How to Start a Business Website in 2026: Choosing The Best Website Platform for Small Business, Costs, and First Steps
- Leah Solmaz
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
Starting a business in 2026 is easier than ever, but building the right digital foundation still determines long-term success.
Before investing heavily in branding or advertising, founders should focus on three essentials:
Registering the company for credibility
Securing a domain and online presence
Choosing the best website platform for growth and budget
This guide explains the best website platforms for small businesses, their benefits, and typical monthly costs in the UK.
Why your website platform matters for startup marketing
Your website is more than a brochure. It is your credibility signal, lead generator, and marketing hub.
Different platforms serve different stages of business:
Drag-and-drop builders prioritise speed and simplicity
Open systems prioritise flexibility and scale
Ecommerce platforms prioritise sales infrastructure
Choosing correctly early prevents expensive rebuilds later.
Wix pricing, benefits, and best use cases
Wix is widely considered one of the most beginner-friendly website builders, offering drag-and-drop design, AI tools, and integrated business features.
Key benefits
Flexible editor with hundreds of templates and integrations
Built-in marketing, ecommerce, and analytics tools
Monthly cost
Wix premium plans in 2025 range from roughly $19 to $159 per month, depending on features and business size.
This makes Wix ideal for:
New startups validating an idea
Service businesses needing quick launch
Founders without technical experience
WordPress costs, flexibility, and scalability
WordPress powers a significant portion of the internet and is a free, open-source CMSÂ that becomes paid through hosting, domains, and optional plugins.
Key benefits
Full control over design, SEO, and integrations
Scalable from simple brochure sites to ecommerce platforms
Monthly cost
Basic WordPress hosting in the UK can start from around £2 to £6 per month depending on provider, while managed hosting commonly ranges from £25 to £75 per month.
This makes WordPress suitable for:
Businesses planning long-term growth
SEO-focused marketing strategies
Custom functionality or integrations
Squarespace pricing, design quality, and simplicity
Squarespace is often positioned between Wix and WordPress, combining ease of use with strong visual design.
Key benefits
Professionally designed templates and strong blogging tools
Built-in ecommerce and structured editing experience
Monthly cost
Typical basic plans are around £12 per month based on comparative UK pricing data.
Squarespace works best for:
Creatives and personal brands
Portfolio or content-led websites
Businesses prioritising visual presentation
Shopify pricing and ecommerce power
Shopify is the leading dedicated ecommerce platform, supporting multi-channel selling, inventory management, and secure payments.
Key benefits
Built specifically for online stores and product sales
Scalable infrastructure with strong compliance and integrations
Monthly cost
Entry-level Shopify pricing typically starts around £25 per month for basic plans.
Shopify is best for:
Product-based businesses
Scaling ecommerce brands
Businesses selling across multiple channels
IONOS pricing and beginner-friendly hosting
IONOS focuses on affordable hosting and simple website creation, particularly for European small businesses.
Key benefits
Low introductory pricing and bundled services
Templates and guided setup for beginners
Monthly cost
Basic website builder packages can start from roughly £1 per month initially, rising to about £16 per month after promotion.
This makes IONOS suitable for:
Very early-stage startups
Budget-conscious founders
Simple brochure websites
How to choose the best website platform for your business
The right decision depends on stage, budget, and ambition:
Fast validation → Wix or IONOS
Design-led brand → Squarespace
Long-term SEO and flexibility → WordPress
Serious ecommerce → Shopify
Most growing businesses eventually combine:
marketing simplicity first → scalability later
build credibility before scaling marketing & Choosing the Best Website Platform for Small Business
Before running ads or complex campaigns, focus on:
Registering your company
Securing your domain and brand presence
Launching a credible website with SEO foundations
These three steps create the trust layer every successful marketing strategy depends on.
Ready to grow faster?
Explore expert-built SEO websites, lead generation systems, and outsourced marketing support: