How to Build Your First Business Website (Without Overpaying)

In a referral town like Livingston County, customers still Google you before they call. Land them on nothing — or a broken page — and you’ve lost the job before you said a word. The fix doesn’t have to be expensive.

Step 1 — Buy your domain

Get the .com of your business name (~$12–20/yr) from any registrar. Keep it short and easy to say out loud. If your exact name is taken, add your city (“brightonlawnpros.com”) rather than a weird spelling.

Step 2 — Choose how you’ll build it

• Site builder (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy): ~$15–25/mo, no technical skill, live the same day. Best for most new owners.
• WordPress: more flexible and what most agencies use, but a steeper learning curve. Best if you’ll publish lots of content.
• Hire a local pro: $1,500–5,000 one-time. Worth it if your hours are better spent running the business. Several web designers are in our member directory.

Step 3 — Build only these five pages to start

1. Home — who you are, what you do, the area you serve, and your phone number top-right.
2. Services — a plain list of what you offer (with starting prices if you can).
3. About — your story and a real photo of you. People hire people.
4. Contact — phone, email, a short form, service area, and hours.
5. Reviews — three to five real quotes from happy customers.

Step 4 — Make it actually convert

Put your phone number on every page as a tap-to-call button on mobile. Add one clear “Get a Quote / Book Now” button everywhere. Make sure it loads fast and looks right on a phone — most visitors are on one. Skip the autoplay music and stock handshake photos; real photos of your real work beat all of it.

Step 5 — Get found locally (the free part that matters most)

1. Claim your Google Business Profile. It’s free and it’s what puts you in the map results for “[your service] near Howell.” Fill it out completely, add photos, and ask happy customers for reviews.
2. Keep your NAP identical everywhere — Name, Address, Phone must match exactly across your site, Google profile, and directories.

Step 6 — The free credibility boost

List your business in the Kingdom Gate member directory. It’s a real link back to your site from a local organization and a trust signal to customers and search engines — included with your free membership.

What it costs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a website if all my business comes from referrals?

Yes. Referred customers still look you up before calling. A simple, current site confirms you’re real and makes you easy to contact.

What’s the cheapest way to get a business website?

A domain (~$15/yr) plus a builder like Wix or Squarespace (~$15–25/mo) gets you live the same day for under $300 a year.

Is Google Business Profile more important than my website?

For many local businesses, yes — it surfaces you in the map results for “near me” searches, and it’s free. Do both, but never skip your Google profile.

How many pages do I need?

Five to start: Home, Services, About, Contact, and Reviews. Add more only when you have a real reason to.