How do I build a website for my small business?

Site123

If you want to quickly set up a frills-free business site online, Site123 could be the website builder for you. With its guided setup and AI tools, you just need to answer a few basic questions to have a ready-to-publish site in minutes. There’s an always-free plan (though you’ll have to make do with a Site123 subdomain), while ecommerce features are accessible on premium.

Wix

Wix is a flexible, easy-to-use website builder with a massive selection of templates and a smooth drag-and-drop interface. Its AI-powered site creation tool helps beginners get started quickly. While the design freedom is excellent, you’re locked into your template after launch. It’s ideal for small businesses, creatives, or personal sites — but not the best fit for complex e-commerce needs.

Weebly

Weebly is a simple drag-and-drop website builder owned by Square (the payments provider). You can build your site using templates and the WYSIWYG editor, though unlike many rivals, there’s currently no AI setup option. Thanks to its parent company, Weebly does have excellent ecommerce support.

Webador

Webador offers a fast and friendly way to get online, ideal for individuals and small businesses. Its AI-driven setup, drag-and-drop editor, and mobile-ready templates make it a great entry-level platform. While its feature set is more basic than advanced competitors, it’s budget-friendly and effective for those wanting a hassle-free online presence with light e-commerce.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy’s ADI-powered builder is perfect for users who want a professional website live in minutes. With strong email marketing and analytics tools, it’s a great entry-level platform for small businesses. You can switch themes any time, but deeper customisation is limited. While it handles light e-commerce well, it lacks direct social media selling and more advanced store features.

How to create an online payments section for your website

Of course, if you’re selling online you will be dealing with debit and credit cards.

However, as a small business, not everyone will have heard of you. It’s vital to show your customers that you can be trusted when it comes to online payments as well as being able to create content.

The website builders also allow you to integrate the most popular payment methods into your e-commerce site.

Online payment provider Stripe, integrated into Squarespace and Wix, allows you to reach most of the credit/debit cards that people have in the UK and Europe.

PayPal is also a useful payment tool to have on your site because as a small business not everyone will know your name and may not trust you completely (yet). To prevent the customer pausing and potentially abandoning your site, PayPal encrypts user payments and gives them extra safety when dealing with you.

This means that small businesses get paid straight away but customers don’t pay for the item until they’ve received it. There’s a 14-day allowance for this.

“PayPal is a useful payment tool because as a small business not everyone will know your name and may not trust you completely”

Providers like WorldPay and Sage can also process your payments for you.

Whichever way you decide to design your website for your small business, be honest with yourself of how tech-savvy you are and also consider how much control you want to give over to website builders.

Once you know this, as well as your brand vision, you should have a good idea of how you are going to build your website.

E-commerce website builders

If you’d prefer to go for an e-commerce platform, you have a few options. Here are a few of the most popular:

Shopify

Shopify is the top choice for businesses with physical shops looking to sell online. It combines intuitive CMS-style management with sleek, customisable themes and seamless integrations for both digital and in-person sales. Its vast app store adds flexibility but often requires downloading tools that competitors include by default. Shopify supports global selling and social channels but includes transaction fees unless using its in-house payment system, which can add up for some merchants.

Examples of websites that use Shopify:

Natural baby products and gifts, naturalbabyshower.co.uk

Printed accessories and stationery, nikkistrange.co.uk

Textile designer, lauraspring.co.uk

EKM

EKM is a desirable alternative to Shopify for people who want a platform based in the UK. It comes with a range of templates and will be built ready to take payments from the get-go.

Pricing available on request.

Examples of websites that use EKM:

Online whiskey vendor, Whiskey Vault

Luxury watch shop, KC Watches

BigCommerce

BigCommerce has some handy tools for selling product and merchandise. Its visual editor allows users to insert text, imagery, video or products and its page builder tool has more than enough widgets to get a good quality site finished up relatively sharpish.

Examples of websites that use BigCommerce:

• Ted Baker
• BMW

More on website building

What’s the best website builder for my small business? – Do you want your small business to sell through the internet? Basic e-commerce packages offered by six of the most popular website builders compared

Small business SEO: 6 easy wins to boost your website ranking – Your small business SEO can rank alongside big rivals on Google if you follow these six simple steps