Is it Possible to Build and Launch a Small Business Website in One Day?

According to a recent survey by Siteefy, there are around 252,000 new websites created and launched every day. This goes to show how many new businesses are establishing an online presence to reach wider audiences. If you think about it, having a well-designed website is one of the most important steps of launching a business, in any industry. It’s not only a cornerstone of your brand identity but crucial to attracting customers and driving growth.

So, as a business or startup owner, you need to consider building a website before anything else. And one that provides a good user experience for people browsing for products or services, or just looking for information. They are likely to consider online platforms that are easy to navigate and responsive.

However, is it possible to build and launch a small business website in just one day? Let’s find out.

Who Builds Websites for Small Businesses?

There are a few options that you can consider before building a website for small businesses. The best one depends on your budget, business scalability, and long-term goals as well. Let’s talk about the key choices to consider for creating a website for your business, even in one day.

• Website Builders (DIY)
• Professional Web Designers
• Web Design and Development Agencies

Take a look at each one in detail so that you can make a well-informed decision according to your requirements.

a. DIY Website Builder

Now, while each option may appear suitable in the beginning, you have to think carefully here. For creating and launching a website in a day, the best solution would be a DIY website builder. It is affordable, easy to work with, and has customization features too.

With a web builder tool from LogoDesign.net for instance, you can find various templates and drag-and-drop editors to build a professional-looking website. It is incredibly easy to customize the layout or pages to launch an online platform that reflects your brand identity.

From choosing the right color scheme to selecting fonts, and integrating critical elements of any small business website, such as contact forms and logos, there are multiple options to choose from.

Once you have finalized the design, you can launch your online store or service page to connect with potential customers quickly.

Good for: Small businesses, startups, and professionals such as dentists, lawyers, or graphic designers who are looking to launch their websites or create portfolios in a short time. SkinbyGabby and Milestone Construction are examples of businesses that have created modern and versatile online platforms with web builders. Total Tree Maintenance is another small business website that is responsive and visually appealing as well.

Professional Web Designer

This is another possible solution for you to build a good website. If you hire a professional web designer, you need to understand that it might take them longer to work on every individual project. So for a small business website that needs to be launched in a day or two, this option could lead to a delay.

While a professional web designer would work on your website from scratch and deliver it exactly according to the given brief or requirements, you may have to push your deadline. Unlike a DIY website builder, where you can work on a chosen template on your own, a web designer needs clear instructions and feedback from start to finish.

You also have to keep in mind that additional changes or post-launch maintenance will cost slightly more with a web designer. Consider your budget for the website and your business goals, and then choose an option that fits accordingly.

Good for: SMEs and corporations that can afford to invest heavily in website design can look for professional designers. It is also important to consider business scalability and short-term growth. For e-commerce websites or service-based companies that are looking to expand quickly and will need to change or revamp their websites accordingly, this can be the right option.

Web Design and Development Agency

This might be quite an expensive option for small business or startup owners. Web design agencies require a flexible budget to work with for building and launching platforms that are user-friendly and responsive. If you decide to collaborate with one, it is important to consider that you may not have the flexibility for a lot of changes once the website is delivered. So if you require any changes in the colors, layout, or integration options later, you might have to pay a retainer to the agencies.

Good for: Corporations or small to mid-range businesses that require extensive management and security of websites can partner up with agencies to create and manage their online platforms. Businesses in retail, SaaS, or other fast-growing sectors can consider this a suitable choice. This may be the most expensive option out of all but paying an agency a retainer for your website could guarantee secure and smooth operations for a growing business. With a team of professionals managing high traffic, queries for sales, and improving SEO for visibility, it is easier to focus on growth.

In the end, it is a good idea to focus on a solution that is manageable and offers responsive support as well. Website builders like LogoDesign.net or hosting platforms like WordPress can be suitable options but as a small business owner, you need to prioritize flexibility.

A DIY tool can offer just that including easy customization. Keep in mind that a user-focused website should be easy to navigate, visually appealing, and optimized for mobile devices. Make use of the built-in SEO tools provided by DIY website builders to improve your search engine ranking, ensuring your site reaches more potential customers.

How long does it take to create a website?

When you are thinking of building and launching a small business website, it is essential to focus on the duration of the project. The time it takes to build a website mainly depends on the tools or platforms you are using. Let’s discuss the key factors that determine the time it takes to build or create a website for small businesses.

