You know you need a website, but between running the business, serving customers and everything else, you have no time to build one. You are far from alone. The good news is that “no time” does not have to mean “no website”. This guide sets out your realistic options, what each one asks of you and how to choose the one that fits.
Why time is the real cost of a website
Building a website yourself is rarely just about dragging blocks around a page. You need to plan the pages, write the content, find suitable images, make sure it works on phones, set up the hosting and email, and think about search engines. Then there is the ongoing care: updates, backups, security and fixes. For a busy owner, each of those hours is an hour not spent on customers or paid work.
Your options when you have no time
1. Build it yourself in your spare time
A DIY website builder is the cheapest way in, and it can work if you enjoy the process and have evenings or weekends to spare. The catch is that the project tends to stall. Many half-finished sites never go live because there is always something more urgent.
2. Use a template and fill in the blanks
Templates speed things up, but you still have to write the content, choose the images and tweak the settings. You save some effort, not all of it, and the result can look like everyone else’s site.
3. Hire a freelancer
A freelancer can take the build off your hands, often at a sensible one-off price. Ask who looks after hosting and updates once the site is live, and how easy it is to reach them when you need a change later.
4. Hire an agency
An agency brings a team and a polished process, and it tends to suit larger projects and bigger budgets. For a small business the cost can be high, and you may not always be the priority.
5. Choose a done-for-you pay monthly service
With a done-for-you service, a specialist designs, builds, hosts and maintains your site for a monthly fee. You give the input and they do the work. For busy owners of small and start-up businesses, this is often the least stressful route, because there is nothing to learn and no big lump sum to find.
What you will still need to provide
Even with a done-for-you service, you are not completely hands-off, and it is better to know that up front. You will usually need to:
- Tell the designer what your business does and who your customers are
- Share your logo, photos and any content you already have
- Review the draft and say what you would like changed
- Approve the final site before it goes live
A good provider keeps that light and does the heavy lifting, but your knowledge of your own business is what makes the site accurate.
How to choose without wasting more time
A few quick tests will help you decide:
- Be honest about your time. If you have not touched the project in a month, DIY probably will not work.
- Look at the whole cost. Include hosting, updates and your own hours, not just the build price.
- Prefer one point of contact. Chasing several people for design, hosting and fixes defeats the purpose.
- Check what happens after launch. A website needs looking after, so ask who does it.
- Ask about search. A site nobody can find does not help your business.
How we can help
This is exactly the situation we built No Worry Websites for, and it is the option we would recommend for busy small business owners. We design and build your site with no templates, host it, look after it and make changes as your business changes, all for one monthly fee from £34.99 a month, with nothing to pay up-front. You have a single point of contact who does the work for you, and we speak in plain English, so no question is too simple.
You can find the details on our pay monthly websites page. If you are in Northamptonshire, we have also written a guide on who can build you a professional website in Northamptonshire, and you can compare prices in our article on how much a website costs for a small business.
Common worries about handing your website over
Some owners hesitate because they fear losing control. These are the questions we hear most often, and they are worth asking any provider.
- Will it look like my business? It should. A good designer asks about your customers, your services and your style, then builds around them rather than forcing you into a generic layout.
- What if I need a change later? Ask how changes are handled and whether they are included. With a done-for-you service, you should have one person to ask rather than a ticket queue.
- Am I locked in? Ask about contract length, the notice period and what happens to your domain name and content if you leave.
- Will people be able to find it? Ask how the site will be built for search engines, and be wary of anyone who guarantees rankings.
What the process usually looks like
Every provider works a little differently, but a done-for-you build generally follows the same simple path. You have a conversation about your business and what you want the website to do. The designer builds a draft. You review it and ask for changes. The site goes live, and from then on it is hosted, maintained and updated for you. The point is that at every stage, the effort sits with the specialist, not with you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to get a website if I have no time?
A done-for-you service is usually the easiest route. A specialist designs, builds, hosts and looks after the site for you, so you only need to share information about your business and approve the result.
How much of my time will a done-for-you website take?
Far less than building it yourself. You will typically explain what your business does, share your logo and photos, review a draft and approve the final site. The specialist handles the rest.
Can I pay monthly instead of up-front?
Yes, some providers offer this. At No Worry Websites you pay nothing up-front, and websites start from £34.99 a month, with hosting, support and changes covered by that monthly fee.
Will I still be able to get changes made?
It depends on the provider, so ask before you commit. With us, changes and updates are included in your monthly fee, subject to a fair usage policy, and you have one point of contact to ask.
Do I need any technical knowledge?
No. A good provider will speak in plain English and take care of hosting, security and updates for you. If you can explain your business, you can get a website.
What if I do not have a logo, photos or written content yet?
That is common with new businesses. Ask your provider how they can help with what is missing, and what you would be expected to supply yourself.
Final thoughts
Having no time is not a reason to go without a professional website. It is a reason to hand the work to someone who can do it properly. If that sounds like you, get in touch and let us take the worry off your plate.