Get rid of the clutter and get started.

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Key points

• Business owners create websites to sell goods, monetize blogs, or establish credibility.
• Choose a website builder, create a domain name and design your website.

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Congratulations! You are about to create a website for your small business. You may have read articles that have blown you away with technical terms and building-from-scratch tips. It’s not that. But before you get started, you’ll need to answer a very important question.

Why do you need a website?

Many small businesses need an outlet that will allow them to sell products, build their reputation, and monetize their content. Does this also describe your business?

Once you’ve answered this question, you’re ready to create a website in three easy steps.

1. Choose a website builder

This part is easy but punchy. You’re free to do as much or as little research as you want, but know that once you’ve created your website, you’re pretty much locked in. Making a new one will mean starting from scratch, and no one wants that.

Here are a few website builders that make things easier for small business owners:

• Shopify: For small business owners who want to sell products through their website.
• Wix: For small business owners who want complete creative freedom.
• Squarespace: For small business owners who want to build clean websites quickly.

It’s so simple. The website pricing plans will consist of monthly or yearly subscriptions. They range between $20 and $30 per month, and website builders always offer discounts.

Check out the best e-commerce solutions for small businesses to compare features.

Once you subscribe (or try the free trial), you can design your website or choose a domain name.

2. Choose a domain name

You will need a unique domain name that people can use to search for your business. Website builders will usually help you choose one. Note that you will have to pay for the privilege of using the domain name for as long as your website is running.

Don’t worry about accidentally launching a running website. You’ll need to hit a big “publish” button before the public gets access to your site.

3. Design and publish

Designing the site will take you some time. Since this article aims to make things easier, the websites I have recommended make the design process easier. If you’re a beginner, it’s hard to go wrong with the Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify design tools.

Tools typically include a no-code editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and a stock photo library. There will be plenty of guides to answer frequently asked questions.

Once your website looks pretty enough, you can publish it. The post brings up your blog, products, etc. in Google searches.

That’s all

At this point, you can pat yourself on the back. You have landed. Your website is up and running and you are officially online.

Too basic for you? If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, consider reading this step-by-step guide on how to build a website from scratch (no coding required). Setup will take longer, but you’ll have more control over the design and maintenance of your site.