Complexity

The more complex your website design is, the longer it will take to launch it. A simple website that highlights a few services for a construction business, for example, will take around one day more than an ecommerce website with different elements. The second one might have multiple product pages, contact forms, pop-ups to build a customer database, breadcrumbs, and videos. This may also require a professional designer or agency to build it as DIY website builders are ideally suitable for minimalist web designs.

When you use a website builder it may take just a day or two to create an online platform or one-page portfolio. If you are working with preset templates, a simple site could take only an hour or so to complete and launch, while more custom designs may take several weeks.

Type of Website

Another factor to consider for the duration of the project is the niche or industry for the business website. Ecommerce, cybersecurity services, and SaaS websites can require up to three to four weeks to go live as they do need extensive planning. From content creation to product images, social proof, and payment gateways, you need to consider all aspects.

Whether you work with a professional designer or agency, it could take between one to six months to have technical websites ready for launch. Otherwise, you can always consider a DIY builder for minimalist designs that draw attention to your core message, service, or product. It could take anywhere from less than a day to 50 hours.

Domain

This is another key aspect to keep in mind. You need a domain and email that is unique and makes your business identifiable. It is crucial to buy a domain and get it registered so your website can be visible to potential customers. Similarly, a business email is also important for earning the trust of visitors as people may not trust a business without a domain email address.

Branding

It also makes a difference if your brand assets are in place beforehand. Logos, colors, fonts and images are just some of the elements that influence the appearance and design of the website. If you have a custom logo design with colors and fonts clarified, you can speed up the process of building a website. Be it a DIY website builder or designer, branding assets are required for the launch or any online platform.

In case you have to decide on a logo design, colors, or typography, the timeline may need to be shifted to a later date.

How much does it cost to build a website?

Once you have decided on an option to set up your small business website quickly, then it’s time to focus on the overall costs or budget. While the total cost can vary depending on each project’s requirements, it is a good idea to cover the basics such as hosting, domain registration, and a basic template.

If you go with a website builder from LogoDesign.net, you can access all these features for $14.99 per month. This is quite reasonable for small business or startup owners looking to establish an online presence quickly without breaking the bank.

If you are building a website with WordPress, for instance, your estimated pricing might range between $100 to $3000 and increase based on customization. For a basic website with a simple layout, you may not have to spend a lot of money. WordPress, for instance, has pricing for low-budget websites that do not require a lot of changes in design or constant maintenance.

As a business owner, you can pick free themes and plugins to get started with product pages, contact forms, and even SEO. If your website needs more customization or additional elements, then the cost could go higher than $1000.

With a professional designer, your budget may need to exceed $5000. According to Cyberlicious, a web designer can charge around $30 to $80 per hour depending on their experience and skill set. For a well-designed ecommerce website, your cost could average between $5000 to $10000.

Similarly, if you work with an agency, the total costs can vary based on the website industry and requirements, increasing with complexity. They could be around $20000 for online platforms in fintech or cybersecurity as they need traffic monitoring and high-end maintenance. When it comes to evaluating costs based on the best website builder and its features, they may ultimately depend on your needs, budget, and business goals.

Where to start?

After the costs, we are going to discuss some of the most important steps to getting started with building a website. If you decide to go with a DIY builder, here are a few key aspects to follow.

1. Research Competitor Websites

Research competitor websites to get an insight into what connects with potential customers. Get an understanding of how they have mapped out user journeys and highlighted brand elements to earn the trust of visitors.

2. Purchase a website address (Domain)

To develop a website from scratch, one should acquire a domain name and your website's address on the Internet, for example, www.yourbusiness.com. A memorable and relevant domain helps establish your brand and locate it more easily online.

To make sure you pick the right one, create a list of unique names representing your business and check with a domain registrar like LogoDesign.net to see if that name is available. Generally speaking, you want to opt for a top-level domain like the ‘.com’ suffix because this is the most recognizable and dependable; the second option could be ‘.net’ or ‘.biz’.

Choose a short, simple, and easy-to-remember name. This will help your business stand out to potential customers and create brand recognition.

3. Get a professional logo design

When building a website for your business, you need to have your brand assets set up. A logo is what people notice first, as it creates the imagery of your brand. To make a strong first impression on viewers, you need to get a professional logo design that captures the core values and message.

