The Best Way to Get Your Small Business Online in 2026 | DIY, Web Designer or Business Page?
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
One of the first questions every new business owner asks is:
"How do I get my business online?"
There are more options than ever before, and choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.
Should you build a website yourself? Hire a web designer? Or is there now a simpler option?
Having worked with businesses of all sizes, I've found that the right answer depends on what you're trying to achieve.
Let's look at the three main ways to get your business online.
Option 1: Build a Website Yourself
DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace and WordPress have made it easier than ever to create your own website.
If you enjoy learning new software and have plenty of time, they can be a good choice.
However, building your own website still takes work.
You'll need to:
Choose a template
Learn the platform
Write all of your content
Source or create images
Design each page
Make sure it works on mobile devices
Publish and maintain it
Many business owners start with great intentions, only to discover that building a professional website takes much longer than expected.
Time spent learning website software is time you're not spending finding customers or growing your business.
Option 2: Hire a Professional Web Designer
If you want something completely tailored to your business, hiring a professional web designer is often the best investment.
A bespoke website gives you complete flexibility and can be designed specifically around your goals, branding and customers.
This is the service I provide.
Whether you need a brochure website, a portfolio, a booking system or something more bespoke, working with a web designer means you get a solution that's built specifically for your business—not a template.
A custom website is ideal if you need:
Multiple pages
Ecommerce
Booking systems
Advanced functionality
Search engine optimisation across many services
A unique design tailored to your brand
While it's a larger investment than DIY tools, it can deliver significant long-term value for businesses that need more than a simple online presence.
Option 3: Choose a Done-for-You Business Page
Not every business needs a full website.
Sometimes, all you need is a professional online presence where customers can quickly learn about your business and contact you.
That's exactly why PageNow was created.
Instead of asking you to build a website yourself—or paying for a fully bespoke project—you simply complete a quick onboarding form with your business details.
From there, the PageNow team builds your professional business page for you.
Your page includes everything most customers are looking for:
Business information
Services
Contact details
Images
Social media links
Clear calls to action
Best of all, your page is live within 24 hours and costs just £6.99 per month.
It's a fantastic option for startups, sole traders, freelancers, tradespeople and local businesses that simply want to get online quickly.
Which Option Is Right for You?
The right choice depends on your business goals.
Build it yourself if...
You enjoy learning new tools.
You have time to invest.
You're happy to manage your own website.
Hire a web designer if...
You need a bespoke website.
Your business has more complex requirements.
You want a unique design and advanced functionality.
You're looking for a long-term digital partner.
Choose PageNow if...
You want to get online quickly.
You don't want to build a website yourself.
You don't need a large multi-page website.
You simply want a professional online presence where customers can learn about your business and get in touch.
You want an affordable solution that's ready within 24 hours.
My Recommendation
As a web designer, I could tell everyone they need a custom website.
But that wouldn't be true.
Some businesses absolutely benefit from a bespoke website, and I'm always happy to help with those projects.
Others simply need a professional online presence that looks great, builds trust and makes it easy for customers to get in touch.
For those businesses, I genuinely recommend PageNow.
It's affordable, professionally built and removes the hassle of creating a website yourself.
The important thing isn't choosing the most expensive option—it's choosing the option that's right for your business today.
Final Thoughts
Getting your business online has never been easier.
Whether you decide to build your own website, work with a web designer or choose a professionally built business page, the important thing is that customers can easily find you, understand what you do and contact you.
If your business needs a bespoke website with advanced functionality, I'd love to help.
If you simply want to get online quickly with a professionally built business page, I recommend taking a look at PageNow. Complete the quick onboarding form, and your page will be live within 24 hours for just £6.99 per month.
The best online presence is the one that fits your business—not the one that costs the most.
