Starting a business? How to get your first website fast, without a monthly bill

The five things your first website needs

That's it. Blogs, galleries and fancy animation can wait until customers ask for them.

• What you do, in plain words, at the top.
• Where you work: your towns or service area.
• How to reach you: phone, email, and a contact form.
• Proof you're real: photos of your work, your hours, and reviews once you have them.
• One clear button: call, request a quote, or book.

Get the domain early

Register yourbusiness.com (or a close version) as soon as you pick a name. It costs about $10 to $20 a year at any registrar and keeps someone else from taking it. Until it's ready, a free address works too.

Watch the monthly bills

Most website builders charge every month for as long as your site is online, often $200 or more a year for an entry plan. In your first year, every recurring bill counts. Look at the three-year total before you sign up for anything.

Fast, good and low cost

simple a site. asks a few questions about your business and shows you your homepage free before you pay. If you like it, it's $129 once for one business website, with covered hosting at $0 for ordinary business websites. You edit it in plain words, publish when you're ready, and can download your complete website files at any time. Covered hosting includes the built-in menus, shops, bookings and order requests; large stores with inventory systems, memberships and custom apps may need another solution. The domain renews separately.