When people are browsing your business website, a well-designed logo will add to the credibility and earn the trust of potential customers. To create one, you can utilize online tools like an AI logo maker or invest in professional logo services. Ultimately, it needs to be simple yet striking, with the right color and font to flaunt your brand's personality.

4. Selecting a Web Builder or Designer

The option you choose is the key to getting started with website design quickly. So prioritize aspects like your budget, goals, and niche when deciding which one you want to select.

a. Professional designer

Look for a professional website designer who can deliver results in a given time frame and does not compromise on quality. Make sure you are clear on the brief and have a flexible budget in case of multiple changes or feedback. Decide on the total costs and get started with building your website for small businesses.

b. Design a business website with no code

With no-code AI website builders, it's easy to get a professional business website up and running without technical experience. These innovative tools allow you to create your website from scratch in an extremely easy manner.

An AI web builder offers a wide variety of templates for specific businesses, like ecommerce stores, to get started. You will be able to integrate all the main features, such as contact forms, booking systems, and payment gateways, right into your website without having to code anything.

5. Consider Tools for Online Stores

If you are considering launching an online store, look for tools like Optimizely and a CMS like Drupal or WordPress to get started. Creating a professional website can be a simple process if you have the proper tools and assistance to guide you right from the beginning. Such tools or a platform like Shopify can help you establish, personalize, and go live with your online store in a day or two.

Before launching your website, test all the e-commerce features beforehand so you can fix any bugs or errors that impact the user experience. Check if the products can be added to the shopping cart instantly or if there are any lags. Ensure secure checkout and payment gateway options provide a smooth buying experience.

6. Focus on Responsiveness and SEO

Use the built-in tools in the website builder like a fluid grid and image optimizer to preview how your website appears across multiple screen sizes or resolutions. Make your website responsive for mobile and keep improving SEO. You can also use tools like SEMrush to find industry-relevant keywords and use them in the alt text, meta descriptions, title tags, and product descriptions.

This will increase visibility in SERPs (search engine result pages) and make it easy for potential customers to find your website. ScreamingFrog and Yoast SEO can help you optimize your website and landing pages for higher visibility.

7. Launch and Promote

Once you are ready to launch your website make sure everything is working well. When you have tested all the functions and features you can go live. To promote it effectively use social media and digital ads. You can also run email marketing campaigns to drive more traffic. With tools like Google Search Console, businesses can track impressions, conversion, and CTRs as well.

For promotion, define a marketing channel like email or social media and use tools like MailChimp to run successful email marketing campaigns. The tools allow you to track open rates and conversions for promotional emails. Social media tools such as Hootsuite make it easier to schedule posts and follow engagement such as likes, comments, and reposts or reshares.

You can easily invest in these and track where the traffic on your website is coming from. This will help you streamline your marketing efforts to achieve business goals.

8. Set up a Support Email Address

Invest in a domain email address (e.g. yourname@yourbusiness.com) for customer support so that potential customers can reach out with queries and trust your business as well. Unlike generic or personal email addresses that just have your name and a provider like Outlook, a domain email shows the credibility of your business. So, its important to invest in a domain email address as soon as you begin working on the website. With platforms like LogoDesign.net, GoDaddy, or Namecheap, businesses can set up a custom email box easily.

You can also choose a hosting or email service provider like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 both of which provide domain emails. These are also trusted and you don’t have to worry about email hosting either.

9. Maintenance of your website

Maintenance means keeping your website secure, up-to-date, and functional. Check for loading speed as having a slow website may lead to a drop in visitors quickly. The average loading time is 2.5 seconds and anything more than that could result in a high bounce rate. This is one of the most important factors to keep in mind for website maintenance.

Once the platform is launched, keep a check on performance metrics. Update your software, plugins, and themes regularly to resolve any glitches or errors. This helps protect your site from security risks and keeps everything working together.

It is also a good idea to run content audits and update statistics or facts in blog pages or web content regularly. This will enhance your search engine results, maintain the relevancy of your website to the reader, and enhance user experience.

Conclusion

Simply put, yes it is possible to build and launch a website for a small business in one day. Having chosen the appropriate tools carefully–the AI web builder or among the best website builders–you can create a website from scratch that responds to the needs of your business and objectives. Regular updates, optimization with SEO considerations, and standards for security guarantee the better performance of your site. A highly designed and maintained website develops credibility, drives traffic, engages your audience, and sustains long-term growth. Invest in your website today, and it will become one of the most important assets to the future success of your business.