Is having a website worth it for a sole trader?

By Charlie B, Deliberate Design.

The short answer: do the sum. A simple site costs £240 a year with us, or about £200 on a builder you run yourself. If one extra job a year covers that, and for most trades one job does, it is worth it. If you are booked solid from referrals and want to stay that size, it is not, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

When it is not worth it

• You are full, with a waiting list, and happy that way
• All your work comes through one or two contractors
• You are winding down

In those cases a free Google Business Profile with your number is enough.

When it is

• You have quiet weeks
• People ask "have you got a website" and you say no
• You answer the same questions on the phone every day
• You want to charge more, and a professional front helps

Keep it small

A sole trader does not need five pages. One page with what you do, where, your number, a few photos and some reviews. That page costs nothing to keep up and you can change it yourself when prices change.

What it costs

Ours: £99 once, then £20 a month with your web address and hosting included and no minimum term. If it does not bring work, you stop, and your address and words go with you.