Practical guide — 2025

create website for business free

A simple, no‑fluff plan to build a free website that looks professional, ranks in Google, and grows your business.

This guide walks you through platform choices, content you must have, SEO basics you can do in 30 minutes, and low-cost growth steps when you’re ready to scale.

0$

Upfront cost (possible)

30 mins

Minimum setup time

Mobile-first

Design priority for every modern site

What you'll learn

  • Which free platform fits your business
  • Exact content and layout that convert visitors into customers
  • SEO basics you can do today to get found on Google
  • Easy growth ideas that don’t need a budget

Quick 7-step plan (do this now)

Follow these steps in order. You can finish a simple, usable site in an hour.

1. Define one clear goal

Pick exactly what you want the website to do: get phone calls, capture email, show services, or take bookings. Everything on the page supports that goal.

2. Choose a free platform (see options below)

Pick one platform and stick with it. For most small businesses the easiest choices are Google Business Profile site, WordPress.com free plan, Wix free, or Carrd for single‑page sites.

3. Gather short, useful content

Write a short headline, 3–5 service bullet points, prices or starting rates, 1–2 testimonial snippets, contact phone and email, and 3 photos (team, job, or shop).

4. Build a focused home/landing page

Hero with headline + single call-to-action (call now, message, or booking). Add services, a short about, reviews, contact block with map or service area.

5. Do the SEO basics (15–30 minutes)

  • Pick a primary keyword (example: "plumber Sydney north" or "dog groomer near me")
  • Include that keyword in your page title, H1, first paragraph, and meta description
  • Add clear contact info in text (not only an image)
  • Use descriptive alt text on every image
  • Set your page URL to include the service or location (if platform allows)

6. Test on your phone and fix anything tiny

Check load time, tap targets, font sizes, and the call button. If the page looks cluttered, remove one section — simplicity converts better.

7. Publish and promote

Share the link on your Google Business Profile, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups. Ask 3 customers to leave reviews. Monitor visits with free analytics (see growth section).

Best free platforms for small businesses

Quick pros and cons so you can choose fast.

Google Business Profile Website

Easiest option if you already have (or will create) a Google Business Profile. It auto-fills NAP, photos, services, and is great for local search.

  • Pros: Fast, free, shows in Google results, mobile-friendly
  • Cons: Very limited design control and features
  • Best for: Local trades, cafés, shops wanting immediate presence

WordPress.com (Free)

Good for a small blog or multi-page site. Provides basic SEO controls and themes—ads are shown on the free plan.

  • Pros: Lots of themes, basic SEO, scalable
  • Cons: WordPress branding/ads on free plan; limited plugins
  • Best for: Businesses that may expand to a blog/portfolio

Wix Free

Drag-and-drop simplicity. Free tier adds Wix branding and uses a wixsite.com URL.

  • Pros: Visual editor, templates, easy for non-technical users
  • Cons: Ads, non-custom domain on free plan
  • Best for: Visual businesses (photographers, salons) who need a quick site

Carrd

Perfect for a single-page business landing site. Very fast and clean; free plan supports simple pages.

  • Pros: Lightweight, fast, very cheap to upgrade
  • Cons: Limited to one page on free plan
  • Best for: Freelancers, single-offer promotions, service pages
Pro tip: Start free to validate demand. If you get steady leads, move to an affordable subscription or a managed service to remove platform branding and add features.

Simple design that converts (what matters)

Above the fold

Headline — one sentence that tells visitors exactly what you do and who you help. Add a primary CTA (Call now / Message / Book) and your phone number.

  • Keep the headline clear, not clever
  • CTA should be visible on mobile without scrolling
  • Use a single accent color for CTAs

Trust & proof

Add 2–3 short testimonials or a simple star rating. Show a photo of you or your team and at least one job photo.

Clear service list

Bullet your main services with 2–5 words each. People scan—clear bullets convert better than long paragraphs.

Contact & area

Write your full address (or service areas) in text, add a clickable phone link, and show opening hours if relevant.

Design rule: If a visitor has to think for 3 seconds about what you do, you’ve lost them. Aim for instant clarity.

SEO basics for free websites (do these well)

1 — Page title

Write a concise title including your main service and location (if local). Example: Plumber Sydney North | Emergency & Repairs

2 — Meta description

Keep it friendly and actionable (120–155 chars). Include your phone number or call-to-action.

3 — Headings

Use one H1 per page (your main headline). Use H2s for sections (Services, About, Contact).

4 — Local signals

  • Claim or create your Google Business Profile and link to your site
  • Include consistent business name, address, phone (NAP) across web listings
  • Add service area text on the site (suburbs you serve)

5 — Images & alt text

Name images descriptively and add alt text that includes your service (e.g., "electrician repairing switch Sydney north"). This helps Google and accessibility.

6 — Analytics & Search Console (free and essential)

Create a free Google Analytics GA4 account and verify your site in Google Search Console. These tools tell you which keywords bring visitors and which pages need work.

Quick SEO checklist: one H1, page title with keyword, meta description, NAP text, 3 images with alt text, Google Business link, analytics installed.

Growth ideas that cost little or nothing

Collect emails

Use a simple signup (many free platforms let you embed Mailchimp or similar). Send one useful email a month — specials, tips, or photos of recent jobs.

Ask for reviews

After a positive job, ask the customer to leave a Google review. Reviews massively improve local visibility and conversion rates.

Share updates

Post the site link to Facebook groups, community boards, and Nextdoor. Local posts often produce the best leads for small businesses.

Promote your best page

If one service brings you the most business, make a targeted page for it and share that page link in ads or posts.

Low-cost upgrade path: If the free site gets traction, invest $49–99 to connect a custom domain and remove branding. That small change improves trust and SEO.

60‑minute launch checklist

  • Headline that explains your service in one line
  • Clickable call button and visible phone number
  • 3 service bullets and starting price or "from" price
  • At least one photo of your work and one team/shop photo
  • Google Business Profile linked
  • Page title and meta description set with your keyword
  • Google Analytics or simple tracking added

Frequently asked questions

Can I really rank on Google with a free website?
Yes. Google cares about location, content relevance, mobile experience, and reviews—not how much you paid. Follow the SEO basics here and claim your Google Business Profile.
What’s the downside of free plans?
Common limits: platform ads/branding, non-custom domain, fewer SEO controls, and sometimes slower load times. If the site performs well you can upgrade affordably.
When should I move to a paid plan?
Move when you consistently get leads and need a custom domain, better speed, or removed platform branding—usually after a few months of steady traffic.
Do I need to learn SEO to do this?
No. Do the simple checklist in this guide (titles, meta, alt text, Google Business). That’s enough to get visible for local searches and start getting customers.

Ready to get a pro website without the hassle?

Start free to validate demand and upgrade later if you want more features, a custom domain, and unlimited updates. If you prefer done-for-you, Congero can launch a professional site for you quickly.

No credit card needed for demos. Start free, upgrade when you grow.

mobile friendly business website

Example single-page layout: headline, services, reviews, contact — everything focused on one goal.

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