Hilda’s Kitchen is the talk of the town. Her pastries are legendary, and her cooking skills are excellent. Customers crave the taste; the queue out her shop door speaks for itself. But there’s a problem: Hilda has no website. That means missed opportunities like online orders, catering inquiries, and even a whole new stream of customers who could have discovered her through a simple Google search. She knows she needs a website, but setting up a good website online feels intimidating.
Many small businesses operate like Hilda’s Kitchen, which is why a professional website is essential for almost any small business. A website is like your store that stays live 24/7, and it’s where potential customers discover your business online. Luckily, you do not have to be a full-stack developer to build a good website.
The best website builder for small businesses helps you work the process. Think of it as your toolbox for crafting a website that looks great with excellent functionality. With intuitive tools and stunning templates, you can focus on showcasing your business instead of wrestling with code. If you’re ready to take your business online, let’s explore the best website builders for small businesses like yours in this article.
Key insights
- Website builders offer easy online access to your business without coding knowledge.
- An easy user-interface is important for any website builder you choose to use.
- Choose a website builder based on the needs of your small business since most offer easy customizable options.
- It is important that your business has a domain name of its own rather than existing as a subdomain of the website builder you are using.
What Makes the Best Website Builder for Small Businesses?
Susan Boles, a virtual CFO and Business Strategist, offers a valuable perspective that many small business owners will resonate with. She says:
The best website tool is the one that works and that you use. Most website services these days have a lot of the same functionality. So pick the one that makes it easy for you and just get started. You can refine, move, and get fancier later on—getting your business and your work out into the world should be the priority.
When picking a website builder, some crucial aspects to consider are:
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Ease of Use
Wisely choosing a website builder involves picking one that offers a user a drag-and-drop editor for navigation. The drag-and-drop functionality can significantly enhance the speed of website creation from scratch.
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Design Flexibility and Templates
Your website should reflect your unique brand. Opt for a builder with a diverse range of customizable templates. This gives you a great starting point and the freedom to adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to match your business’s personality.
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Essential Features
Figure out the functionality you need for your specific business. E-commerce capabilities are important if you plan to sell online. Other standard features include contact forms, appointment booking tools (if you offer services), and the ability to embed blogs or photo galleries.
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Affordability
Small businesses often have tight budgets. Website builders offer a cost-effective option. Many have free plans to get you started and paid tiers usually come with various price points that fit your needs.
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Customer Support
When you inevitably have questions, responsive customer support is invaluable. Look for builders with excellent help centres, live chat options, or phone support to guide you.
6 Best Website Builder for Small Businesses
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Wix (Best for most businesses)
Wix is just one of the most effective website builder for small businesses. Its user-friendliness makes it a superb selection for an extensive range of companies.
Pros
- Huge theme collection: Wix uses numerous properly made layouts covering different markets, so you can find something that matches your ideal vision.
- Intuitive editor: Wix’s drag-and-drop user interface is incredibly easy to master, even for those without website design experience.
- Wide variety of functions: From shopping and blog writing to reservations, email advertising, and marketing, Wix supplies functions to sustain expanding services.
- App market: Extend your website with third-party applications for occasion schedules and social network assimilation.
Cons
- Free strategy constraints: Wix’s totally free strategy has substantial restrictions on storage space, transmission capacity, and screen advertisements on your website.
- Not quickly transferable: Moving your website to another server can be complex.
Wix’s adaptability makes it a strong selection for most local businesses, from regional stores and dining establishments to consultants and imaginative specialists. If you require an all-around website building contractor that grows with your company, Wix is worth considering.
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Squarespace (Best for creatives and designers)
Squarespace is particularly popular among artists and designers because of its emphasis on creating websites. If you’re someone who wants to display your work, Squarespace would be the option for you.
Pros
- Designs: Squarespace is well known for its appealing templates. If having a website that looks great is important to you, Squarespace excels in this aspect.
- Ideal for image businesses: Photographers, designers, artists and other-oriented businesses thrive on Squarespace.
