What you need for a business website
The short answer: you need a domain, hosting and the website itself. Email on your domain, with the records that keep it out of spam, is strongly recommended. Almost everything else is optional.
Required
- A domain name$24.99 a year (.com)
Your address on the web. Register it in your name, not in the name of whoever builds your site. Search for your domain
- Hostingfrom $4.99 a month
The server your website lives on. If you use WordPress, WordPress hosting includes security and SSL. Compare hosting
- An SSL certificateusually included
It makes your site load with https and the padlock. WordPress plans include it; do not pay for a separate one if you already have it.
- The website itselfbuild it or hire it out
You can build it yourself with WordPress or a builder. If you would rather not, we build it for you.
Recommended
- Email on your domainfrom $4.99 a month per inbox
Like you@yourbusiness.com. Compare email plans
- SPF, DKIM and DMARCno cost
Three records in your domain's DNS that help keep your email out of spam.
- Google Search Consolefree
Tells you whether Google finds your site, which searches show it, and what errors it has.
- Google Business Profilefree
If you serve customers in person or in an area, it helps you show up on Google Maps.
- Backupsincluded with WordPress, or from $2.99 a month
So you can restore your site if something goes wrong.
- A privacy policyno cost if you write it
Needed if you have forms, analytics or cookies.
What you can skip
- A paid SSL certificate, if your hosting already includes one.
- A separate security plan, if your hosting already has a firewall and daily malware scans, as WordPress plans do.
- Extra endings like .net or .biz, unless you will use them or someone could use them to confuse your customers.
- Email marketing tools, until you have a customer list to write to.
What the first year costs
Two examples at our prices, not counting the website design.
| Option | Includes | First year |
|---|---|---|
| The minimum | .com domain and cPanel Starter hosting. You install everything and handle security. | $84.87 |
| What we recommend | .com domain, WordPress Basic hosting with SSL and security, and one Professional Email Light inbox. | $240.75 |
Because we do not use discounted first-year prices, the second year costs the same if prices do not change.
The pages your site should have
Home
What you do, for whom and where, on the first screen, with a button to call or ask for a quote.
One page per service
Each main service on its own page, so Google and AI assistants can show it when someone searches for it.
About
Who is behind the business, your experience and why to trust you.
Contact
Phone, form, hours and the area you serve.
Privacy
What data you collect and why.
Common questions
What is the minimum I need for a website?
A domain and a place to host the site. At our prices, a .com ($24.99 a year) plus cPanel Starter hosting ($4.99 a month) is the lowest-cost option, but you would install and look after everything yourself.
Do I need email on my domain?
It is not required, but it is strongly recommended. An address like you@yourbusiness.com earns more trust than a free account, and it stays yours even if you change internet providers.
Do I have to pay for an SSL certificate?
Rarely. Every WordPress hosting plan in our storefront includes SSL for the life of the plan, and so do the cPanel Deluxe and Ultimate plans. You only need a paid one if someone requires business validation.
Do I need a privacy policy?
If your site has a form, uses analytics or sets cookies, you should have one. The rules depend on your state and your customers, so check with a lawyer if you are unsure.
How many pages should my site have?
Five is enough for most service businesses: home, services, about, contact, and one page for each main service. A few useful pages beat many thin ones.
Start with the domain
Everything else connects to it. If you would rather we handle the rest, ask for a quote.