Common Questions

Straight answers about getting a website built — pricing, timelines, SEO, and everything in between.

Got a question that is not covered here? Get in touch and I will give you a straight answer — no pressure, no sales pitch.
Pricing & Costs
How much does a website cost for a small business in Bristol?

It depends on the type of site and how you want to pay for it. Here is a quick breakdown:

  • Subscription — Starter Plan: £750 setup + £75/month (hosting included)
  • Subscription — Growth Plan: £1,400 setup + £300/month (includes ongoing SEO)
  • One-off — Essential: £2,000 (+ £15/month hosting, £10/year domain)
  • One-off — Premium: £8,000 (+ £15/month hosting, £10/year domain)

Most tradespeople and small businesses go for the Starter subscription — it avoids a large upfront payment and means everything is looked after for a fixed monthly cost.

Is it better to pay monthly or buy a website outright?

It depends on your situation. If you want to spread the cost and have someone handle everything — hosting, updates, fixes — the subscription makes more sense for most people. You never have to worry about anything technical.

A one-off project suits businesses that want to own the site outright and are comfortable paying for hosting separately, or that have a larger budget upfront. Either way, there is no wrong answer — it just depends on what works best for you.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. The price quoted is the price you pay. For one-off projects, hosting (£15/month) and a domain name (£10/year) are third-party costs — these are stated clearly upfront, not sprung on you afterwards. For subscription plans, hosting is already included in the monthly fee. No surprises.

Do I need to pay for hosting separately?

On the subscription plans, hosting is included — nothing extra to pay. On one-off projects, hosting costs £15 per month through a third-party provider. I will set it all up for you either way — you just need to know the cost exists.

What does SEO cost?

Basic SEO is included in every site at no extra charge — proper page titles, meta descriptions, fast loading, mobile-friendly layout, and a structure Google can read. This gets your site indexed and findable.

If you want to actively climb the rankings month by month with new content, keyword targeting, and performance reporting, that is the Growth Plan at £300/month. Most businesses see this as an investment rather than a cost — one extra job a month from Google typically covers it.

Getting Started
How long does it take to build a website?

A straightforward small business site typically takes two to four weeks from first conversation to going live. The main thing that affects speed is how quickly any content or photos can be provided. The process is simple:

  • Brief — we talk through what you need
  • Build — I design and build the site
  • Review — you give feedback, I make changes
  • Go live — site launches

You are kept in the loop throughout. No disappearing for weeks with no contact.

What do I need to provide to get started?

Not much. The main things are:

  • What your business does and the services you offer
  • The areas you cover
  • Your contact details
  • Any photos you have (don't worry if not — this can be sorted)
  • Any preferences on look and feel

You do not need to write any content, understand anything technical, or have a logo ready. That is all part of the process.

Can I see examples of your work before committing?

Yes — the Portfolio page has examples of real sites that have been built. There is no obligation to commit after getting in touch — the first conversation is just a chat about what you need and whether it is a good fit.

Do I need to know anything about websites or technology?

Not at all. The whole point is that you do not have to. You tell me about your business — what you do, who your customers are, what you want the site to achieve — and I handle everything from there. No technical knowledge required.

The Website
Will my website work on mobile?

Yes — every site is built mobile-first. More than half of all web traffic comes from phones, so this is non-negotiable. Your site will look and work correctly on phones, tablets, and desktops without any extra work on your part.

Can I update my website myself?

On the subscription plans, updates are included — just message and it gets done, usually the same day. There is no dashboard to log into or content management system to learn. If you need wording changed, a new service added, or a photo swapped out, just say so.

If you are on a one-off project and want the ability to edit content yourself, that can be discussed during the brief.

What happens if something breaks on my website?

On subscription plans, that is covered — it gets fixed. On one-off projects, ongoing support can be arranged for a small retainer. In either case, you will not be left dealing with a broken site on your own.

Will my website show up on Google?

Every site is built with the SEO basics in place so Google can find and index it. Whether it ranks well depends on competition in your area and how the site is set up — which is exactly why the SEO work is taken seriously from day one, not bolted on as an afterthought.

For businesses that want to actively climb the rankings, the Growth Plan includes ongoing SEO work month by month.

Can I keep my existing domain name?

Yes. If you already own a domain (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk), it can be pointed to your new site. I will walk you through what needs to happen — it is usually straightforward and does not require you to move the domain anywhere.

For Tradespeople
Do tradespeople really need a website?

Yes — and the ones without one are handing jobs to the ones who do. Most people search Google before calling anyone. If you are not online, you are invisible to anyone who does not already know you.

A professional website with your services, prices, and contact details builds trust instantly. It also works for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — even when you are on a job and cannot answer the phone.

I already have a Facebook page — do I still need a website?

Facebook is useful but it is not a website. The problems with relying on it:

  • You do not own it — Facebook can change the rules, limit your reach, or go down
  • Facebook pages rarely rank on Google for local searches
  • It looks less professional than a proper website
  • You cannot control how it looks or what people see first

A website is yours. It ranks on Google, looks professional, and works exactly how you want it to. Facebook and a website work well together — but a website should be your main online base.

Can a website actually get me more jobs?

Yes — that is the whole point. A website that ranks on Google for your services in your area puts you in front of people who are actively searching for what you do, at the exact moment they are looking. That is the most valuable kind of lead there is — someone who already wants the service.

One extra job a month from your website more than covers the cost of the monthly subscription.

What should a website for a tradesman include?

At a minimum, a tradesman's website needs:

  • Clear list of services with enough detail to answer common questions
  • The areas you cover
  • Pricing — even rough ballpark figures build trust
  • Contact details prominent on every page (phone number, not just a form)
  • A few photos of your work or van
  • Basic SEO so local searches can find you

Optional but useful: customer reviews, a FAQ section, a map of your service area, and clear response-time expectations.

Working with Built By Lee
Where are you based?

Bristol. Most work is done remotely so location does not really matter — I work with businesses across Bristol and the surrounding areas. Everything can be handled over the phone, email, or WhatsApp.

Is there a contract or minimum term?

No contract, no minimum term. The subscription is pay as you go — cancel any time with one month's notice. There is no lock-in, no early exit fee, and no small print to worry about.

The only upfront cost is the £750 setup fee, which covers the build. After that the £75 a month is completely flexible. If it is working for you, you keep it. If for any reason you want to stop, just say so and that is that.

The reason there is no minimum term is simple — if the site is doing its job and bringing in customers, you will not want to cancel. That is the only incentive needed.

What happens if I want to cancel the subscription?

There is no minimum term — you can cancel any time with one month's notice. When a subscription ends, the website is taken offline. The design and code remain the property of BuiltByLee — the subscription covers ongoing use, hosting, and maintenance of the site. Any words or content you provided are of course yours to keep. If you want to own your website outright and keep it regardless of our ongoing relationship, that is what the one-off project packages are for.

Can you take over a website I already have?

Yes — this is something Built By Lee can help with. If your current website is outdated, not showing on Google, not generating any enquiries, or you are just not happy with it, there are two options depending on how it was built.

If the site is built on standard code, the files can usually be taken over, moved to proper fast hosting, and overhauled — updated design, rewritten SEO from scratch, faster loading, and everything brought up to modern standards. This is often quicker and cheaper than starting completely fresh.

If it was built on a website builder like Wix or Squarespace, those platforms do not let you export the code properly — in that case a fresh build is usually the better route anyway, since those platforms tend to be slow, overpriced, and poor for Google rankings.

Either way, the first step is the same — get in touch with your current site URL and I will take a look, give you an honest assessment of what it needs, and tell you exactly what it would cost to fix it.

My website isn't showing on Google — can you fix it?

Yes. This is one of the most common problems small businesses in Bristol come to Built By Lee with. There are usually a handful of reasons a site does not appear on Google:

  • Missing or thin page titles and meta descriptions
  • No local SEO — Google does not know what area you serve
  • Slow loading speed — Google penalises slow sites
  • Poor site structure — Google cannot read what the site is about
  • No Google Business Profile set up alongside the site

All of these are fixable. Whether it makes more sense to overhaul the existing site or build fresh depends on what you have got — get in touch with your site URL and I will tell you exactly what the problem is and what it would take to sort it.

What makes Built By Lee different from other web designers?

A few things:

  • Every site is built from scratch — no templates, no page builders, no generic layouts
  • The focus is on sites that actually get results, not just sites that look nice
  • You deal with one person throughout — not a team who do not know your business
  • Pricing is transparent from the start — no surprises
  • The target market is small businesses and tradespeople, so the experience is built around that

Still got a question?

Get in touch and I will give you a straight answer. No sales pitch, no obligation — just a chat about what you need.

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