- Integrated blogging tools: With blogging features, Squarespace attracts content creators looking to establish their online presence.
- User-friendly: Some users find Squarespace easier to navigate due to its options than Wix.
Cons
- Limited template customization: Despite the beautiful templates available, Squarespace offers less flexibility in customizing designs than some competitors.
- Steeper learning curve: For beginners, Squarespace may need to be more intuitive than platforms like Wix.
- Absence of a free plan: Although Squarespace offers a free trial, basic websites don’t have access to a forever free plan.
Squarespace caters to small businesses where design and visual appeal take the stage. Consider the idea of portfolios, creative studios, upscale shops and companies displaying offerings or services.
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Shopify (Best for dedicated online stores)
If you’re interested in selling a product, Shopify is a good choice. It’s a platform crafted specifically to assist you in creating and overseeing a store.
Pros
- Comprehensive e-commerce tools: Shopify equips you with everything for managing product listings, inventory, shipping, payments, taxes and more.
- Versatility: It caters to businesses of all sizes, from budding startups to established corporations, and it is capable of handling substantial order loads.
- Customization and themes: Shopify boasts visually appealing store themes and offers reasonable customization options to suit your store’s unique style.
- App variety: Its extensive app selection enables the integration of features such as product reviews, loyalty programs and cutting-edge marketing tools.
- E-commerce assistance: Shopify offers dedicated support to resolve issues and optimize your online retail space.
Cons
- Complexity concerns: Shopify’s many features may present a learning curve compared to simpler website-building platforms.
- Transaction expenses: Unless opting for Shopify Payments, transaction fees are levied on each sale made through the platform.
- Limited complimentary features: While there isn’t a free plan available, upfront starting with a trial period is an option. Monthly subscription costs might exceed those offered by website builders.
Shopify is an option for businesses focusing on retail. If you’re considering starting a store with a range of products or need sales features, Shopify is the platform for you.
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GoDaddy (A budget-friendly choice for beginners)
GoDaddy stands out as a player in website creation and domain registration. Their website builder prioritizes simplicity and cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for small business owners on a budget.
Pro
- User setup: GoDaddy’s website builder is renowned for its ease of use, which makes it perfect for those seeking a quick and straightforward way to establish an essential website.
- Competitive pricing: GoDaddy’s pricing plans are often among the best options available in the market.
- Marketing tools included: GoDaddy provides marketing features to promote your website.
- Round-the-clock support: GoDaddy offers accessible customer support services that operate 24/7.
Cons
- Limited design customization: Compared to platforms like Wix or Squarespace, GoDaddy offers limited options for customizing the appearance and layout of your site.
- Basic features: While it covers the essentials, GoDaddy needs more depth of features found in some competing platforms.
- Long-term costs: Although initial plans are budget-friendly, expenses can accumulate as you require advanced functionalities over time.
GoDaddy is a choice for businesses that appeal to novices who prioritize simplicity and swift online presence without hefty expenditures.
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Bumpa (Best for e-commerce and business management)
Bumpa is one of the best website builder for small businesses that prioritize business management, and is designed for the needs of small African businesses. It focuses on combining website creation with inventory management, invoicing, and other practical tools for online and offline operations.
Pros
- African market focus: Bumpa understands the specific challenges and opportunities faced by businesses operating in African countries.
- Inventory and sales management: Bumpa goes beyond building a website. It allows you to manage products, track sales, and handle everyday business operations.
- Simplified e-commerce: Bumpa makes setting up a primary online store and accepting payments easy.
- Customer Communication: Bumpa integrates communication features that make it easier to reach customers directly through platforms like WhatsApp.
- Community and resources: Bumpa provides access to a community of entrepreneurs and educational resources.
Cons
- Less design flexibility: Compared to Wix or Squarespace, Bumpa offers fewer options for deep template customization.
- Regional availability: Bumpa has limited features or support outside its primary focus on the African market.
- Potential feature limitations: Bumpa’s all-in-one approach might mean its website builder tools are less extensive than dedicated platforms.
