Website Planning & Development
Small business website design, planned before it's built
Steadward designs and builds websites for small businesses, starting with the business rather than a template. We work out who your customers are, what they search for and what would make them get in touch, then build a site around that. New websites start from £995. We're based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire and work with small businesses across the UK.
Book a free consultation See what's includedTwo ways in
Your first website
You're starting out or have been getting by on social media and word of mouth. You need a professional website that explains what you do, can be found in search and makes it easy to contact you.
Replacing a website that isn't working
Your site looks dated, doesn't bring in enquiries or is hard to update. Sometimes a rebuild is the answer; sometimes the site needs fixing, not replacing. We'll tell you which.
Why planning comes first
Before anything is designed, we work out what the site needs to do, who it's for and what those people search for. We look at:
- Your business and goals — what a good enquiry looks like
- Your customers — what they worry about and what makes them choose
- Search demand — what people look for on Google, Bing and AI assistants
- Your competitors — what they do well and where you can stand out
- Structure and journeys — the pages you need and the path to an enquiry
The plan decides the design, not the other way round.
What's included in small business website design
- A planning session before anything is designed
- A page structure built around your services and customers
- Mobile-friendly, responsive design and fast-loading pages checked against Core Web Vitals
- On-page SEO: page titles, descriptions, headings and internal links
- Structured data to help search engines understand your business
- Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools set-up with sitemap submission
- Contact or enquiry forms and click-to-call on mobile
- Privacy-friendly analytics and basic accessibility checks
We choose a platform to suit your business, often WordPress. You'll be able to update everyday details yourself, and we'll show you how.
Three ways to start
| Package | Starter | Business | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From £995 | From £1,750 | From £2,950 |
| Best for | New businesses that need a professional presence | Established small businesses that want more enquiries | Businesses needing bespoke design or connected systems |
| Pages | Up to 5 | Up to 10 | Scoped to fit |
| Planning | Planning session | Planning workshop | Full planning and discovery |
| Content | You supply words and photos | Up to 2 hours of copywriting help | Scoped to fit |
| Rounds of changes | 2 | 3 | Agreed in your proposal |
| Extras | Contact form, Google and AI search set-up | Local SEO, Google Business Profile set-up, booking or enquiry forms | Bespoke design, booking systems, CRM and other integrations |
| Typical timescale | 1–2 weeks | 2–4 weeks | Agreed in your proposal |
Prices are starting points. We'll confirm your final quote before work starts. Timescales run from when your content is ready. Additional copywriting is £95 an hour, charged in 15-minute blocks.
Already had a Website Growth Review? The £395 comes off the cost of a new website.
How it works
- 01
Free consultation
A 20–30 minute conversation about your business, customers and goals. No obligation.
- 02
Proposal
We recommend an option and confirm the price and timescale in writing.
- 03
Plan
We map customers, search demand, competitors and page structure.
- 04
Design and build
You see the design before it is finished, with agreed rounds of changes.
- 05
Launch
We check the site, connect Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and go live.
- 06
Improve
After launch you can keep your website looked after and improving.
Most sites take one to four weeks from go-ahead to launch, depending on when content is ready.
Built to be found on Google, Bing and AI search
Every site we build is planned for clear answers about what you do, where and for whom; structured business information; crawlable pages; and consistent business details. Nobody can guarantee a ranking or an AI recommendation, but search visibility is part of the plan, not an add-on.
You own your website
Your domain, content and website belong to you. We register the domain in your name and, if you move on, hand over the logins and files you need with no exit fees.
After launch
Keep your site secure, up to date and improving with a monthly plan:
- Care — from £45 a month: hosting, security, backups, updates, monitoring and small edits
- Care + Growth — from £95 a month: everything in Care, plus a monthly report and 30 minutes of improvements
No minimum term; three months' notice to cancel.
Selected website projects
Wedding Day Moments
A new website designed and built for a wedding content creation business.
Stuart Toogood Wedding Guitarist
A new website designed and built for a wedding guitarist.
Blue Diamond Entertainment
Moved a site of more than 100 pages from Wix to a new platform, rewriting existing pages, redirecting weak content and building new service, location and venue pages.
Common questions
How much does a small business website cost?
Our websites start at £995 for a site of up to five pages. Larger sites and extra features cost more, and we confirm the price in writing before any work starts.
How long does it take to build a website?
Usually one to two weeks for a Starter site and two to four weeks for a Business site, counted from when your content is ready.
What do you build websites on?
Whatever suits the job. Many small business sites are best on WordPress, but we choose the platform around what your business needs.
Can I update the website myself?
Yes. You will be able to change text, images and everyday details yourself, and we will show you how at launch.
Do I own my website?
Yes. Your domain, content and website are yours. If you move on, we will hand everything over with no exit fees.
Will my website show up on Google and in ChatGPT?
Every site is built with fast, crawlable pages, clear content, structured data and search-tool setup. Nobody can guarantee rankings or AI recommendations.
Do I need a Website Growth Review first?
Not for a brand-new website. If you book a rebuild with us within 3 months of a £395 Website Growth Review, we credit the Review fee against the build.
How do I pay for a new website?
A 20% deposit books the work. The balance is due once you’re happy with the finished site, before it goes live.
Do you write the content?
On Starter you supply words and photos. Business includes up to two hours of copywriting help. Additional copywriting is £95 an hour, charged in 15-minute blocks.
Do you work with businesses outside Worcestershire?
Yes. We are based in Worcestershire and work with small businesses across the West Midlands and the rest of the UK.
Start with a conversation
Tell us what you need your website to do. We'll tell you which option fits, or whether you need a new website at all. Call 01562 265075 or send an enquiry.
Start a conversation