Using a website builder will be much less expensive than working with an internet designer or agency. After all, you will pay for the time, expertise, and pleasure the designer brings.
Ongoing costs will also need to be considered. Designers and agencies will typically charge an ongoing cost for maintenance along with a retainer or hourly rate for any updates you need to make. On the other hand, website builders offer a more predictable and usually more affordable monthly fee.
All things considered, if your budget is low, an online page builder will probably be a better option.
2. How much time do you have?
For busy small business owners, time can be a luxury. This is where working with a designer can be appealing. Although you will need to work with a designer to communicate your website needs and vision, they can work seamlessly behind the scenes whilst you get on with your day-to-day responsibilities.
Website builders, although easy to use, are going to take up more of your time as you work things out and get your website looking and working exactly as you want. However, with new AI tools that can automate everything from design to content writing, the time you have to spend on building your website is getting shorter.
3. What are the ones on your website?
What you need to achieve your online page will help you determine if an online page builder or designer is the best option for you.
For example, those who have an undeniable online store or a stand for hosting data about their business will definitely only want the features presented through an online page building platform. However, for those that have more complex features, such as immersive grocery shopping, delights, or custom design elements, you may want to work with a designer to achieve this.
As online page developers evolve, the gap between what they offer and what designers can achieve is narrowing. So even if you think you want something complex for your online page, it’s worth checking to see if this can be achieved with an online page builder before opting to hire a professional designer.
Although creative businesses could use any website builder I have listed on this page, they also typically have unique needs that can be better met by specific or dedicated website builders. For example, Squarespace is widely considered as one of the best website builders for photographers due to its beautiful templates and advanced image tools. Similarly, BandZoogle is a website builder dedicated to helping bands and musicians promote their talents and is viewed as one of the best website builders for musicians.
While you definitely want hosting to publish your page online, all of the online page developers included in this consultant are popular with one level of hosting. You may want to upgrade your hosting as your online page grows and you want your online page to perform better across the board. However, not all platforms allow you to do this. I propose to check the hosting value of your online page builder and whether it is possible to upgrade it before making a decision.
The answer to the question “What is a builder?” “It’s simple. A builder is a tool that allows you to create without any coding experience.
Typically, you start by browsing through a library of pre-designed online page layouts, often called “templates. ” A template can include common pages like About, Services, and Contact, for example, with modern inventory photos that you can use right away.
Then, you’ll use an editor to upload new pages and customize any content to your needs. Inserting your own text can be as undeniable as clicking on a domain and starting to type, and you can periodically upload new types of content (forms, cards, videos, etc. ) by dragging and dropping.
It’s difficult to estimate how long it will take to create your site because it depends on many factors: the creator, your editor, the templates available, the features you need to include, etc.
If your needs are simple and you have the main copy and images already, perhaps from an existing website, you could have something ready to go in two or three hours.
When you see what the most productive small business developers have to offer, you can expand the site with more features: maps, product videos, stencils, whatever works for you. While they are easy to add, you can spend just an hour or two learning how to produce the most productive effects for an express feature.
Online outlets are the most time-consuming, spanning weeks or even months. Most of this has to do with creating a product catalog, sorting payment methods, shipping, etc. ; The most productive small business online page developers can still create a major store that works in as little as a day or two.
Yes, it is possible to create a website for free, but this won’t typically be suitable for small business use.
Even the most productive free web page developers have fewer features, for example, more restrictions, as well as a lot of ads, and no ability to use their own domain. This can create such an unprofessional impression on potential customers that it would be better to have no page online.
However, don’t completely rule out loose levels. Wix offers a flexible plan, and while it’s not a paid plan solution, it’s a wonderful way to check before you buy and see if the service is right for you.
Most small business website builders include templates for one-page websites, where users can find everything they need – product and service information, pictures, pricing, testimonials and contact details – simply by scrolling down a single page.
If your website’s desires are undeniable or you can find templates that cover your specific type of business (wedding photography, for example), then it’s just as undeniable as creating a website. Just scroll down the template, update the corporate name, product images, and addresses. , touch details, etc. , and you will get a clean and professional site.
If your company doesn’t quite fit into a standard business niche, though, a one-page solution may not quite work for you. Fortunately, that’s not a problem. Website templates are just a starting point, and if something’s not right, you’re free to rearrange sections, add pages, or do whatever else you like to build your ideal business home.
Owain has been building and online retail outlets for his own business and that of his consumers for over 8 years. Having accepted a position at TechRadar Pro in 2023, he now leads all construction and CRM content, and spends his days researching, testing and reviewing some of the most productive construction and CRM platforms on the market. He also has a hobby of helping other people get great deals on builders by offering them the most productive coupons and promotional codes on the market. With extensive business experience, Owain has a BA (Hons) in Business and Marketing and has written for several leading publications including MarketingProfs, Website Builder Expert, Digital Donut and NealSchaffer. com.
Get next-gen Squarespace AI teams for less with 10% off Squarespace subscriptions
New year, new business? Save on your website with Squarespace
Seagate smashes largest HDD world record with 36TB hard drive and reveals a 60TB model is coming
TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.