Bumpa is a compelling choice for African small businesses that need an online presence and tools to handle daily business operations. It’s particularly well-suited for companies focused on selling products, whether exclusively online or combined with a physical store.
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Vzy (Best for those who want a website fast)
Vzy sets itself apart by using intelligence to simplify website creation. Its main goal is to help you get your website online quickly and easily.
Pros
- Quick and easy setup: Vzys AI assistant can create a website by asking simple questions about your business.
- User-friendly: Vzy is designed to be easy for beginners without coding or design skills.
- Mobile editing: You can easily make changes and updates to your website directly from your phone or tablet.
- Free trial: Vzy provides a plan for users to test the platform, making it accessible even to those with limited budgets.
Cons
- Customization options: The focus on speed may result in detailed control over the design of your website compared to platforms like Wix or Squarespace.
- New: Vzy is relatively new, so its feature set and community support might not be as extensive as those of other website builders.
- AI limit: Like every other AI, it can sometimes misinterpret your input or produce less-than-ideal initial results.
Vzy.co is worth considering if you’re a small business owner who needs an essential website online ASAP and is willing to sacrifice some design flexibility for speed.
Is a Free Website Builder the Best Choice for You?
Most of the best website builder for small business are not free, they usually come with a premium charge. If you don’t have the required budget, you might want to try a free website builder or the free plan of most premium website builder. These options allow you to explore and create an online presence without needing to pay in advance.
Pros of free plans
- Zero cost: The most obvious benefit is that you can start building a website without spending money.
- Experimentation: Try different website builders and get a feel for website creation before committing.
- Good for simple sites: A free plan might be okay if you need a very basic information website (think of it as a digital business card).
Cons of free plans
- Ads: Most free plans require you to display the builder’s advertisements on your site, which can look unprofessional.
- Limited storage and bandwidth: Your website’s performance and the number of visitors it can handle might be restricted.
- Subdomain: You won’t get a custom domain name but a subdomain on the domain host. For example, if Hilda’s Kitchen wants a domain name of www.hildaskitchen.com, registering on a free plan on Godaddy (for example) will make her have www.godaddy.hildaskitchen.com instead. This will not be exactly great for the business’ visibility.
- Lack of advanced features: Free plans often need e-commerce tools, advanced analytics, or SEO customization.
When to Consider Upgrading to a Paid Website Builder
- Professional look: When you want to remove ads and register your domain name (essential for credibility), it’s a good idea to upgrade to a paid plan.
- Growth: If your website gets significant traffic or needs more storage space for business expansion and customer growth.
- Selling online: E-commerce functionality typically requires a paid plan.
- Advanced features: If you require functionalities such as booking tools, membership areas, or email marketing integrations, free website builders can serve as a starting point. However, for businesses aiming for long-term online success and professionalism, upgrading to a paid plan is often necessary.
Tips for Small Business Websites
Besides the website builder itself, there are crucial factors to consider for establishing a successful online presence;
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Importance of selecting a good domain name
Opting for a short and memorable domain name that reflects your business is essential. Tools like Domainr can aid in generating domain options.
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SEO strategies
Implementing even basic search engine optimization techniques can enhance your website’s visibility in search results. Research relevant keywords related to your business and incorporate them naturally into your site content.
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Integration of media with your website
Promote your website on social platforms and include links to your social channels to create a seamless experience for your audience.
Read Also
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How to Scale a Business in AI Era: Strategies for Entrepreneurs
Venture Capital: Meaning, Types, Stages and How it Works
Conclusion
Choosing the right website builder for businesses is a more than one-size-fits-all solution. Numerous excellent options are designed to help you develop a website without expenses or requiring technical expertise. The key is choosing a builder that is easy to use and fits your needs.
Having a crafted website is like having a storefront that never closes, always ready to attract new customers, enhance efficiency and establish a solid online reputation for your business.
“Do you want to be ahead of your competition with our bespoke web development services? We are the right solution! Reach out to us on WhatApp and skyrocket your brand presence.”
Can one consider WordPress to be a website builder?
If yes, then I think it will be a great addition to this list.